As a child, I often used to fall asleep with a bedtime story from my father. It goes like this, there used to be a baby elephant whose owner used to tie it with iron chains. Even at that age, it was practically harmless and to be honest, really cute to play with but the iron chains were necessary to train and discipline him. But the training of what kind? That’s the question.
When the baby elephant tried to escape the chains, they always stopped it. Despite continuous efforts, frustration crept in, and the belief took root that the chains couldn’t be broken ever. As time went by, the elephant grew larger and more majestic. Looking back, the once unbreakable iron chains seemed small compared to the powerful 4000 kg elephant. Yet, the mental barriers from the past persisted, which made the elephant believ that trying to break free was pointless. This highlights the mark of a ‘Fixed Mindset’ that the owner aimed to instill. It’s a mindset centered around avoiding challenges, feeling threatened by mistakes, accepting failures, and ultimately holding the belief that one’s abilities are unchanging. To foster personal growth and fulfill aspirations, transitioning to what’s known as the ‘Growth Mindset’ is essential.
This blog comprises my reflections on the book ‘Mindset’ by Dr. Carol S. Dweck, where she discusses how one can shape their perspective across various aspects of life to foster a growth mindset and realize their full potential. Dr. Dweck defines a growth mindset as seeing challenges as opportunities, welcoming constructive feedback in the face of failures, and placing emphasis on the process rather than solely on the end results. Successful individuals often embody this mindset by consistently stepping out of their comfort zones, enhancing their skills rather than considering them innate, and drawing inspiration not only from their own successes but also from the successes of others.
I honestly appreciate the book’s exploration of applying a growth mindset in personal accomplishments, business, sports, romantic relationships, and mentorships. Let’s delve into the details!
To stay abreast of the rapidly changing world, it’s essential to enhance our skills and talents. However, delving into new ventures and acquiring unfamiliar knowledge can be intimidating, demanding motivation from both internal and external sources. This brings to mind the analogy of a chariot wheel. Initially, it requires a substantial pull to set the wheel in motion, but once it starts rolling, the effort needed reduces. This concept holds true for personal learning curves as well. Why? Because the once daunting task has transformed into an enjoyable pursuit.
Speed and perfection are the two enemies of difficult but worthwhile learning Dweck suggests. It’s the FOMO of getting quick progress or procrastination behind day zero that never allows Day 1 to ever come so that we start the task in the first place. When trying to push out of your comfort zone, it’s important to start wherever you are and with whatever limited resources you have. This way of thinking about growth totally changes how we see mistakes and hard work. Instead of giving up when something goes wrong, we can see it as a signal to find a problem and fix it. Dr. Dweck explains it like this: imagine a single dot on a line. You can’t tell the slope or direction of the line with just one dot. It’s the same with mistakes—they’re just moments in our lives, not things that define us.
Talking about leaders, the book highlights when it comes to working hard, successful leaders often aim to be in a room with people who know more than them. This motivates them to put in the effort to improve their knowledge. The mindset of becoming a master by learning before leading is a characteristic of someone with a growth mindset. It’s crucial to understand that reaching the top is not as challenging as staying there, as that requires perseverance and discipline.
In a world that talks about the “low-effort” syndrome, getting the work done by tech tools faster actually handicaps the mind from developing a muscle of its own to create new knowledge. This is where it’s important to stick to a champion’s mindset of always refining one’s skills. Because just a one-time success can make the most ambitious of the minds complacent and sloppy!
Dr. Dweck also explains how fixed and growth mindsets play out in relationships. Couples with a fixed mindset may think their relationship is perfect, so they don’t feel the need to talk about expectations or put in effort. On the other hand, those with a growth mindset won’t always see their partners as perfect. Instead, they help each other improve in all aspects and become better versions of themselves. It’s not just about falling in love; it’s about growing together. One of the thought-provoking lines by Dr Dweck – “Growth-minded couples don’t just get a happily ever after, rather work for their happily ever after.”
Similarly, the book covers different relations that require molding an individual into a growth mindset like that of parent-child, mentor-mentee, coach, etc.
Towards the end, the book also warns about what a Growth Mindset isn’t! Some people might think it’s enough to just recognize and value hard work, but it’s more than that. It involves having the bravery to handle criticism and the skill to correct ourselves when things go wrong. This brings to mind a previous book review where I discussed Indra Nooyi’s time at PepsiCo. She was the first to recognize the health effects of carbonated drinks and led the Performance with Purpose movement—a great example of a growth mindset.
Overall, this book helped me become aware of the constant internal monologue of my mind that keeps in check my self-insight and get an accurate understanding of my abilities as well as potential.
