Have you ever wondered what sets high achievers apart from the rest? If you ask four sports GOATs (Greatest of All Time), they would all say mental toughness.

Michael Jordan never gave up on his dreams, even after being cut from his high school basketball team. He believed that mental toughness and heart are a lot stronger than physical advantages.

Serena Williams endured life-threatening health issues yet returned to championship tennis by using her mental strength to succeed. She used power thoughts during her matches and reviewed them on changeovers, which helped her focus and get her game back on track if necessary. Her power thoughts included: “My good thoughts are powerful.” “My only negative thoughts are weak.” “You are No. 1.” “You are the best.” “You will win.”

Tom Brady overcame doubts about his football quarterbacking abilities. After one of Brady’s record seven Super Bowl championships, he was asked what makes his team so special. His answer:, “Mental toughness.”

Boxing titan Muhammad Ali said: “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”

We often hear the term mental toughness from athletes, coaches and sports commentators, but it translates to all aspects of life. Mental toughness is persevering through difficult circumstances. It is conditioning your mind to think confidently and being able to overcome frustration.

Mental toughness is incredibly important in business. It's the ability to stay focused, resilient and composed under pressure, which is crucial for navigating the ups and downs of the business world.

Mental toughness is like a muscle. It needs to be exercised to grow and develop. You must get out of your comfort zone by taking on new tasks. As your comfort zone expands, seek out other duties to test your determination. You will soon discover that there is almost nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it. Truly, it’s mind over matter.

Howard Schultz overcame numerous rejections while securing funding for Starbucks. His determination turned a small coffee shop into a global brand.

Sara Blakely founded Spanx after facing countless denials from manufacturers. Her mental toughness transformed her idea into a billion-dollar company.

Soccer great Mia Hamm said, “The most important attribute a player must have is mental toughness.”

Why does mental toughness matter?

Resilience in adversity -- Business is full of challenges, from market fluctuations to unexpected setbacks. Mental toughness helps you bounce back from failures and learn from them, rather than being discouraged.

Focus and clarity -- In high-pressure situations, maintaining focus is key. Mental toughness allows you to prioritize effectively and make decisions with clarity, even when emotions run high.

Adaptability -- The business environment is constantly changing. Those with mental toughness can adapt to new situations, pivot strategies and embrace change without losing momentum.

Leadership and influence -- Leaders with mental toughness inspire confidence in their teams. They remain calm and collected, providing stability and direction, which can motivate and guide others through challenging times.

Persistence and determination -- Success in business often requires perseverance. Mental toughness fuels the determination to keep pushing forward, even when progress seems slow or obstacles appear insurmountable.

So how do you develop mental toughness?

Practice self-discipline -- Set goals and stick to them, even when it's difficult. This builds resilience and strengthens your resolve.

Embrace challenges -- View challenges as opportunities to grow rather than threats. This mindset shift can enhance your ability to handle adversity.

Maintain a positive outlook -- Focus on the positives and what you can control. This helps keep you motivated and reduces stress.

Seek feedback and learn -- Use feedback as a tool for improvement. Learning from experiences, both good and bad, builds confidence and competence.

You’ve heard the old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Believe it. That’s what separates the winners from the losers. Or as Christian televangelist Robert Schuller said, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”

Mackay's Moral: Mental toughness is the armor that shields you from the slings and arrows of business challenges.

Some townspeople had tried everything to get motorists to drive slowly through a residential area. They posted signs that read “Please Drive Carefully, “Slow Down” and “Children at Play.” But nothing worked until they constructed a sign that read, “Nudist Colony Ahead.”

January is International Creativity Month. Being creative in the first month of the New Year can set you up for a year of success.

Creativity is a fascinating and essential aspect of human potential. It is not just about artistic expression. It is about problem-solving, innovation and looking at the world through a fresh lens. Minds are like parachutes: not much good unless they are open.

I was reading a study that tested individuals at various ages for creativity. At age 5, 90% were judged as creative. At age 17, that number was down to 10%, and by age 40, it was 2%.

Creativity at work is crucial for fostering an innovative organizational culture and driving overall success. It plays a pivotal role in how companies adapt to change, solve problems and maintain a competitive edge.

Here's a look at how creativity influences organizational culture and success:

Fostering innovation -- Creativity is the bedrock of innovation, enabling organizations to develop new products, services and processes. Companies that encourage creative thinking are often leaders in their industries, setting trends and pushing boundaries.

Enhancing problem-solving -- Creative approaches to problem-solving allow organizations to tackle challenges from new angles and find effective solutions. This can lead to more efficient operations, cost savings and improved customer satisfaction.

Building a dynamic culture -- A culture that values creativity attracts diverse talent and encourages collaboration and open communication. Employees feel empowered to share ideas and take risks, leading to a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Adapting to change -- Creative organizations are more agile and better equipped to adapt to market changes and disruptions. This adaptability ensures long-term sustainability and resilience in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Driving competitive advantage -- Creativity differentiates companies from their competitors, providing unique value propositions. Organizations that leverage creativity can capture new markets and retain customer loyalty.

Encouraging continuous improvement -- A creative mindset promotes a culture of continuous improvement and learning. This leads to ongoing improvements in processes, products and employee skills.

I love to study creativity, especially how products came to be and how companies were formed. When I think of creative companies, at the top of the list is Apple. As cellphones changed the landscape for both business and personal use, Apple led the class in improvements and enhancements that put your office in your pocket.

Before the iPhone, mobile phones were primarily used for calls and basic text messaging. Apple, known for its innovative products, saw an opportunity to revolutionize the mobile phone industry by combining a phone, an iPod and an internet communicator into one device.

Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder, envisioned a device that would not only make calls but also serve as a portable computer, music player and camera. This vision required a blend of creativity and technical prowess, pushing the boundaries of what a phone could do.

Apple's team worked tirelessly to design a user-friendly interface, resulting in the development of the multi-touch screen. This allowed users to interact with the device using gestures, such as swiping and pinching, which was revolutionary at the time.

In 2007, Apple launched the first iPhone, which was met with widespread acclaim. It set a new standard for mobile devices, leading to the development of an entire ecosystem of apps and services. The iPhone's success transformed Apple into one of the most valuable companies in the world and reshaped the technology landscape.

Lest you think innovations need to be massive and broad, even small changes can have big implications for business. An improved shipping method, better marketing focus, making your website more user-friendly, product updates that reflect consumer suggestions -- sometimes it only takes some tweaking to make a big difference.

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun,” said author and artist Mary Lou Cook. Her definition takes some of the fear out of trying new things. Calculated risks are part of the equation.

I like poet Maya Angelou’s take: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

When creativity becomes a habit, success almost always follows.

Mackay’s Moral: Inspiration and imagination go hand in hand.

A motorist overtook a young man running along the road. He stopped his car and asked the perspiring runner to get in.

The driver asked, “An emergency, I gather?”

“No,” puffed the young man. “I always run like that when I want a ride. It seldom fails.”

Resourcefulness is an incredibly important skill for employees, and it's one that I hold in high regard. In today's fast-paced and ever-changing work environment, the ability to think outside the box and solve problems creatively is invaluable. Resourceful employees are adept at using the tools and information available to them to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

Resourceful people can see the upside of down times. They are not willing to give up just because things get complicated. And here’s a news flash: They are not all geniuses. They just don’t accept defeat easily.

You must be thinking all the time: How can I maximize what I want to do? How can I get things done? How can I get the information I need? By being resourceful.

Motivational author Tony Robbins said, “The defining factor [for success] is never resources; it’s resourcefulness.”

Resourcefulness is a real asset for anyone trying to get the edge over the competition, whether it’s finding a job, keeping a job, making customers happy or landing a new account.

Perhaps the best feature of resourcefulness is that it doesn’t have to cost your company any money. Using the brainpower already on the payroll is a great place to start. A company offered a reward of half of whatever savings a viable, creative cost-cutting measure would yield. Did they get any suggestions? You’d better believe it. And nearly all of them were fairly simple to implement. These folks had been hatching ideas for a long time, but the “We’ve always done it this way” mentality kept them quiet.

Being resourceful can come in many ways. For example, a medical school in Switzerland gives each graduating student a batch of 10-year-old copies of Newsweek magazine so patients won’t think they are new in the business.

Kids are very resourceful and quite often try to put one over on their parents. One night a girl got home quite late, after her midnight curfew. The next morning at breakfast her mother said, “Didn’t I hear the clock strike two as you came in last night?”

“Yes, mother,” the daughter replied. “The clock started to strike 12, but I stopped it as soon as I could to keep it from waking you.”

Do you remember the TV show “MacGyver”? The eponymous character was the epitome of resourcefulness. He would get trapped, usually in a building that contained a ticking time bomb, but he was able to free himself by using what was available to him, like duct tape or chewing gum. I was always intrigued -- and impressed -- and even a little jealous.

Here’s why resourcefulness matters:

Problem-solving -- Resourceful employees can tackle problems head-on and find innovative solutions, often with limited resources. This skill is crucial in maintaining productivity and efficiency.

Adaptability -- The workplace is constantly evolving, and being resourceful allows employees to adapt to new situations and technologies quickly and effectively.

Independence -- Resourceful individuals can work independently, reducing the need for constant supervision and allowing managers to focus on strategic tasks.

Competitive edge -- In a competitive job market, resourcefulness sets employees apart. It demonstrates initiative and the ability to add value to an organization.

Contribution to team success -- Resourceful employees often become go-to people within their teams, contributing to a positive and proactive work environment.

In essence, resourcefulness is a key driver of success in any role. It empowers employees to navigate challenges and seize opportunities, ultimately benefiting both the individual and the organization.

Here’s a final story to illustrate my point. An explorer was captured by natives in the wilds of the jungle. They were dancing around him threateningly, when an idea struck the explorer -- he would awe them with magic. So, he took out his cigarette lighter and with a flick of his thumb, the lighter burst into flame.

The tribe fell back in astonishment.

“Magic!” cried the explorer in triumph.

“Sure is,” replied the chief. “Only time we ever saw a lighter work the first time.”