4 Keys To Genius

The 4 Gs to Genius

The first key to genius is Growth

• Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck is all about the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.
• People who excel at the highest level are committed to growth and consistent improvement.
• It’s not about perfection but progress because practice makes progress.
• In what ways are you committed to the growth mindset?
• Have you scheduled that growth into your calendar?
• People say they want better health and more income but if you don’t schedule it, it won’t happen.
• Consider: what is your self-growth time? What is on your to-learn list (and not just your to-do list)? What’s on your to-grow list?

The second key to genius is Giving

• The road to excellence isn’t about “me.” It’s about “we.”
• Everything in nature gives or is eliminated – which means you grow so you have more to give.
• This is why when you teach something, you get to learn it twice.
• When you learn and grow with the intention to give, you have more of yourself.
• You don’t give to get. You give because it’s who you are.

The third key to genius is Gratitude

• Some people create vision boards to help them achieve their goals. Why not create a gratitude board?
• In Kwik Brain 016: My Morning Routine (How to Jumpstart Your Brain & Day), I spoke of how I like to start my day with gratitude.
• How can you appreciate the things you’ll eventually have if you don’t appreciate what you have now?
• If you want to truly feel wealthy, write down everything you have in your life that money can’t buy. Think of your health, the people you love, your sense of sight, etc.
• Success builds on success – but you must appreciate the success you already have.

The fourth key to genius is Grit

• Grit is perseverance, persistence, and your ability to overcome difficulties. There is a bestselling book called Grit by Angela Duckworth.
• When you have a big goal, you’re going to face challenges.
• Look at your problems as puzzles.
• At a past Kwik Brain event, I asked renowned music producer, the then-84-year-old Quincy Jones, how he overcame problems.
• He responded, “I don’t have problems. I have puzzles.”
• This is a great perspective because puzzles are fun AND have solutions.
• I dedicated my life to solving the puzzle of how memory works. Now, I give it to other people because I am grateful for the opportunity. My struggle led to strength.
• You build grit through practice.
• Grit is a muscle, and challenge leads to change.
• Most people have heard of post-traumatic stress, but not post-traumatic growth.
• Many people who’ve faced adversity say they wouldn’t change anything because this adversity gave them a mission and a new sense of meaning they couldn’t get anywhere else.
• To build grit, put yourself in uncomfortable positions.
• Bruce Lee once said, “If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there. You must go beyond them.”
• The difference between a normal person and a champion is that a champion is willing to push past the pain period.
• I once was invited to a boxing match with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. When I asked them what the difference between a normal person and a champion is,
• This is the answer Arnold gave me: ‘With curls, the one you don’t want to do the most is the one that’s going to help you the most.’
• Grit also helps you be resourceful.
• MacGyver was able to survive on his island not because he had resources but because he was able to find and develop resources when he had none. This required a level of grit and persistence – which he developed by going through painful times.
• When you are going through painful times and unsure whether to take on something, ask yourself: will the pleasure outweigh the pain?