The Mindset Myth
Sterling Hawkins
Best-Selling Author | Globally Recognized Growth Keynote Speaker | Award-Winning Thought Leader | 1M+ No Matter What Movement
We all run into challenges at some point in our life. And when you did, did you ever hear:
“Just change your mindset!”,
“Ahh, you need an empowered mindset.”
or
“It’s a positive mindset that you need.”
Sound familiar?
I don’t believe in mindsets. At least not in the way that pop-culture interprets them.
There’s something far more powerful at play here.
Look for yourself to see what I mean. When you-know-what hits the fan in your business or life, how easy is it to just “change your mindset” about the circumstances?
- When time and money ran out for a particular project before completion, did “Your life is as good as your mindset.” help you?
- When the pandemic forced your business to close, did “Stay positive and realize your dreams!” pull you through those dark times?
- When you were let go from your job, did inspirational quotes empower your mind?
My bet is that for most of us the answer is a resounding, no. I take it back. That stuff works for like 30 seconds. It reminds me of a fireworks show: amazing, dazzling, a quick burst of motivation, and boom. Back to darkness. It’s gone. Or, when you’re already feeling good, it’s a nice bonus to pat yourself on the back with.
These quotes about “change your mindset, change your life” are everywhere — and they really mean nothing. If knowing those things made any difference, we all would have arrived already. We’ve seen them often enough and clearly that stuff doesn’t work. It’s a myth that those slogans have any impact. Even for the person posting it on Instagram.
Not only do I dislike how most people use mindsets, Dr Carol Dweck — the original growth mindset researcher out of Stanford University, doesn’t either. She also disagrees with how growth mindsets are generally being used; so much so, she came out of retirement to say as much! It seems her work is being misinterpreted. Pumping out this “just change your mind, or change your attitude approach” is generally useless since it’s not that simple to just “snap your fingers” to change your mind. We all know that’s not exactly how the human mind works…
What we need is not a shift in mindset. What we need is to...
Helping you replicate your top 10% Performers: Leadership, Sales, & Growth Mindset Training
3 年I agree that Mindset is misused. What one needs to realize is what subconscious barriers are causing lack of results and what to do about them. It’s neuroscience. It’s precise- it’s specific - it’s powerful. It’s not as easy to do as it is easy to say. I can show you how.
Professional Speakers Hall of Fame, Team Builder, 12X NY Times Best-selling Author, Host of Corporate Competitor Podcast, Executive Coach, Publisher at Forbes Books, and Maxwell Leadership Thought Leader
3 年Great article Sterling Hawkins! Thank you!
I Help Companies & Leaders Accelerate Cultures of Courage, Collaboration, & Trust. Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker | Leadership Coach | Fighter Pilot | NY Times Bestselling Author | Hire Me to Keynote Your Next Event. ??
3 年Sterling Hawkins. Well done and great points Im a big fan of Dr. Dweck and am glad you highlighted this. Action ultimately is the impetus to change.
Speaker | Producer and A.I. Consultant
3 年Hadn’t looked at it this way and I agree Sterling Thank you for sharing your insight
Storytelling Expert
3 年Agree it’s our beliefs we have to really take a look at to change our behavior and navigate change?