Mindy Kaling reveals the "single most important differentiator" of successful individuals, along with two other traits that helped her achieve success.

Mindy Kaling didn't get her start in Hollywood by leaning on connections.

The "The Sex Lives of College Girls" creator revealed in her new MasterClass that she landed writing jobs and then launched her own shows by doing three simple things.

"Although my success did not unfold as I had planned, the challenges and setbacks I faced led to new opportunities," Kaling stated. "To achieve success, it's crucial to put in the effort, have self-confidence, and be thoroughly prepared."

Early in her career, Kaling's three traits were crucial for her to stand out: arriving early, leaving late, and confidently knowing her character and scene notes.

Before presenting her ideas, she practiced her material three times.

Kaling's confidence in pitching ideas in unfamiliar settings was due to the hours she spent both physically and mentally on the material.

Kaling believes that approximating or faking a feeling can be useful, as she found that sheer will and overcoming impostor syndrome helped her career.

'In the workplace, confidence distinguishes individuals and is a crucial factor.'

According to Bonnie Low-Kramen, author of "Staff Matters," confidence is a powerful tool for achieving success in any career. It enables individuals to make "very impactful decisions" and empowers both leaders and employees to excel in their roles.

""Having high confidence is crucial in the workplace, as it sets individuals apart and can lead to job opportunities even if they have lower abilities," Low-Kramen stated."

Kaling believes that being prepared, working hard, and having confidence are almost the same. Although many of her scripts are not shown on TV, she has the self-assurance to know she can handle rejection and come up with new ideas, she stated in class.

"At the Glamour Women of the Year Summit in 2018, Kaling stated that she had never possessed any innate confidence. Instead, she emphasized that she had always relied on hard work and preparation to achieve her goals."

"I couldn't be confident because I hadn't done enough research and preparation," she said. "I believe that's been the key to everything in my life."

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