Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones? (It Depends on Your Mindset)
Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones?
(It Depends on Your Mindset)
Award-winning composer/performer Lin-Manuel Miranda. SpaceX and Tesla’s Elon Musk. Basketball legend Michael Jordan.
What do these people have in common? They’ve certainly been successful. What’s a common denominator they all share?
Last week we talked about what a difference growth mindset can make. Real world examples of how this can impact people are easy to find, and help us understand more ways a growth mindset can help us all achieve our goals.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the now-famous composer (and performer) behind the hit musical “Hamilton,” faced the immense challenge of creating a musical that blended hip-hop with traditional musical theater. Rather than sticking to what was safe and had already been done, Miranda embraced this opportunity and showcased an amazing growth mindset. He immersed himself in the history of Alexander Hamilton, experimented with different musical styles, and tirelessly refined the narrative and lyrics. He actively sought input from others, recognizing that diverse perspectives could enhance the project. The success of "Hamilton" not only revolutionized Broadway but showcased Miranda's ability to adapt, learn, and innovate within the creative process.
Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur behind companies like Tesla and SpaceX, provides a compelling example of a growth mindset in action. In the mid-2000s, the automotive industry was dominated by traditional manufacturers, and the idea of electric cars gaining widespread popularity seemed far-fetched, but Musk believed in his ideas anyway. Facing numerous setbacks, including production challenges, financial hurdles, and skepticism from industry experts, Musk persisted with his vision. He embraced failures as learning opportunities and continuously iterated on his approach. Musk's growth mindset was evident in his willingness to take risks, learn from mistakes, and adapt his strategies. Tesla became a trailblazer in the electric car market. Pushing the boundaries of technology have not only reshaped the automotive industry but also positioned Tesla as a major player in sustainable energy.
Michael Jordan, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, exemplifies a growth mindset throughout his illustrious career. Instead of viewing early failures as insurmountable obstacles, Michael Jordan used them as fuel for improvement. He showcased a relentless work ethic, a commitment to practice, and a continuous drive to elevate his skills. Jordan famously said, "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." His growth mindset not only propelled him to individual success but also played a crucial role in leading his team, the Chicago Bulls, to multiple NBA championships.
We all want to be successful, and it’s obvious that believing we have more potential than our current skillset is essential to that. How can we tell if we have a fixed or a growth mindset? How have we responded to challenges in the past? Do we view setbacks as things to overcome, or let them crush our spirit and make us stop trying?
Having a growth mindset is characterized by certain attitudes and behaviors. Here are just a few signs that may indicate you already have a growth mindset:
Embracing Challenges: You see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. Instead of avoiding difficult tasks, you're willing to tackle them head-on.
Persistence: You don't give up easily, even when faced with setbacks or failures. You believe that effort and perseverance can lead to improvement. You're willing to invest time and energy to develop your skills.
Inspired by Others' Success: Instead of feeling threatened or envious of others' success, you feel inspired and motivated by it. You see it as evidence of what's possible with effort and determination.
Adopting a "Yet" Mentality: When faced with a challenge or setback, you add the word "yet" to your statements. For example, instead of saying "I can't do this," you say "I can't do this yet," indicating a belief in the potential for growth and improvement.
Seeking Learning Opportunities: You actively seek out opportunities to learn and develop new skills. Whether it's through classes, workshops, books, or online resources, you're always looking for ways to expand your knowledge and abilities.
Embracing Feedback: You welcome feedback from others and use it to improve yourself. Whether it's positive or negative, you see feedback as valuable information that can help you grow.
Belief in Brain Plasticity: You believe that your abilities and intelligence are not fixed traits but can be developed over time with effort and practice. This belief in neuroplasticity fuels your motivation to learn and improve.
Celebrating Growth: You celebrate your progress and accomplishments, no matter how small. You recognize that growth is a journey, and every step forward is worth acknowledging.
We must keep in mind that having a growth mindset is not an all-or-nothing trait; it's a continuum, and we may exhibit some aspects of it more strongly than others. The key is to cultivate a mindset that fosters learning, resilience, and personal development.
What if you can’t answer “yes!” to most of these questions? What if you realize your mindset is more fixed than you thought? Is there no hope? (Hint: that belief would be another symptom of a fixed mindset!) We’ve already discussed how moldable our mindsets are. If you don’t have a growth mindset yet, we can absolutely change that. Even just learning about the possibilities and how successful people view challenges can help our brains start moving that direction.
We’ll talk more next week about how we can benefit from this shift, but in the meantime, come chat with me during my free office hours on Facebook every 2nd and 4th Saturday at 11 AM MST, or contact me on my website, and let’s set you up for more success!