Champion Choices: Growth Mindset
Date Published: 5/12/2017
Champion Choices: Growth Mindset
“I heard about a high school in Chicago where students had to pass a certain number of courses to graduate, and if they didn’t pass, they got the grade ‘Not Yet’. I thought that was fantastic, because if you get a failing grade, you think, ‘I’m nothing, I’m nowhere’. But if you get the grade ‘Not Yet’, you understand that you’re on a learning curve. It gives you a path into the future. ~Dr. Carol Dweck, growth mindset expert.
For the last two weeks, we’ve been focusing on the keys to success from Tom Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs. We’ve talked about accountability and adaptability. Growth mindset certainly ties in well to being adaptable.
Now we’ll ask: Is there something that you are known for? Something you have been told you are especially good at? When we are told that we are good at math, but not as good in English, for example, that sinks in.
On the Cubs playing field, it had everything to do with being known as the lovable losers…for 108 years. That label sank in. Tom Ricketts and Theo Epstein helped to change that mindset, of course.
And then they could adjust.
Enter the World Series game 7 rain delay pep talk: Jason Heyward, the Cubs right-fielder, called the team into an impromptu meeting in the clubhouse. Heyward started by saying "We're the best team in baseball and we're the best team in baseball for a reason. Now we're going to show it. We play like the score is nothing-nothing. We've got to stay positive and fight for your brothers. Stick together and we're going to win this game." The other players chimed in with phrases liked "keep grinding" and "Chappy, (the pitcher who lost the lead) we're going to pick you up." This conversation created a spark. The Cubs came out, scored two runs and held on to win the game. It was really in the mindset they brought back on to the field. Okay, so they thought they were the best (their ability), but what allowed them to be successful was that they could do better and needed to adopt an attitude to do so. They were no longer the lovable losers, and they won that World Series.
Being known as a loser, or not good in English is known as a fixed belief – whatever talent we have, our traits are set in stone. The growth mindset is a belief that our skills and intelligence can be developed. It’s a simple idea with a profound impact. We produce constant learners when we praise the process they engage in. Those receiving the praise and encouragement have shown remarkable change in motivation and achievement.
So, we’ll follow suit by giving credit to studying, practice and learning. Success truly comes from effort and hard work. Dr. Dweck’s studies show that those who believe this enjoy life more. A growth mindset makes it fun! Those focused on the journey (effort and process), instead of outcome and achievement have a had greater success in whatever they are doing as well. They are less focused on failure and more in touch with the idea that success will happen.
Cheers to all the mothers as we head into Mother’s Day this weekend! I can relate to the “not yet†idea in a way my mom helped to shift my thinking. When I was in high school and would say “I can’t find my keys!!†My mom could gently correct me and say, “You just haven’t found them yet…but you will.†And I did.
This week, I wish for you to be easier on yourself. Be aware of the ways we cut ourselves down and chalk up a failing grade. We are all on a learning curve…and on the path to the future. We are looking for the keys to this future. We just haven’t found them yet.
Thank you for reading! Tune in again next week find out how these keys fit together.
We welcome your comments below.
Cheers & fair winds,
Akasha Lin
[Story image from my trip to the summit of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. It took me a couple years to get to the summit based on snow, wind and financial conditions! I hired a local Hawaiian friend and guide who helped me reach the highest island-mountain in the world. And it’s well worth the view from the top!]
Akasha Garnier
Author, Branding Expert, Producer
http://www.akashagarnier.com for The Wishwall Foundation
“I heard about a high school in Chicago where students had to pass a certain number of courses to graduate, and if they didn’t pass, they got the grade ‘Not Yet’. I thought that was fantastic, because if you get a failing grade, you think, ‘I’m nothing, I’m nowhere’. But if you get the grade ‘Not Yet’, you understand that you’re on a learning curve. It gives you a path into the future. ~Dr. Carol Dweck, growth mindset expert.
For the last two weeks, we’ve been focusing on the keys to success from Tom Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs. We’ve talked about accountability and adaptability. Growth mindset certainly ties in well to being adaptable.
Now we’ll ask: Is there something that you are known for? Something you have been told you are especially good at? When we are told that we are good at math, but not as good in English, for example, that sinks in.
On the Cubs playing field, it had everything to do with being known as the lovable losers…for 108 years. That label sank in. Tom Ricketts and Theo Epstein helped to change that mindset, of course.
And then they could adjust.
Enter the World Series game 7 rain delay pep talk: Jason Heyward, the Cubs right-fielder, called the team into an impromptu meeting in the clubhouse. Heyward started by saying "We're the best team in baseball and we're the best team in baseball for a reason. Now we're going to show it. We play like the score is nothing-nothing. We've got to stay positive and fight for your brothers. Stick together and we're going to win this game." The other players chimed in with phrases liked "keep grinding" and "Chappy, (the pitcher who lost the lead) we're going to pick you up." This conversation created a spark. The Cubs came out, scored two runs and held on to win the game. It was really in the mindset they brought back on to the field. Okay, so they thought they were the best (their ability), but what allowed them to be successful was that they could do better and needed to adopt an attitude to do so. They were no longer the lovable losers, and they won that World Series.
Being known as a loser, or not good in English is known as a fixed belief – whatever talent we have, our traits are set in stone. The growth mindset is a belief that our skills and intelligence can be developed. It’s a simple idea with a profound impact. We produce constant learners when we praise the process they engage in. Those receiving the praise and encouragement have shown remarkable change in motivation and achievement.
So, we’ll follow suit by giving credit to studying, practice and learning. Success truly comes from effort and hard work. Dr. Dweck’s studies show that those who believe this enjoy life more. A growth mindset makes it fun! Those focused on the journey (effort and process), instead of outcome and achievement have a had greater success in whatever they are doing as well. They are less focused on failure and more in touch with the idea that success will happen.
Cheers to all the mothers as we head into Mother’s Day this weekend! I can relate to the “not yet†idea in a way my mom helped to shift my thinking. When I was in high school and would say “I can’t find my keys!!†My mom could gently correct me and say, “You just haven’t found them yet…but you will.†And I did.
This week, I wish for you to be easier on yourself. Be aware of the ways we cut ourselves down and chalk up a failing grade. We are all on a learning curve…and on the path to the future. We are looking for the keys to this future. We just haven’t found them yet.
Thank you for reading! Tune in again next week find out how these keys fit together.
We welcome your comments below.
Cheers & fair winds,
Akasha Lin
[Story image from my trip to the summit of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. It took me a couple years to get to the summit based on snow, wind and financial conditions! I hired a local Hawaiian friend and guide who helped me reach the highest island-mountain in the world. And it’s well worth the view from the top!]
Akasha Garnier
Author, Branding Expert, Producer
http://www.akashagarnier.com for The Wishwall Foundation
