Understanding The Fixed And Growth Mindsets

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How are you thinking?

Yes, you read that correctly.  Do you see yourself achieving just so much and no more? Or are you the kind of person willing to try new things because you believe you can achieve them? These are examples of fixed and growth mindsets.

Our mindset is usually influenced by our upbringing, circumstances, and often what and how we’ve been taught. 

It is not surprising, then, that we often have the same mindset as our parents or our most influential teachers. Think about it. These are the persons who usually have the greatest impact on our lives. Our values, beliefs and perceptions are formed during those interactions. 

And, as we get older and mature, we can choose which mindset we want to have.

There is nothing more hindering than going into business with the wrong mindset. So, as business owners, the one we choose will impact the success of our business. 

Let’s take a closer look at each of them. 

Fixed Mindset

Persons with a fixed mindset believe that they are born with a certain amount of talent. It doesn’t mean they can’t learn new things, but they believe that “if you’re not good at something, you might believe you’ll never be good at it”. They believe that their success (in school, career, relationships, etc) is mainly determined by the talents and intelligence they got from birth. They believe that working and studying hard, gaining experience, and seeking out the right coaches and mentors have little to no influence on how they will fare. 

Unfortunately, this mindset limits how much they think they can achieve. But it doesn’t stop there. People with a fixed mindset are more focused on how others see them than on what they can accomplish. They usually take the path of least resistance because they believe that there isn’t much they can do to control their situation. 

Growth Mindset

Persons who have a growth mindset believe that effort and hard work will help them grow. And they see this playing out in all areas of their life. They believe that they can become smarter, more successful, and more efficient. While they experience disappointment from failure, their approach to it is much different than persons with a fixed mind. Instead, they view failure as an opportunity for improvement. 

By now, you would have realised that a growth mindset will serve you better in your business. It helps you strive for better, to try harder, and stay motivated even when the situation looks grim. 

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

Napoleon Hill

Fixed and growth mindsets: Where are you today?

Do you have a fixed or growth mindset? If you are still operating with a fixed mindset, that’s ok. Many of us would have started there. And acknowledging it is the starting point for your future potential and to live your best life.

It is up to you to see how far you are willing to push the limits to step out and extend yourself. Especially if you are in business or wish to start one, a shift to a growth mindset will help you. 

Final Thoughts

There is a lot you can do to move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. The first step is to recognise that you can do it. Your task is to come up with one simple step you can do today to expand your mind, to learn, to grow. 

What will that one step be? Check out our Develop a Winner's Mindset course. In this course, you will learn how to develop a winner’s mindset by applying five strategies that you could implement today. It's time to start thinking like a winner!