Growth vs. Fixed Mindset: The First Step to Success in Life and Business (and Everything Else)

"You have two choices in life: you can be a victim of circumstance or an instigator of change." — Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

There's no question that the path to success is paved with obstacles. Each day presents new challenges, whether as simple as avoiding traffic on your way to work or a major crisis like a hurricane. But how do we deal with these roadblocks? Are they growth opportunities? Or are they just more things to overcome?

I'm sure you've heard the old saying, "When one door closes, another opens," but I would argue that this is misleading. When one door does close, it doesn't necessarily mean there's another one waiting for us behind it—it could very well be the end of the line. And as humans, we tend to get stuck in our ways. It's easy to blame external forces when things don't go our way, but if you're truly going to grow, you need to stop looking outside yourself and start focusing internally. You must learn how to take control of your destiny.

The key to overcoming any obstacle is understanding the difference between what some might call a "growth mindset" versus a "fixed mindset." A growth mindset is defined by Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist who has devoted her career to studying human intelligence. She found that people with fixed mindsets believe their talents, abilities, and skills are innate and unchanging, whereas those with a growth mindset believe hard work can improve them.

People with a growth mindset believe they can improve their abilities through hard work and dedication. They understand that even though they may not possess certain traits, they can still develop them over time. Those with a growth mindset see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow and use setbacks as stepping stones toward success. On the other hand, people with a fixed mindset fail to recognize that failure is part of the journey. Instead of using setbacks as learning experiences, they choose to dwell on their mistakes, which leads to avoidance behavior and prevents them from moving forward.

In my opinion, leading others effectively is impossible without having a growth mindset. It takes enormous patience and self-awareness to be able to motivate people while constantly challenging yourself to reach new heights. Leaders should strive to become better versions of themselves each and every day. To help you achieve that level of personal growth, here are three tips to help you embrace a growth mindset:

1. Set Goals

A growth mindset requires constant goal setting. You cannot move forward unless you have clearly defined goals. You set goals for yourself because you want to improve yourself, so why not do the same for your team? Set quarterly or yearly goals for your business (and your employees), and then hold everyone accountable. This will keep your whole organization focused on the next steps. As long as you continue to grow, your company will grow.

2. Make Mistakes

It's easy to avoid making mistakes. We all know that feeling of dread as soon as someone points out a mistake in front of our peers. But that's exactly the wrong approach. If you're afraid to make mistakes, you'll never learn anything. Every great entrepreneur, leader, artist, and athlete knows that failing is the best way to succeed. Thomas Edison said it best: "I have not failed 10,000 times. I've successfully discovered 9,999 ways that won't work." The only way to grow is to try something and be willing to fail. Don't be afraid of a little risk—that's where the magic happens.

3. Focus on Growth

We all know about the power of visualization. At 13, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He told himself that he wouldn't ever let that happen again, which propelled him to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. Do you think Jordan would have achieved the same level of success had he looked back on that experience and berated himself for being cut from the team? Of course not. The point is that you can never predict what tomorrow holds, so it's important to look ahead and focus on your growth.

Remember, you cannot expect to win every battle. Sometimes, you'll lose. That's normal. What matters is how you handle defeat. When you learn from your mistakes, you become stronger. And when you refuse to give up, no matter how difficult things may seem, you will ultimately triumph.

The world is full of opportunities for growth and success. If you stay focused on your goals and refuse to let fear overtake you, you will eventually live the life you always wanted.