The Growth Mindset concept is not about being some kind of new age fad. It’s about what I believe human beings are really capable of becoming. In other words, the Growth mindset isn’t something you are born with. It’s something you develop over time, by working on yourself. With a good balance between hard work and the necessary relaxing exercises and rest, you’ll find that this challenging and yet rewarding strategy can take you to new heights in your personal and professional life.
In many areas of life, there are inherent limitations. Life, after all, isn’t perfect, and those who try to live beyond their capabilities often pay for their perceived failures at the hands of others. Because of these limitations, many people suffer from a sense of inadequacy and insecurity. They may perceive that they are not as capable as others around them, and therefore look to other people for validation. Others, mostly other professionals who see growth mindsets as crucial to success, also criticize those with a fixed mindset, seeing them as weak and unable to rise to challenges.
For most of us, having a growth mindset means standing up to setbacks and dealing with challenges and obstacles in a healthy manner. It also means recognizing that even those who have setbacks and difficulties will ultimately succeed. They need to realize that even when things look difficult, there are solutions out there.
Those with a fixed mindset are quick to criticize others for mistakes and other failures. But it’s important to remember that there is always room for improvement and learning. When you learn from your mistakes, you grow and become better in your approach to life. By critiquing others for your mistakes, you develop self-awareness and self-esteem, two crucial components of the growth mindset.
There’s also a strong psychological component to the growth mindset. As we grow and mature, we notice that we make errors, that we make changes in our approach and life that we had not initially considered. With this self-awareness, comes self-confidence. And when you have a healthy self-image and a healthy sense of personal worth, it makes it easier to persevere through the next challenge and adversity. You no longer fear that you are making mistakes or losing out on what could be next.
The difference between those with a fixed mindset and those without one is the amount of mental fortitude they require to bounce back and continue to rise above setbacks and challenges. And that’s where mentoring or coaching can really make a difference. Those who lack the growth mindset and intelligence to bounce back quickly from the criticism and mistakes made will also lack the will to continue on and become better individuals. For those with a growth mindset and intelligence, criticism is a motivating factor that drives them to achieve their goals.
If you want to take your business to the next level, you must have both a fixed mindset and an intelligent one. For those who lack either one, you will find yourself making mistakes and struggling to overcome those mistakes. But if you have a growth mindset, you can avoid the pitfalls and even use criticism to propel you forward. Remember that criticism is only a motivator if it is tempered with self-belief and positive intelligence. Self-belief is the cornerstone of every successful action.
So in summation, if you want to achieve more in your business, you need to have both a fixed and an intelligent growth mindset. Without either, you will be limited by your limited human resources, your emotions, and your intelligence. By having both, you will become the expert in your field, and that’s the only way to succeed. Then you will be able to identify, anticipate, solve problems, and even inspire greatness.