There are two kinds of mindsets that people adopt. An abundance vs a scarcity mindset.

I was working with a leader who had adopted a scarcity mindset about talent, and it became evident when we worked through a problem that wouldn’t go away.

He had a team member with extensive experience. He was also negative and slowly poisoning the culture. But this leader couldn't bring himself to make a move. In his mind, nobody else could do what this person did. The talent didn't exist, so he held on and endured his toxic behavior.

That's scarcity thinking. And it's more common than most people want to admit.

Stephen Covey describes it as “a bone-deep belief that resources are limited.” That if someone else wins, you lose. That there is only so much pie to go around. It shows up in organizations, in relationships, and quietly, in the way we make decisions every single day.

We worked on flipping the script. Instead of "nobody else can do this," what if the world was full of talented people who would love to be part of a great culture? What if letting go of the wrong person was actually the first step to finding the right one?

He finally found the courage to let the toxic team member go and open up the position.

It didn't take long. By the third interview, he found his guy. Younger, hungrier, positive, and less expensive. That person escalated quickly and turned the entire operation up five levels.

Now here's the thing, Covey nails that I think about a lot. Abundance mentality doesn't come from external rankings, comparisons, or opinions. It springs from internal security. When you know who you are and what you're building, you stop seeing other people's success as a threat. You stop hoarding talent out of fear. You start making decisions from a place of belief instead of scarcity. Said differently, “Scarcity hoards. Abundance opens the door.”

The world is full of talented people. Full of opportunities. Full of ways to win that don't require someone else to lose.

"The only question is which one you're choosing."

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.