How to Train Your Mind to Create Success TB

How to Train Your Mind to Create Success TB

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Many high achievers find themselves stuck in a cycle of constant striving. You hit a goal… and then immediately set another. Even when you achieve success, it’s not enough. Sound familiar?

That’s the problem Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy tackle in their book The Gap and the Gain. The book presents a framework that helps you shift your mindset away from “what’s missing” (the gap) and toward “how far you’ve come” (the gain). It’s a powerful shift, and it’s one George Wright III, host of The Daily Mastermind, relates to deeply.

Like many of us, George has been there—working hard, achieving goals, but still feeling like it’s never enough. That’s when he started focusing more on becoming the person he wanted to be, and less on chasing the next milestone.

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Understanding the Gap vs. the Gain

Let’s break it down.

The Gap is what happens when we measure ourselves against an ideal—something that’s always just out of reach. Whether it’s a future vision, someone else’s success, or our own unrealistic expectations, we’re left constantly feeling like we’re falling short.

The Gain is what happens when we measure ourselves against where we started. When we compare today to who we were yesterday or a year ago, we realize how far we’ve come. That creates momentum, motivation, and a feeling of success in the present moment.

It’s not about lowering your standards. It’s about shifting your focus to recognize the progress that often gets overlooked in the pursuit of more.

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Why Internal Gains Matter

Most of us set goals that are totally external—more money, better house, more recognition. But external goals are always moving targets. The moment you reach one, a new one takes its place.

That’s why internal gains—like improved habits, better mindset, or stronger relationships—matter. These are wins that give you true control over your success. They’re not dependent on outside validation or results you can’t control.

When you focus on internal growth, you stop chasing happiness and start experiencing it.

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How the Stoics Would Handle the Gap

Stoic philosophy has two powerful tools that can help you move out of the gap:

1. Imagine losing what you have. This makes you more grateful. When you consider the possibility of not having something you already possess, your appreciation for it grows.
2. Reflect on your mortality. Knowing your time is limited pushes you to value what you have now, instead of obsessing over what’s missing.

These aren’t just thought exercises—they help you develop a deeper connection with the present and everything you’ve already achieved.

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Journaling: Your Shortcut to the Gain

One of the best tools for living in the gain? Journaling.

Each day, take a few minutes to write down:

• 3 things you accomplished today
• 3 things you’re grateful for
• 1 area of internal growth

Do this especially before bed. Why? Because if you go to sleep scrolling through social media, you’re training your brain to focus on what you don’t have. But if you fall asleep focusing on your progress and wins, you build a mindset of success and abundance.

George also points to Pearson’s Law:

“When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.”

So find an accountability partner or just write it down. Either way, track your progress—and celebrate it.

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Make Every Experience a Win

Here’s the key idea George emphasizes: It’s not about pretending everything is positive. It’s about making every experience serve you.

That’s the difference between a victim mindset and a creator mindset.

You can look at setbacks as proof that you’re failing—or you can find the lesson, learn from it, and make it part of your gain.

That shift in perspective will change how you view your past, present, and future.

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Final Thoughts

You are not the same person you were a year ago—or even a month ago. You’ve grown. You’ve overcome. You’ve made progress.

The moment you stop fixating on what you don’t have and start recognizing what you’ve already built, everything changes. Your motivation increases. Your mindset shifts. Your results improve.

So here’s the challenge: Start measuring backward. Start journaling your wins. Start finding the gain in every day. Your future self will thank you for it.

Want to go deeper?
Grab a copy of The Gap and the Gain by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan (check the show notes for a discount link).
And if this message resonated with you, share it. Post it, tag @thedailymastermind, and help spread the mindset of success.

Thanks for reading. You’ve got this.

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—George Wright III | The Daily Mastermind

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