Growth Mindset

I recently had conversations with a group of college students and young professionals at the early stages of their careers. Reflecting on my own journey, I pondered the advice I wish I had received back then. If I could go back, I would emphasize the importance of cultivating a growth mindset which I have found to not only provide a pathway to professional success, but also a process to maintain confidence, and alleviate unnecessary worry even in stressful situations.

Re-frame challenges:

Challenges, setbacks, and failures are inevitable, but how we interpret them is a choice. In this way a growth mindset is a tool to view challenges not as threats but as opportunities for learning and growth. Instead of shying away from difficulties, those with a growth mindset embrace them wholeheartedly. Even when feeling nervous or afraid, they understand that difficult assignments are crucial stepping stones on the path to mastery.

Failure is feedback:

A growth mindset helps us persist in the face of setbacks by reframing failures as components of the learning process. Rather than being discouraged by a setback, individuals with this mindset see it as an opportunity to reassess and improve their strategies. They understand that success is not always immediate, and that true mastery often involves a series of failures and subsequent adjustments. By viewing setbacks as valuable feedback, we can maintain our motivation and continue to strive for our goals.

Be a try-hard:

Moreover, a growth mindset allows us to recognize effort as the path to mastery. It shifts our focus from fixed abilities to the process of improvement itself. Effort becomes the key ingredient in our journey, and we learn to appreciate the small, incremental steps we take along the way. This mindset instills a sense of resilience, encouraging us to persevere even when the going gets tough, because we understand that our effort is what ultimately paves the way to success. In this way, a growth mindset transforms our relationship with challenges and setbacks, fostering a deep belief in our ability to learn and evolve in any pursuit we choose.

Trusting the process:

Recently, there has been research that both disputes and confirms the impact of growth mindset on learning and performance. Nonetheless, the framework has provided me a stable foundation to approach complex & overwhelming problems. By viewing a problem as an opportunity, welcoming the possibility of failure, and persisting with effort, I can pursue solutions in a state of calmness. "Calmness", is only possible because I trust the process, and I have confidence in my approach.

Long story short:

If I could talk to my younger self, I would let him know that:

• Discomfort is a sign that you are in a learning environment. Try to be excited and grateful for those situations.

• Neuroplasticity does not discriminate between skills. Any and all skills can be learned and improved. Be patient.

• Achievements come down to effort, not inherent talent. Consistently approach assignments with energy and enthusiasm. People notice.

• There is tremendous value in feedback and failures. Be curious, not defensive.

Handpicked growth mindset resources:

Growth mindset in the real world (1:30 min):

Growth mindset introduction (8 min):

Growth mindset from the creator (9:30 min):