Developing A Growth Mindset:

The Key to Career Success

Transitioning from military service to a civilian career is challenging, but what if the key to overcoming these hurdles lies not in your skills but in your mindset? Our military and veteran culture is known for resilience, but what happens when we forget that or allow outside influences to affect it? If you haven’t been there, let me be the first to admit there was a point in my journey where I lost my ability to be resilient. I felt defeated, down, and out.

Not long after I hit “rock bottom,” I found the answer to my problem: developing a growth mindset. Embracing a growth mindset can transform setbacks into opportunities, turning the daunting path ahead into a journey of continuous growth and success. Adopting this powerful perspective can pave the way for your career and personal development, ensuring that each challenge you face becomes a stepping stone to your success.

Understanding the Growth Mindset

A growth mindset, a concept popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It's about embracing challenges, learning from criticism, and seeing effort as a path to mastery. This contrasts with a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their talents and intelligence are static traits that cannot change.

Why a Growth Mindset Matters

Adaptability: As veterans, we've been trained to adapt to changing environments and unexpected challenges. A growth mindset reinforces this adaptability, making it easier to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of civilian careers.

Resilience: Military life is filled with trials that test our limits. A growth mindset builds on this foundation of resilience, encouraging us to see setbacks as opportunities for learning rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Continuous Learning: The civilian job market is constantly evolving. Embracing a growth mindset means committing to lifelong learning, which is essential for staying relevant and competitive in any field.

Positive Attitude: A growth mindset fosters a positive attitude towards work and life. It encourages us to view challenges with curiosity and excitement rather than fear and apprehension.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

Embrace Challenges: Step out of your comfort zone and tackle new challenges head-on. Each challenge you face is an opportunity to grow and learn. For me, this meant running 100 miles in a month to support Stop Soldier Suicide or doing 75 Hard, which encompassed both physical and mental challenges.

Learn from Criticism: Constructive feedback is invaluable. Instead of taking it personally, use it to improve your skills and performance. Taking your ego out of the equation is hard but necessary. Own it, learn from it, and let your actions define you.

Reflect on Failures: Analyze your failures and understand what went wrong. Use these insights to avoid similar mistakes in the future and to develop better strategies. Failure doesn’t always mean it's your fault. Maybe you didn’t get the job after crushing the interview because the other candidate was more qualified. Focus on what you can control and be honest with yourself.

Seek Mentorship: Find mentors who embody the growth mindset. Their guidance and experiences can provide valuable lessons and inspiration for your own journey. For me, it started with ACP, then self-development books and podcasts. Now, I am a mentor on Veterati.

Applying a Growth Mindset to Your Career

Set Goals: Define clear, achievable goals for your career transition. Break them down into smaller, manageable steps and track your progress.

Upskill: Identify the skills needed in your desired field and take proactive steps to acquire them. This could mean pursuing additional education, certifications, or on-the-job training.

Network: Build a robust professional network. Engage with others in your field, attend industry events, and join relevant groups or associations.

Stay Persistent: The path to career success is rarely straight. Stay persistent and resilient, knowing that each setback is a stepping stone to greater achievements.

Final Thoughts

As transitioning service members and veterans, we have already demonstrated the strength, discipline, and resilience required to overcome significant challenges. By adopting a growth mindset, we can harness these qualities and channel them into our civilian careers, opening doors to new opportunities and achieving greater personal and professional success.

Remember, the journey from military to civilian life is a marathon, not a sprint. Embrace the process, stay committed to growth, and watch as your career and life flourish in ways you never imagined.

“Why waste time proving over and over how great you are when you could be getting better?” - Carol Dweck