People are Like Businesses: Grow or Die
There’s a famous statement in the business world about growth. “Your business is either growing, or it’s dying”. The same is true for people. Grow of die.
What inspires me about my clients is their willingness. Their willingness to show up. And you know I don’t mean just showing up ‘physically’. Showing up mentally and emotionally, and with their presence and best self.
It’s rare that I ever have to ask my clients to bring a better presence and ‘game’ for the next session, because they have desire for growth baked into them. They are the kind of people who seek coaching. Who seek growth. Who seek continuous 1% improvement. Who want to create an even better situation for themselves, their family, their people, their staff, their community. It’s the willingness to grow that inspires me most.
Growth mindset, to me, is the master mindset. There are other common mindset dualities: Abundance vs Scarcity; External vs Internal validation; Grateful vs Not-Enough; Long term vs Short term; Ownership vs Victim; Optimism vs Pessimism. Yet I believe Growth vs Fixed mindset is the most foundational.
Growth mindset says that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. A gift. An obstacle to be overcome to make you stronger. An adversity test to build your resilience. Growth mindset believes that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. Growth mindset views failures as opportunities to learn and get better.
In contrast, Fixed mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence are largely innate and unchangeable. Individuals with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges, fear failure, and see effort as fruitless because they believe that their traits and capabilities are fixed. They may view mistakes as indications of incompetence rather than opportunities for growth and learning. As a result, people with a fixed mindset may be less likely to take risks, seek feedback, or persist in the face of obstacles. This mindset can lead to a limited view of one's potential and can hinder personal and professional development.
Growth mindset is the master mindset because with an increasingly hungry growth mindset, the other mindset dualities tend to follow suit. They all improve and get stronger with the growth mindset at the wheel.
What’s also deeply fascinating about mindset is that many of our mindsets were instilled in us before we were even really able to think for ourselves. So much of our learning is from observation of the people and environment around us – especially when we are young and so impressionable. It’s been said that almost all of who we are is programmed by age 6. Thank goodness for neuroplasticity! …not that change is easy.
If you are curious about your Growth mindset score, take a quick 5 minute quiz at https://www.idrlabs.com/growth-mindset-fixed-mindset/test.php …I’ve used this quick quiz before and I like that it is based on the work of Carol Dweck, the author of the # 1 book on Growth mindset entitled, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. If you are serious about moving more into a Growth mindset read her book.
If you want a quick and foolproof way to enhance your Growth mindset starting right now, set a reminder for yourself for every time you feel any challenge or obstacle in front of you, you will ask yourself this question: “What is the gift and opportunity in this challenge for me?”
Take the answer to that question and act upon it. Action consummates growth.
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” - Colin Powell
If you're feeling stuck somewhere or want to play a bigger & better game contact me and we'll have a conversation. Email me at info@coachingwithchris.ca or schedule your free Discovery call at https://calendly.com/coachchrisw