The Surprising Truth About Talent and Success

What would you be embarrassed to admit that, if shared with others, would make them say, “Really?”

Outside of recently giving myself a bad haircut, I’m embarrassed that I had yet to read Carol Dweck’s?Mindset—that is, until these summer holidays. As I write this, I am on page 128.

It's a cliche and true. Mindset matters more than you think.

Mindset is the foundation of success and happiness. It shapes how we handle stress, choose words, and approach challenges. It can turn a rundown baseball field into an opportunity to create new experiences and help us navigate life’s chaos. Yet, we often forget its power until reminded—or at least I did.

To reinforce the importance of how you think -? for you and your team - here are some takeaways from Mindset so far:

Memorable Quotes:

“Effort is what makes you smart or talented.” Mindsets are just beliefs, but they define us.

“Becoming is better than being.” Are you striving or settling?

“Excuses protect confidence.” Growth demands vulnerability.

“Failure has been transformed from an action (‘I failed’) to an identity (‘I am a failure’).”

Perspectives and Pitfalls:

• The CEO Disease: Sitting on a pedestal invites stagnation. To combat this, we can ask, “What am I doing to stay qualified for my current role?”
• Talent vs. Effort: Dweck highlights how praising effort fosters resilience while overemphasising talent creates fear of failure—a lesson Enron learned too late.

Questions to Reflect On:

1. When do I fall into a fixed mindset? What triggers it?
2. When people feel like they belong, the sky is the limit. Dweck’s work has challenged my belief about belonging. What do you think - is belonging simply a mindset??

Mindset Research Highlights:

• Students praised for their effort showed resilience and creativity when faced with failure. Those praised for talent gave up and lied about their results. What do you recognise with your people - talent or effort?
• Leaders with fixed mindsets ignored employee development, while growth-minded leaders prioritised it. Which type are you?
• Dweck shares several examples of accomplished people of our era who are considered by experts to have no future: Jackson Pollock, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Lucille Ball, and Charles Darwin.?Remember these when times get tough.?
• In the 2000s, big corporates focused heavily on the “talent mindset,” with an increased emphasis on recruiting the best talent. There is nothing wrong with recruiting talent, but at Enron, a significant electricity, gas, pulp, and paper company with over 21,000 employees and claimed revenues of $101 billion, the “talent” mindset created a culture that worshipped talent, thereby forcing its employees to look and act extraordinarily talented. The extreme emphasis on talent forced them into a fixed mindset. Dweck found that people with fixed mindsets believe that talent is given and not earned, and they do not admit or correct deficiencies. This resulted in Enron, the most significant bankruptcy due to fraud in United States history. While talent is necessary, it made me wonder what?we can do to ensure a growth mindset is part of recruitment.?

Formula for Success:

Dweck’s thinking inspired the following equation, which can help leaders evaluate their performance.

Performance = (Potential - Interference) + Effort + Coaching

This simple equation emphasises the importance of addressing obstacles while maximising effort and support.

What’s Next?

If these points have given you a boost of inner energy and something to think about, your team might also benefit.?

Whether through a talk, a Leadership Team Workout, or a Teams That Swear? program, let’s explore how to unlock their potential.

All the best,?

Adrian