We all know people who seem to excel under the most difficult of circumstances. They are the ones who inspire and see the best in those around them. When it comes to success, it is easy to believe that some people are just born with the ability and intelligence to thrive. However, studies show that attitude is a better indicator of success than innate ability or IQ. The deciding factor in business success may not be something you can learn but rather how you handle set backs and challenges.
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck has spent her career looking how attitude affects performance. In the article Fixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets that Shape Our Lives, she says “For twenty years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value. How does this happen? How can a simple belief have the power to transform your psychology and, as a result, your life?”
She continues in the article to describe two different ways people look at the world, either with a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. A fixed mindset assumes that success is an affirmation of inherent intelligence and that people are born with pre-established character, intelligence, and creative ability. People with a fixed mindset believe that they, and others, cannot change. This creates problems because, when they face a challenge, people with this mindset may feel that the task is more than they can handle. This often leads to feelings of hopelessness.
By contrast, people with a growth mindset thrive on challenges and see failure not as a reflection of intelligence but rather a way to grow and test existing abilities. According to Dwek, success in life is all about how you deal with failure; “failure is information – we label it failure, but it is more like ‘this didn’t work, and I’m a problem solver, so I’ll try something else.’”
So, given that there are these two different mindsets, how can one make changes and develop (or hone in on) a growth mindset? Here are a couple different strategies to follow:
Be Passionate:
Empowered people allow their passion to guide and drive their pursuit of excellence. They pursue their passion relentlessly. How do we find our true passion? Try Warren Buffet’s 5/25 Technique. Simply write down the 25 things you care most about. Go through the list and cross off 20 things that don’t matter as much – which leaves you with your five true passions.
Take Action and Go the Extra Mile:
Empowered people with a growth mindset know that they will face challenges and meet these trials head on. Taking action is the best way to overcome an unknown situation and to turn worry and concern about failure into focus and positive energy. Remember, there is rarely a truly perfect moment to move forward. And if we aren’t moving forward and getting a little better each day, we are most likely getting left behind.
Expect Success:
People with a growth mindset expect that they are going to fail from time to time. Despite these unavoidable minor failures, they always assume they will succeed in the end. By being realistic and accepting of setbacks, they are better able to enjoy successes and feel more empowered by them.
Seek Positivity:
In order to maintain a positive attitude, successful people surround themselves with positive role models, experiences and things. They avoid negative talk, “can’t do” people and self-harming behaviors.
In the end, a mindset is a way in which we can interpret what is going on in our environment. A fixed mindset is just that – an outlook that every person and scenario can be judged and evaluated as either good or bad. In a growth mindset, one is able to grow and learn constantly by accepting failure and expecting success.
