Thriving vs. Surviving: A Mindset Shift in Professional Growth

Recently, at a happy hour, I had a conversation with a colleague. When I asked how things were going with their current work, they responded with, "Oh, I'm just trying to survive."

In that moment, I instinctively misheard them, thinking they had said they were thriving. She seemed a bit surprised when I expressed genuine happiness for her situation. No, I wasn’t over-served... the venue was loud, and my colleague is usually an optimistic and positive person.

Later upon reflection, I realized that surviving and thriving are often two sides of the same coin, distinguished not by our circumstances, but by the mindset we bring to them.

The Fine Line Between Surviving and Thriving

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

In our fast-paced, ever-evolving professional lives, it's easy to feel like we’re constantly in survival mode—juggling deadlines, managing workloads, and responding to unforeseen challenges. But what if, instead of merely trying to survive, we focused on thriving?

Thriving is not about avoiding difficulties but facing them with an open mind, viewing challenges as opportunities to grow. It’s about shifting our mindset from "getting through" to "learning through" the process.

This reminds me of the analogy of holding a yoga pose. (Think holding chair pose for 3-5 minutes.??) I often emphasize to my students that holding a position—no matter how uncomfortable—is temporary. In that discomfort lies the opportunity to strengthen not just the body, but the mind. This same principle applies to our careers and personal growth, where challenging moments can be seen as temporary opportunities to build resilience and skills.

Adaptability: The Key to Thriving

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." – Charles Darwin

I’ve always believed that adaptability is at the core of thriving. Challenges are inevitable, but how we choose to respond defines whether we’re simply surviving or truly thriving. In my years of leading development teams, I’ve seen this firsthand. Projects inherit technical debt, team dynamics shift, and sometimes, you have to make difficult calls under pressure. But those very moments of uncertainty provide us the chance to deepen our learning and improve our processes.

In life, both planning and adaptability are crucial. Planning provides the groundwork, while adaptability allows you to shift course while keeping the end goal in sight. Similarly, in a professional context, every challenge is an opportunity to practice adaptability.

Turning Challenges Into Opportunities for Growth

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." – Nelson Mandela

In my experience, thriving often comes down to the willingness to embrace a growth mindset. It’s about reframing the way we look at obstacles. Instead of seeing roadblocks as something to merely get past, we can approach them with curiosity. We can ask: What can I learn here? How can this experience make me better at what I do?

Leadership plays a significant role in fostering this mindset in teams. When you create a collaborative environment where people feel safe to make mistakes, to experiment, and to learn, you empower them to shift from a survival mentality to one where they thrive. You build trust and autonomy, qualities that lead to innovation, productivity, and, ultimately, professional fulfillment.

In my work with diverse teams across various industries, I’ve made it a priority to cultivate this culture (this too can be a challenge)—one where learning from failure is normalized, and every challenge is viewed as a stepping stone to success. Over time, this mindset shift has transformed not just individual contributors but the entire team dynamic.

Conclusion: Thriving is a Choice

"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." – Charles R. Swindoll

Thriving is more than a word; it’s a daily choice. It’s about how we respond to challenges and how we choose to see them. Surviving is about getting by, but thriving is about growing through discomfort, embracing change, and using it as fuel for personal and professional development.

So, the next time someone asks how you’re doing, consider your response: Are you surviving? Or are you thriving?