All Things Inspired

A lion mentality is having no fear or hesitation!

A lion mentality is having no fear or hesitation in the pursuit of that which you wish to achieve. We understand the mentality of the lion and that some of his notable traits are confidence, strength, courage, determination, and decisiveness. But what about people? Can we have similar traits or characteristics of a lion? Obviously, we're not going to chase another person down and bite them. At least I hope not. So, how do we identify someone who has the lion mentality? It's in the characteristics that they have and display.

People who have a lion mindset tend to have the following characteristics:

Time to strategize - a lion mindset focuses time on thinking things through. This is highly important. By nature, people tend to make impetuous decisions. This is not characteristic of the lion mindset. They are more calculated in their decisions, more deliberate in researching the consequences of their decisions.
Achievement focused - for the lion mindset there is no other option than to focus on achieving their goals. Nothing will stand in the way of this. Achieving one goal is not a destination, it's the next step in their constant journey. A goal is achieved, then on to the next.
Focus on intention - not focused attention; they are focused on their intentions. It is about knowing what you want to achieve and how to pursue that goal. They surround themselves with like-minded people. It also involves positioning yourself in such a manner as to achieve everything you want.
Their goals are crystal clear - for them the path to success is clear. That doesn't mean that they aren't met with challenges along the way, it just means their focus enables them to overcome any obstacle in the path.
Eliminate negativity and weakness - the lion mindset doesn't tolerate negativity. They avoid negativity and focus on their goals. Any weakness the perceive within themselves they overcome with their fearlessness.
Mental and physical acuity - it goes beyond working hard toward their goals. For the lion mindset it is having the physical ability and mental capacity to stay focused on the course ahead.
Constantly a student of the game - the lion mindset never stops learning. Personal growth is a priority for this person. It's about learning from their mistakes as well as developing new skills to grow in ability.

These attributes certainly make one formidable in their quest to achieve success. Perhaps you're not quite at this point in your personal growth. Not to worry. No one becomes a lion by just saying, "I'm a lion!" A young lion only becomes a leader when willing to learn from others, commit to growth, be willing to fight and dare any opportunity to challenge them.

What are the lessons to be learned from a lion? Leadership is not based on position. There is a leader in each of us. You don't have to be the tallest, biggest, fastest, or wisest to be a leader. Leadership is about knowing who you are, continually learning, accepting challenges, maximizing efforts in yourself and others, supporting your teammates and helping those around you to rise up!

How can you begin to develop the lion's mentality? It is simple. I didn't say it was easy. Here are 8 things to enact if you wish to have the lion mentality:

Mental clarity - have a clear and concise vision of what you want and who you want to be. Be detailed in your thinking.
Own it! It's yours! - envision yourself successful. You already are who you want to be. You already have what it takes to get what you want.
Ignore everything else - don't waste time or thought for anything that isn't contributing to your vision. No distractions!
Be a student of the game - constantly learn new things. Read, study, and develop.
Attack daily task by priority - plan today yesterday. Prioritize what is important and deserves your attention.
Focus on purpose - the lion goes after his dream, even if he knows he might fail. With each passing day, a lion is getting better at his craft. If something or someone is in the way of your goals and dreams, you need to suggest that they move.
Go beast mode - everyone want to be a beast until it's time to do what beasts do! When others are scared to take a risk, lions capitalize. Sheep procrastinate, putting off until tomorrow what they could seize today. A lion smells fear and goes in for the kill. They don't wait for everything to be perfect to act. There is never a more perfect time than the present. Success depends upon your appetite.
Lions scare themselves - a lion knows that if it wants to grow, it must get out of its comfort zone. While sheep stay complacent, lions are scaring themselves. They want to meet failure and overcome it. Sheep don't dare break out of their routine. Lions venture into new territory, into places they've never been. They conquer new lands with confidence.

You are stronger, smarter, and more resilient than you think. You can achieve far more than you believe. Many successful people in history (or even today) were just average Joes before they determined they could have the lion mentality. You were meant for greatness too!

It takes persistence. It takes determination. It takes a fearless attitude to do that which is difficult but necessary if you want to succeed. No path to success is quick and easy. It takes all you strategic ability to map out a journey of success. Do you wish to walk amongst the sheep or rise above like the lion?

Always remember, a lion doesn't have to prove that it's a threat. You already know what the lion is capable of. Be the lion! It's time to roar!

Be inspired! Inspire others!