Mindset - Dweck (2007)
The New Psychology of Success
As we think about ourselves as individuals, do we have a Growth
Mindset? Or a fixed mindset?
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Growth Mindset is one of the Foundational Skills of zZense Technology because of it's great importance to Achievement, but unfortunately a fixed mindset is a common perception. This perception may be partly due to the "sound bite" nature of modern life. We usually see only the results of greatness. We see the Olympic athlete winning. If we see at all the thousands of hours of practice behind that win, it is compressed into 5-minutes of being up close and personal by video. We read the author's skillful prose, we don't see rewrite after rewrite and gradually improving skill. We use the inventor's clever machine, unaware of dozens of failed prototypes based on absurdly wrong initial thinking. We assume this greatness is "natural", inborn, and produced with minimal effort compared to those who "haven't got it".
Author Dweck does not discount that people are born with different assets. Some may have physical size advantageous to athletics, or mental quickness advantageous to academics, or fortunate early life. However, she convincingly portrays Growth Mindset vs. fixed mindset leading to different behaviors and being more important to success than these inborn assets. A Growth Mindset gives Optimism and hope to those struggling and believing they "just don't have it". Through effort they build skills and Achieve success.
On the other side of the coin, Dweck shows how a fixed mindset is a liability to those fortunate to have greater inborn assets. This is particularly true in the face of challenges or setbacks. For example, in a fixed mindset, one believes that being "a natural" or "gifted" is a hallmark of greatness. Then, Achievement should "come easy". This is a terrible and de-motivating perception for a high achiever who stumbles and needs redoubled efforts. Those redoubled efforts are tantamount to admitting failure, to not being so great after all.
Dweck continues, demonstrating that one may have a Growth Mindset in one area, eg sports, while having a fixed mindset in another, eg, math. Factors contributing to formation of one mindset versus the other are discussed, including a surprising and powerful observation of great value to parents, teachers, and coaches. So are strategies to change oneself or children from a fixed to a Growth Mindset.
The bulk of the book uses numerous anecdotes about famous people in
various realms to illustrate these points. At #148 of all books on
Amazon, and 4.5/5 stars per 827 reviews, after 8 years
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
-g