Are You Stuck? The Mindset Shift You Need
Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: The Mindset That Shapes Your Life
We all love a good success story—someone who beat the odds, overcame setbacks, and achieved what others thought impossible. What's the secret behind these inspiring stories? Often, it boils down to one critical factor: mindset.
I believe living with a fixed mindset is like being in a self-imposed prison. Let me illustrate:
A young boy gets beat out for the starting second baseman spot on his baseball team. With a fixed mindset, he believes his talent is set and that it probably won't ever change. So he resigns himself to riding the bench.
A woman has worked hard at her job for several years, only to be passed over for a promotion. Her supervisor tells her the other candidate is simply more talented. Because she believes her current abilities are all she'll ever have, she accepts this limitation as final.
These stories are disheartening, and they speak to the core of what a Fixed Mindset is. It's the belief that intelligence, talent, and ability are static. You're either born with it or you're not—and nothing can change that.
Growth vs Fixed Mindset
My Journey: A Life Fueled by Growth
I’ve spent my entire life seeking and embracing a Growth Mindset. I believe talent can be developed through disciplined hard work, intentional strategies, and mentorship.
My first job was as an officer at a bank. Over the 4–5 years I was there, I grew tremendously—not just in my role, but as a leader.
Then I transitioned into life as a business owner and salesperson. If I had clung to where I was when I started, I’d be unhappy, poor, and deeply discouraged today. Instead, I’ve experienced both the highs and the lows, and through it all, I’ve committed to growing, to learning, and—hopefully—to making an impact on others.
Two foundational programs in our organization, the Expect to Win Mindset and the People Builder Culture, reflect this belief. And this blog, On a Journey Chasing Better, is rooted in the consistent and persistent action required to become the best version of ourselves.
Growth Mindset: The Belief That You Can Get Better
When you try something new, you probably won’t be good at it.
Take golf, for example. In the beginning, you'll be lucky to get off the tee box and your only goal will be to hit the ball straight. But golf isn’t about just hitting the ball; it’s about controlling where it goes. That control comes from persistent, focused practice. Over time, with effort, you improve.
This is the Growth Mindset at work.
Fixed Mindset: Accepting Limits
A Fixed Mindset tells you, "Where you are is where you are. The skills you have are all you'll ever have. You're either good at something, or you're not."
This mindset convinces people to stop trying, to settle, and to avoid challenges that could help them grow.
Insights from Thought Leaders
Harvard Business School
An article by Catherine Cote from Harvard Business School Online offers a clear comparison:
"Someone with a growth mindset views intelligence, abilities, and talents as learnable and capable of improvement through effort. On the other hand, someone with a fixed mindset views those same traits as inherently stable and unchangeable over time."
If you're an aspiring entrepreneur who struggles with finance, a fixed mindset says, "I'm not cut out for this." A growth mindset says, "I can learn and practice until I'm capable."
FIXED MINDSET - GROWTH MINDSET: NEW MINDSET - NEW RESULTS
Mark Daigneault, Head Coach – Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder finished their regular NBA season at 68–14—the best record in the league. Their head coach, Mark Daigneault, recently praised his team:
"They're professional. They have a great time, but not when it's time to work. Their heads are down. They attack it. They compete together. They have a growth mindset through the ups and downs of a season. They're willing to play individually in ways that are helpful to the team. That's what you want to coach."
He captured what a growth mindset looks like in action: the ability to stay focused, work hard, and grow together, especially when things don’t go your way.
Coach Daigneault - OKC Thunder - Growth Mindset
Your Best Is Just Outside of Reach
With a Growth Mindset, you're always working to reach your full potential.
Since you will never achieve perfection in any area of life—your best is always beyond where you are now. Every day, you can get a little better: as a ballplayer, a student, a salesperson, a consultant, a spouse, or a friend.
When you approach life this way, you become a powerful influence on those around you. As Coach Daigneault said, "It's a privilege to coach them." The same can be said of being around people committed to growth.
Author James Clear puts it well:
"Sometimes I wonder if the greatest genetic edge goes to the people with whatever genes encourage the desire to compete, the ability to stay focused, and the enjoyment of practice."
That trio—compete, focus, and practice—adds up to growth, which leads to winning.
Both Mindsets Are Based on Belief
And the beauty is: beliefs can be changed.
We change our beliefs by changing how we think—and we change our thinking by being intentional about what we put into our minds.
It’s not hard to slip into a fixed mindset. But with intention, we can always choose to step back into a growth mindset.
I would love to influence anyone that suffers with the Fixed Mindset to make a commitment to instilling in your mind the Growth Mindset.
Here are 6 steps that will lead you to a Growth Mindset.
6 Steps to Cultivating a Growth Mindset
Set goals that stretch you in every area of life.
Ask yourself: How would your life change if you reached this goal?
Identify the areas you need to improve to reach each goal.
Design a plan to improve those areas.
Set deadlines for achieving your goals.
Track your progress consistently.
This process requires consistent and persistent effort—but it's how you move from a Fixed to a Growth Mindset.
Remember, Step #2 is key: Sacrifice is part of the journey, but focusing on the life-changing impact of reaching your goal will keep you motivated.
You're not stuck. You’re capable of growth. You’re on a journey—chasing better.
Until next time - Expect to Win!
JIM
#xp2win
