It's amazing the ability of the fixed mindset to rationalize itself so strongly that one never sees outside of it, or is even able to seriously consider the possibilities that exist for growth and the realization of even the tiniest morsel of potential. Thank you for this post Derek. I needed to see this, in my own way, at this point in time. Most importantly, thank you for all the assistance that you have provided me in being able to overcome the negativity, which as it tends to rationalize itself, seeks to place the blame on circumstances and even genetics for the lack of ability. Progress has been slow, but more and more, I'm willing to recognize the fact that there is progress as part of this great journey we call 'life', as opposed to worrying about how long it's taking to happen. Thank you, once again.

Inspiring thoughts. I think that periodically I "know" this, but need constant reminders not to get stuck. Thanks for distilling this for the rest of us.

Wow, I saw this,

"In a growth mindset, you believe a lasting relationship comes from effort and working through inevitable differences."

And wondered if you'd perhaps found a new direction in your relationship...

Well, that's what popped out anyway...

Hi Derek
I agree with the premise, for fixed mindset and growth mindset. I am 84 years old, and I'm in a growth mindset. I'm a singer, and I still take voice lessons. I'm still working on my high C.
I have a 95 year old friend. She's still living alone. She can still drive, although has been advised not to ("you're too old!"). She still maintains a summer home up north, drives down to Milwaukee for the winter. She still attends my Bible class, and corrects us with her King James Bible. Still learning, never stops. She regales us with her witticisms. Still growing!
My attitude, for us older folks: We don't know how much more time the Lord will give us. Let's do something significant with every day. Don't waste them, our days are numbered. Keep doing the things we know how to do, and always strive to do them better. Maybe not as often, maybe for not long at a time, but keep working on them! Why not?
Thanks for the wisdom!
Charlie
☺ Awesome! Thanks for a great example, Charlie! — Derek

Derek thanks for this succinct distillation of these two great books.

WOW.

Does this resonate right now... I've been struggling with a work situation where I couldn't grow, where the mindset has been "fixed" ["why do you think you need to learn?"].

THERE ARE NO LIMITS.

Recently, I've changed scenery, and it's all about growth. What's next? I've been lifehacking for a few years, and I feel myself growing every day. I am addicted to learning. Have you read "The Rise of Superman"? We can reach entirely new levels, I'm sure of it.

FIXED EQUALS DEATH.

I see so many people who are in the fixed mindset. They're not going to make it in the long haul. Their careers will fade because of technology, economics, politics or evolution.

Derek, your blog continually resonates because your view of the horizon is clear. Whatever you do, keep preachin'. The choir isn't all always at practice, but the devoted ones keep singin' your praises.

Growing positive vibes !!! Love what your sharing thanks Derek!

The last statement reminded me of John Wooden's definition of success (my favorite):

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.

Nothing about winning, or outcomes (this, from the most winning coach in the history of the NCAA).

Ancient wisdom. The upanishads say something about how we control only our actions, thoughts, and feelings, but not the results of our actions.

thanks for not really getting political but as a recovering personality type I think this is brilliant and inspiring!!! sometimes I hide lurking in the bushes!!!

Wonderful Derek! This caused me to really think about what my mind is fixed on as well as what areas in my mindset where I might grow. Thank you.

I wonder if it's possible to waiver back and forth in the two mind sets? Pity to those stuck in the "fixed", however...
Always a good read brother thanks again.
Definitely! The mindset is not fixed, either! You could be kinda fixed-mindset about one aspect of your life and more growth-mindset about another. And you can change it just by realizing it. Carol Dweck's book has many more thoughts on this, of course. — Derek

Maybe? there are some people out there who live by those kinds of absolutes. I've met very, very few of them. It can be of value to recognise the mindsets, perhaps, but I don't believe the vast majority of us are solidly one way or the other - not even me - and I'm a fatalist. I do think it's important not to simplify sometimes. Life is complicated. And hey - wouldn't it be great if we could just think differently and then there's food for everybody, and there are no more wars, and there aren't 40 million displaced persons in refugee camps because of that, all illness is curable? and I could go on but you get the idea.

Not meaning to rain on your parade, but there's so very much to it.

Take care -
Chanah

Derick,
As life goes, I was speaking about this topic recently and I enjoyed the points you make here.

The one item I'm not clear on is the following:

"In a fixed mindset, you look inside yourself to find your true passion and purpose, as if this is a hidden inherent thing."

Why do you see this as a fixed mindset?


More on that in my next blog post, in a couple days. In fact the reason I posted this one was so that the next one could refer to it. ☺ — Derek

Thanks for the great blog, Derek! It's extremely important for us to embrace the growth mindset. 'Super Brain' by Rudy Tanzi and Deepak Chopra is another related book, regarding our ability to rewire our brain and actually create new pathways and signals for greater functionality and accomplishment.

I suspect it isn't unusual for those who are "naturals" at whatever particular skill to be fixed mindsets as well, perhaps even more commonly than those who must practice diligently to gain skills.

Certainly, in the practice of martial arts, I've observed some students who pick up the basic skills quickly and easily... the naturals... but when they reach the level where they are challenged, they struggle. In some cases, these student end up dropping out as they don't have the growth mindset so rather than accepting the frustration as a challenge, they find it intolerable.
Perfect example! Thank you. — Derek

This reminds me a lot of 7 habits of highly effective people, which is a great thing because it's a great book.

The fixed mindset looks like very black and white thinking which is a cognitive distortion. Also, the fixed mindset let's you limit self-percieved responsibility. It makes life temporarily 'easier'. I've found that while tough, the more responsibility you gain within yourself, the more you grow.

Tales me back to my days in law school where we learned that the Constitution is a living breathing document that can be interpreted to meet new issues of the day. The Supreme Court interpretation was in essence that the constitution was a "growth mindset" document.

Giving the dog a bone ... Woodrow Wilson initiated the thinking with the statement "Society is a living organism and must obey the laws of life, not of mechanics; it must develop. All that progressives ask or desire is permission - in an era when "development," "evolution," is the scientific word - to interpret the Constitution according to the Darwinian principle; all they ask is recognition of the fact that a nation is a living thing and not a machine."

Supreme Court Justice Holmes in Missouri v. Holland subsequently stated "With regard to that we may add that when we are dealing with words that also are a constituent act, like the Constitution of the United States, we must realize that they have called into life a being the development of which could not have been foreseen completely by the most gifted of its begetters. It was enough for them to realize or to hope that they had created an organism; it has taken a century and has cost their successors much sweat and blood to prove that they created a nation. The case before us must be considered in the light of our whole experience and not merely in that of what was said a hundred years ago. The treaty in question does not contravene any prohibitory words to be found in the Constitution. The only question is whether [252 U.S. 416, 434] it is forbidden by some invisible radiation from the general terms of the Tenth Amendment. We must consider what this country has become in deciding what that amendment has reserved."

The point being made for everything is that it if there is no growth mindset, just look to ground as it will be six feet under.

Trying to change another person into a growth mindset can be a futile disappointing exercise... Is that the thought of a fixed mindset or just a truth?

In August, I was offered a chance to go back to school on a 2 year scholarship for engineering. I always thought that I was horrible in math and focused on Language Arts and Music. Anyway, I had to first pass a 2 week-long math "Bootcamp". Thinking "I'm on summer vacation anyway soooo,why not?" I went and passed. Now I am taking 5 classes from 8:30-1:30 M-F until December 20th: Algebra, Physics, Geometry, English for Engineers, and Psychology for Success where our textbook is Dr. Carol Dweck's book. I had to drop my day job tutoring K-2 in reading and fend off a lot of questions about why I was switching to this field of study instead of something more creative. Well I've always had an interest in the environment, fresh water, and the quality and quantity of nutrition in the food that I eat. After the city of Toledo, Ohio had a water crisis this summer in August that prevented 500,000 residents from being able to even bathe in their tap water for a week, I think I'd like to explore environmental engineering. I'm not sure where this will lead, but so far all my grades have been in the 90th percentile. Not too bad for someone who didn't know the difference between an algebraic expression vs equation 2 weeks ago! Once I made the mental commitment to go back to school, other options began popping up to make up the money I lost from leaving my tutoring job. I spend most of my nights studying but I'm feeling excited about learning something new again. And it started with asking myself "What do I have to lose if I succeed?" Absolutely nothing! :D It's just amazing how your post on a Fixed vs Growth mindset popped up on this day when I had a couple of doubts creep up. Thanks.

It's in all how one thinks about. ♡

This is one of the best articles I've read in a long time, Derek. Thank you so much!

That's great. I think I'm gonna try the growth mindset for awhile, so I can see what comes of constant learning.

Short & Sweet. To the point. Thanks for sharing this.

IMHO, there are situations when I behave with a fixed mindset, while in others, I embrace a growth mindset. Is this common? Or do you think they are mutually exclusive?

Also any practical insights on how to transition from fixed to growth mindset?
Very common. Sorry no special insights on how to transition, except to realize it and try. — Derek

This is good dose of medicine to convent pessimistic person to optimistic.

For that purpose you presume that fixed mindset is bad and growth mindset is good. And you are comparing "pessimistic fixed mindset" with "optimistic growth mindset" to prove that.

Think other way round also, for example :

In fixed mindset everyone must follow traffic rules. In growth mindset we can drive anyway we like as long as the other person is not hurt.

In fixed mindset things belong to people and don't use other's things (ask if in need). In growth mindset ownership of things is an illusion, just take and use those things that they don't need.

There is a long list like this to prove that fixed mindset can be good at some time and growth mindset can be bad.

Thank you for your attempt to make us optimistic.

You're making me think about a musically related principle. In lute/teorbo tablature notation, if you play the "absolute" way, the key remains the same no matter how instruments are tuned, but you need to change the fingering. If you play the "fixed" way, the key changes with the way the instruments are tuned, but the fingerings remain the same. The absolute way requires extra effort to change fingerings... That's a special thing making me think about growth, though it is named "absolute"... I think you know what my reasoning is. Thanks for sharing. I often think about how absurd it is to think we live in a finite World with set things.

This is so essential to being able to move on....and clearly put. It would be fun to start compiling examples, so people can see where there are, and possibly where they are stuck.....I'll post it on my blog (http://www.brotherian.ca) and see what readers say. Once again, Derek - thanks!

So true, Derek! As a music teacher I constantly fight against the fixed mindset, and the mistaken belief that talent is something you either have or you don't.

If I thought that way, I would never have learned enough to pass on to anyone at all!

Fixed mindset = hitting head against brick wall and restrictions of brain .and the best example is religion.

1. Thanks for an interesting series of freely associated conclusions.
2. Particular thanks for sending them in a type face that a 75-year-old vieux schnoque can actually read without glasses!
3. I concur with each conclusion, in your fine order, as would my old mentor, J-P (Sartre), adding only that that you leave out the intrinsic and absolute element of personal of responsibility for the ripples each and every decision wave creates.
4. If that realization does not become paralyzing, or stupefying, or numbing, and you have the stones to continue, then you have the intrinsic right and moral the obligation to stand up on your hind legs and truly embrace life --- insofar as we somewhat evolved creatures on the third rock of a minor sun on the edge of a diminutive galaxy can claim that right and know that obligation.
5. It's turtles, all the way down.
All good wishes to you and yours, Derek, especially that lovely I held in my arms. Joe

Having a willingness to live in a growth mindset is healthy, good, excellent. I also honor that there are some elements that are fixed / predetermined in one's life, like it or not. James Hillman's "The Soul's Code" is an excellent read on the topic of having certain "possessions," if you will - an inner calling / obsession / daemon that doesn't let you go until you heed it (or else it creates havoc in your life). Perhaps some people experience being "blank slates" more than others; in my life, I experience a fairly strong sense of destiny, and a need to attune to life / fate as is. Within the confines of "going with the flow," however, a growth mindset is still very helpful and makes life much more enjoyable. :)

Thanks Derek, so strange -- I just read this after finishing my habits of reading, meditation, journaling, yoga and writing -- these practices have really shown me the power of a growth mindset, I even wrote about the growth mindset in my journaling just now.

This part of your post stood out to me...

"In a growth mindset, you keep up your confidence by always pushing into the unfamiliar, to make sure you’re always learning."

I never really looked at it this way but it's true that I find myself always doing that -- pushing into the unfamiliar, reinventing myself, etc. And I found creating the habit of reading books has also been a great catalyst to the growth mindset. I'm currently reading Tynan's book 'Superhuman By Habit' which has filled in a lot of gaps and helped solidify some habits I was struggling with.

The book Learned Optimism comes to mind as well, because for fixed mindset people they can learn to be growth mindset people just as you can learn optimism and there's always room for growth because as Carol shares in the Mindset book, we can be fixed mindset people in some areas and growth mindset in others. Identifying those areas where we have the fixed mindset isn't easy but the awareness of meditation and friends who aren't afraid to challenge you definitely help!

Thanks again for sharing!

Awesome work again Derek. You definitely deserve credit for sharing the growth mindset to new audiences and creating content and examples that extend the range of applications of learning opportunities -- including education, art, music, and sport. I've shared your "failure" video hundreds of times. It was great to see the leadership team at the school my youngest children attend (Glenealy ESF in Hong Kong) recently launch growth mindset attitudes and language across all grades. The lean startup approach to entrepreneurship applies similar ideas to the process of building a business -- fail fast and frequently as part of the design, build, measure, and refine path of discovery. Keep up the great work!

I think this is similar to the quote of Bill Gates
"It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure."
Just different meaning.
All is about practice.
I will share this story to the page "success quote" on FaceBook.
They will probably love it.

I've been bouncing between those two for almost 60 years now. ;)

It occurs to me that the metaphors used to describe thinking patterns in the learning process have everything to do with clarifying and motivating whomever it is that one is trying to convince. Paragraphs that I read here seem more like pointing out pitfalls and what I interpret as "bottom line thinking."
If I was making a point about the learning process, the ultimate purpose seems to me to be Mastery or the best path that leads to Mastery, not just in sports but in all of life and avoiding the mentality of quick results instead of long term dedication to the journey itself. I'm convinced that if there is any sure route to success and fulfillment of life, it is to be found in the long term, essentially goalless process of mastery - "the mysterious process during which what is at first difficult becomes progressively easier and more pleasurable through practice."

What a coincidence! Your topic hit on something similar I just read a few days ago on KhanAcademy which went something like, "Why I will never praise my child..." basically talking about the growth mindset to encourage the child to struggle and grow versus praise only when they succeed at something as if instilling the "fixed mindset." Can't find that exact article now.

I went back to that website found an interview with Carol Dweck --- the same author you have summarized here. So, this link may be useful to check out as well: https://www.khanacademy.org/youcanlearnanything

Thank you for the great post and insights as always. It is a good reminder for me to get off my comfort zone --- what I think I am good at and try something new and learn --- this applies to myself and my kids :)!

Thanks again,

Pavitra

So would you say that if you painted great masterpieces for 60 years and received no recognition at all it wouldn't bother you just a little, even?

Thanks for these wise words. I try to grow from every experience, pleasant or unpleasant. Life is one heck of a teacher if one is willing to be taught. You certainly have practiced growth. I remember you from the early CD Baby days when I was teaching songwriting at UCLA. We've both progressed through many stages in our lives when we could have stayed put. I have no regrets for moving on when my instincts told me to do so. You have been a great role model. Keep on evolving.

Excellent reading (as usual) Derek. Looking forward to the next read.

Hey Derek, for me 3 components: To be, To do, To have. That's pretty much it. Thanks for your post! D2 (Woodegg)

Oh without doubt, I have both fixed and growth mindsets. It all depends on subject matter. I do believe the overall direction of profile is growth, sometimes I am stuck in the I know what I know and you can't change that.... Needless to say, I need to fly a little higher...

Today I was speaking with a long-time good friend. He mentioned that he was nearing 80, and was starting to "wind down" and was looking for someone to "take over for him." If he wasn't 500 miles from me I'd go give him a swift kick in the butt. I might anyway ...
At the very least, he will get a link to this post. Thank you Derek!

funnily enough I'm reading "Mindset: how you can fulfil your potential" by Carol Dweck. The exact same point. Funnily enough though, the company I work for (headquarters in Boston) believe that the fundamental psychological trait of a person doesn't change and therefore you're stuck in your bucket... I've shown them that a person can change, improve (di and MBA) and move from technical to sales to even be a director... they don't believe in that...:-(
as you say "The fixed mindset is the most common and the most harmful".
but let's focus on the positive of the effect of change and the attitude to change... :)
thanks Derek

This is a good read to - never to old to train your brain or become unstuck

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-cutchlow/why-some-kids-try-harder-and-some-kids-give-up_b_5826816.html

Hello Derek,
I seem to always be on a learning curve. It will be nice to get my musical movie on the way. I don't know how to go about it, but will let you know if I find some- body reliable like you. Best wishes & good luck dear friend.
Mark

You know, its funny. I've never stopped learning. I learned guitar at 9, classical piano at 34, drawing at 45, sculpting at 54. In my line of work, I MUST constantly learn or wither up and die.

I believe talent is a myth.

The idea of the growth mindset came to me at about 16 or 17. I was playing guitar in school, and a gal said, "I wish I could make my guitar sound like that".
It kind of took me by surprise, and said, "Why can't you? All you have to do is practice".

What she didn't realize, and what MOST people don't realize is that we can ALL do anything we want. It comes down to the desire, and drive to "do it until you can do it".

Most people don't realize that to be good at something you have to be bad at it for awhile. It's the most painful part of any learning process. But when you push through the other side, it's a wonderful thing.

There was a cartoon floating around the internet a couple of years ago.
On the left side was an oval, and on the right side was a beautifully rendered charcoal of a human head. Over the two the title said, "How to draw the human head".
Below the oval it said, "first, draw an oval".
Below the beautifully rendered head it said, "Now draw the fucking head".

Its simple message was this: to get there, you have to start. And if you want it to be great, you have to stick with it. Will it be painful, yes. But when you finish, it's the greatest feeling ever.

Best of all, you get the bragging rights. ;-)

thanks Derek! always timely, needed a refresh reset of my growth mindset. feeling better already! - a

I think a growth mindset is as much a part of the ageing process as is sagging jaws and wrinkling skin. When we are young we are so sure we are right about everything and if we are proven wrong, its a devastating blow to our egos. As we get older, we realise that we are right about nothing and love to be proven wrong as it is a welcomed opportunity to learn something new.

Always good to be reminded of this simple but profound distinction... It's always struck me as incredibly important and empowering, so much so that I wrote a post about it myself a couple of years ago on my Fearless Creativity blog. I won't link here but if anyone is interested, search for 'Fearless Creativity Mindset'...

Agreed!

I agree with you and added that those who are in a fixed mindset are skeptics, they see only obstacles and impossibilities and therefore do nothing to change it. These, with their inaction, reinforce the negative state of affairs. Others who are in a growth mindset are optimistic. They see opportunities and make the necessary changes, either within themselves or in the world around them.

Wonderful!

I also sense the influence of Cal Newport's "So Good They Can't Ignore You" on the passion part - one of your favourite books, I know.

By the way, I think you meant "each other" rather than "eachother", unless you're trying to coin a new word like "another"!

Love it.. the simplicity of your articulation is compelling Derek..

Going by growth mindset, i too can develop it!

Very interesting thoughts, thanks Derek to show those books

"In a fixed mindset, you look inside yourself to find your true passion and purpose, as if this is a hidden inherent thing."

People who believe in it believe in a pre-determined fate. They do not see themselves as a plastic and dynamic process.

Some good stuff in there Derek, but:

"In a fixed mindset, you look inside yourself to find your true passion and purpose, as if this is a hidden inherent thing."....`

I think this one needs tweaking Derek as I’m sure this isn’t a fixed thing. I’d say that if we look within at what we already know, we find a fixed landscape; the ego looking within at itself, and that gets old real quick. But if we look within to see what we don’t know about ourselves, with the attitude of an explorer, which is far more frightening, we have the potential to discover far more….. not only of ourselves, but of what we are immersed in.

So, what am I saying? Egotistical introspection is as fixed as egotistical extrospection. I’m not saying ego is a dirty word; it’s the lens, ego-consciousness, it’s our main lens. But when considering unconscious processes and contents such as dreams and uncontrolled reactions or slips for example, we are seeing things bubble to the surface from depths deep within.

Apparently Jung said ““Whoever looks outside dreams, whoever looks inside awakes.” That rings true with me. It might be that you are very extroverted and find solutions and meaning in the outside world. As an introvert, if I find meaning in the outside world, it is because I missed it in my inside world and so had to play it out externally.

Anyway, I dig you Derek so I thought I’d give my 2 cents worth.

Take care man.

So, the fixed mindet stems from the ego, while the growth mindset comes from the heart and the soul. Should be an easy choice, but from what I see every day of my life, most will pick the ego. This is why I try to stay home, and away from people as much as possible :D .

This reminds me of a story from my piano teacher. His dad was a master at baritone sax and played in big bands all over the world. Eventually he hit his 80s and had to concede he could no longer handle the instrument- arthritis and loss of muscle mass. Most people would have retired. He switched to soprano sax and is now as in demand as ever at the age of 89!

Thanks for the insights; simple but extraordinarily profound. Thanks for sharing.

With a growth mindset even physical miracles are possible: I was once inspired by a man who was hit by a truck as a youth. The doctors told him he’d be a cripple for the rest of his life, and would never walk again. The man heard none of it. Years later in his mid forties, I met him as he was competing in marathons! All that was left of the ‘fixed mindset’ was a limp when he walked - but the man sure could run! This man proved that by applying the growth mindset even physical miracles are possible!

I agree 100% ! I work as a coach, therapist and lecturer and have always believed in growth mindset. When i read the book by Carol Dweck, i became even more convinced! The trick is to teach people that they can change their mindset and start learning anything they want to! I usually start with baby steps - small achievable tasks first.

My mantra on this topic: "You cannot defeat me, you can only delay me..."

There are natural giftings. I am 6'8" which proved itself helpful in basketball. As the adage goes, "You can't coach height." But you can. We all have gold in the ground. Maybe not for everything, but something that sets us apart. Too many people think that hard work and sacrifice are negatives. They are not. It is just trading lesser things for greater things. It ain't easy. If it was, then it wouldn't mean much.

This theory is almost an identical one to the science of the mind that has been published by scientists in the last few decades. In simple form the right side of the brain accepts and reviews all incoming data. The left side reviews the data and compares it to what's already in the memories and if something else is there it lies to us and tells us that the new data is wrong and just ignore it. This according to science came about through evolution to keep us alive. For example when you see a big beautiful cat don't run over to it and start petting it. Your experience and family taught you that tigers can kill you. If you understand that this is how your left brain works you can compensate and think about it and if it's just left brain bias you ignore it. However some folks have a hard time doing this because they are very conservative because of some experiences or training.

As always, Derek. When I read your thoughts I slow down and rethink! You are a great motivator!!

At past I used your principle about growth mindset n fixed mindset... I even teach it to my empoyee.
But 2 months ago I realized it little bit confusing in practice... cause when I became expert, I tend to believe that I was advaced... that the solution should be in one sequence pattern... like a provable solution.
It feels like skill is just repeated things.
When it comes to technical things... everything almost be flawed.
For me failure is not the part of learning... it is the part of arrogance and laziness to think and to ask.
Failures are always shows up, but I would never celebrated it... failure just means I was did stupid things.

Expert says... if it done like that it should be such and such.
They are called as expert cause their ability to do without thingking, asking, n analyzing.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. This is also a very good book to support your theory "Switch" by Heath brothers

So true. I'm reminded of Salman Khan's #YouCanLearnAnything movement at Khan Academy and his posting "The Learning Myth: Why I'll Never Tell My Son He's Smart" https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/95208400815/the-learning-myth-why-ill-never-tell-my-son-hes

Thank you - I'm guilty of fixed thinking and know it can be so damaging.

Very interesting concept.

Do u know that these " insights" were"revealed" in a compilation of writings that were completed 2000 years ago ? It is called the bible.now ask me how fo i know this and we u will never know .maybe u already know why,do u. ?

I said to my friend "In engineering 90% is thinking, 10% is action. When I am thinking in 1 hour first before doing, I can fix the problem in 10 minutes. When I slightly try to do many possibilities, I need 2-3 days to solve the same problem... and unfortunately 60% never got fixed. That's why I wasted my 5 years for stupid things. It is not learning, it is failure. Huge mistakes."

Spot on! After 19 years of marriage, we both realize there will always be things we can do to improve upon our relationship, most of which has to do with getting outside of ourselves and seeking to please each other. I think the same can be applied to our benefit in most of our relationships.

Hi Derek , I always read your articles . Because ..
You are concise to the point .
You offer great insights . You take yourself out of the picture .
Had I come across 'mindset' and 'the art if learning' in any other way I would not have paid attention . There are many great authors like this who deserve attention just like my fellow artists in the music business. If we all could be in the habit to champion other creators without any apparent gain to our selves, then, we all gain .

I've never thought about mindset but now realize I've always had the growth mindset. Enjoyed hearing about this. I truly believe that whatever you can believe and work dilligently towards you will accomplish.

So let's reduce it all to Saint Thomas Aquinas' thoughts regarding man as one always "becoming." In my terms, we are cathedrals always under construction. Done.

Thanks a lot Derek for posting this today and making me think this morning! Man,the Growth mindset really trumps the Fixed mindset for sure in my opinion! Very interesting topic my friend!

Trey :)

Thank you, growth mindset is the only way to go if you wish to grow. Blessings always!

Very nice Derek. I think in my case both mind sets are needed. Kind of a Yin/Yang thing. I really do believe that some things in life are meant to only go so far. That's where the fixed mindset works. Then again there are things that need to continue on and on. Hence using the growth mindset makes sense. Thanks again for a great article.

Hey Derek,
I'm of the fixed mindset that your generosity of spirit is awesome! And I'm not changing my opinion!

nice lil reminder as always. Thank u Derek. I think I've learned one the magic things about being human is we are able to update our automatic emotional and thought responses and check if we actually agree with them.

I'm so glad I read this. I think this is so
Important with all the negatives its hard to switch. With practice it could work.

Thanks for this Derek. I run a community music school, and often run into people (teachers, parents, board members, etc) who operate from what you are calling a fixed mind set.

It has often seemed odd to me that people can teach others and encourage them to grow but not give themselves the same opportunity.

Having this frame of reference may be useful to me in encouraging them, and perhaps I can steer them to some of the resources you referenced here.

Robin Kearton
Community Center for the Arts ( c-4a.org )

In a growth mindset, when you discover some people see the world differently from you, you try to trust, forgive and broaden your perspective.

In a fixed mindset, when you discover some people see the world differently from you, you try to be the one with the bigger gun.

Derek, this may be my favorite article I've had the pleasure of reading from you. As a music teacher, I feel I am always trying to convince people to embrace the growth mindset over the fixed mindset. My students will say, "I'm just not gifted like you or him or her." The truth is, I was a horrible musician for a long time before I became trained enough to be a teacher myself. It took hours in the shed, years of lessons, and a relentless hunger to get better. Unfortunately, most people view talent as innate. Some have it, some don't. Dramatically put, their mindset is: "If you don't come out of the womb singing opera or painting like picasso, then you have no business even trying." Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, some people have greater aptitude for certain skills, but that does not mean there is an unbreakable rule saying others with less aptitude cannot reach or surpass that level of skill. Wonderful and encouraging read. Thanks as always, Derek.

thought provoking as usual. nice to hear from you. I like the concept here. I am guilty of a fixed mind set. not worrying about the outcome is great. working on
skills and constantly learning is a challenge. thinking differently is a great place to start learning. thank you for your writings all these years. you are a world traveler and optimist and thoughtful human being.

While largely I agree, I also think the "I can do anything" mindset comes with significant risks. The fact is there are basic biological differences between people which no amount of practice can remedy.If you don't acknowledge that then you're setting yourself up for self-blame"if only I tried harder, or the right way", and also to blame others "she could do it, if she really wanted to." I think it's great to approach the world with curiosity "maybe I could be great at this, I should try" but at times it's extremely healthy to acknowledge that you lack a certain skill or capacity, and That's Okay Too.

NICE!!!! Thank you as always Derek

I must agree. Seeing this article this morning after the reveling weekend I experiencing so far makes me so joyous. Thank you for sharing this as growth is welcome and being fixed, for me, fixes nothing.

Although I think a growth mindset can be challenging at times, it is by far the most rewarding. Thanks for your article!

A pot of gold. The last nugget of truth on the list is particularly sweet as it reminds me of my mother after I had unsuccessfully put a great deal of effort into trying to prevent a few people from suffering. When I remarked, angry at myself for failing to help, that I could not believe I had wasted my time in the end, my mother said sharply, "No you didn't because you did the right thing."

Derek,
You had me from the first sentence...a couple of thoughts- learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable and strive to be out of your comfort zone.
Theodore Roosevelt needed to be "in action" as he put it.
Thanks for keeping me on your friends list.

Thanks, Derek. Good reading, as always! Gosh, I could not imagine having lived these 65 years in one "place". There is a lot to be said for the warmth of the "womb". But, to have given up the mix of engineering, composing, ministering to prisoners and ordinary folk around the world, to have lived with someone who thinks like I do, to have avoided children and the joy of grandchildren, to have never stepped beyond my career field into music and psychology? I will admit that often it is chilly "out here", but my family and I would have missed the world! And, there is so much more of the world to know. "Failure" is part of pushing back boundaries. But, the reward of getting a few things really right far outweighs the many disappointments along the way. I may not die wealthy but I will die rich. Thanks, again, my friend, and keep growing!

This is John with a Fixed mindset at "The Group at Startbucks" I create this for this group .. Please take a listen and share http://www.reverbnation.com/tommycarl/song/21645783--the-group-at-starbucks

It was good to hear from you again, Derek. At age 70, I have learned this lesson...finally. I listened too long to well-meaning people who told me "you shouldn't attempt this because of your health...it's too exhausting and you need to be careful." Fortunately, I married a man who, although he came from an abusive childhood and was slated for a dead-end job with his step-father who just wanted a strong body to work for him, he signed up for the Navy while in high school and went on to an honorable 28 year career in the Submarine Service, retiring as an E9 (Master Chief) despite the fact that he was dyslexic. I've never known anyone who could learn the way he did. I learn by reading, he learns by listening and observing. At 21 we married and even though I had never been away from home, we've moved 28 times, crossing the country several times. I learned that I could do anything I needed to do and more, and that was the only reason I could endure 90 days of separation, every 90 days for many years. I learned so many skills that it would take too long to write, but have learned to enjoy many, many things that may never be famous for, but I know that being famous is not the reason to learn new things. I've had a successful career in business, even though the longest stretch of being with a company was 9 years due to frequent moves. Of course, I'm retired now, but happily enjoying the results of the fun things I've learned, and am in the process of finding a job as a proofreader for new authors, particularly those that become eBooks, since there are so many errors in so many of those books. And that's just for fun!

I prefer to talk about the sense of possibility, but it's really the same thing. Having grown up in a family where nothing was possible and anything interesting or adventurous was done by other people, the sense of possibility has been exceedingly precious to me all my adult life. It's what keeps me alive.

I prefer to talk about the sense of possibility, but it's really the same thing. Having grown up in a family where nothing was possible and anything interesting or adventurous was done by other people, the sense of possibility has been exceedingly precious to me all my adult life. It's what keeps me alive.

Hi Derek,
I loved your article and I'm sure the two books are meaningful and helpful tools. I like your views on "fixed" and "growth" mindsets, and if I am honest, I have to say I personally am a little of both. Sometimes I fail miserably and fall into a defeatist attitude, while sometimes I rise above and grow from the experience. Either way, sometimes I fail, and sometimes I am victorious, life just goes that way. It is great to have encouragement to take the high road, thanks for making me think about it. Maybe I'll buy one of these books!

Thank You Derek!
I really appreciate you sharing such wonderful ideas.
Just one thing I didn't understand:
"In a fixed mindset, you look inside yourself to find your true passion and purpose, as if this is a hidden inherent thing."

I find nothing wrong with searching inside and looking for hidden possibilities. There might be a spark of something wonderful that could change oneself or the whole world! Yes, pursue your true passions. Many people (not me!) don't have many passions and are searching.

You da man!
Passion/Purpose is something you develop, not find. It's not a fixed thing inside you. It's a side-effect of building skill and experience. — Derek

I think we probably swing between these two "state of minds" through out our lives unless we are guided by awareness that we are even "in" one or the other. By the way, thanks for the heads up on Josh Waitzken book. He is certainly someone who has walked an incredbly interesting and enlightening path. I loved "Searching for Bobby Fisher" about his life as a young chess prodigy. Thanks Derek!

I'm scratching my head and thinking, hmmm, interesting. I especially like where you and A.J. #12 bring up the part that we can be fixed minded on some things and growth minded on others. I kind of always thought everybody always was both at the same time and that's what's so interesting about our journeys and experiences. Imagine if we had it all figured out... I like that we have to listen to each other to figure these things out and chose each day what and who we'll believe in. Great blog Derek and I especially like that you share where your inspiration and mind expanding thoughts came from. Thanks!

Derek,

In addition to you, Charlie is my new hero!

Fixed mindset/growth mindset....to we choose these or do they come naturally as part of our personality? I am thankful I am in the 2nd category.....of course that's my opinion.

great and succinct as always
thanks Derek

I have to say I find reading the comments after each of Derek's blogs almost as fun and informative as the blog itself.
☺ Definitely — Derek

Right-On, Derek! ... I'm into GROWTH myself! : ) ... Keep 'em coming - and here's one from me to chew on! ... https://www.facebook.com/notes/george-nicholas-koumantzelis/sexuality-and-spirituality/826309607403776

I've always believed in a sort of blending of the two mindsets. I believe that everyone is capable of learning how to do anything and that the amount of effort you put into something will produce a similar result. However, I also believe that we all have an inherent talent, just something we are naturally good at. It's different for each person and you may spend your whole life and never figure out what that special talent is (I always say that I might be the world's greatest bungie jumper but given my fear of edges, we'll never find out!). So, it's sort of a mixed bag.

Hi Derek
I find this to be true in myself and people I work with. It's an on going process of 2 steps forward and 1 step backward. The mindset can be circumstantial in a moment of performance and we need to remind ourselves it's not fixed. Perfection is in heaven but if one practices and keeps at it heaven can come to you.

You can think that you can achieve anything, sweep away the limitations to achieve it. If someone else succeeds at something, I can too. That's easily said than done. It is a boon to have the ability to distinguish reality from fiction. History has recorded the inventions and discoveries of certain people who have been infinitely successful, because they were inspired by an infinite amount of wisdom that they already possessed. The steam train was invented because of the inspiration it created by the boiling of a kettle. How many individuals who looked at the lid of a kettle bobbing up and down by the power of steam could have utilized this vision and brought the power of steam into fruition, unless they had the pre-existent mental requisite of the necessary wisdom and knowledge that fired their belief system that it could be achieved? How many people who stood under an apple tree and had an apple fall on their head would trigger a universe of wisdom about the law of gravity, unless that precious cargo of wisdom had not already docked at the harbor of their mind. Leonardo Da Vinci had the limitless ability to invent things that astonished and astounded the world. Where did he get all this wisdom and power from? There are things that we can achieve if it is natural for us to do so; and there are some things that we may desire, but we do not have the ability to achieve it, because we do not possess the ability to achieve that goal. Our relationships with others will much depend on whether our individual auras will harmonize with each other and blend. Even if it does so initially, it may change with the character of one or both individuals who's auras will also then change and not blend with each other to harmonize any more. Nature appears to have the supreme choice to decide success and failure. One can not make a decision about where one wished to be born in the universe. If you were born in Europe or America your chances of success are much less limited and you will have more opportunities and the ability to succeed and achieve your goals than if you were born in one of the poor countries of the developing world; and even in Europe and America if you are black and you want to succeed, you have to overcome all the obstacles that are placed in your path and even though you may have the ability, if opportunity to succeed rests with some force or forces on which you have to depend on, these forces may decide to deny you success regardless of the fact that you possess the ability. Such is life.

Just like the conservative vs. Liberal mindset. :)

Sometimes I can get fixed, especially when I experience fear. This is a good reminder that fear announces growth. Thank you Derek!

I've always believed that anyone can do anything they desire, it's just that some people have innate abilities, which allow them to do certain things, with more ease. Others may have to try much harder.

It's interesting that you can have a fixed mindset in one area, and a growth mindset in another. For instance, I've always considered mastering new languages just a methodological approach and have even been able to pass this skill on.

But only recently did I question my long-time fixed belief that I had genetically bad teeth (frequent cavities) and decided it's just a matter of taking care of them.

The beauty is that the mind (read GROWTH MINDSET) can override even physical/genetic states.

Hi Derek,

I'm a natural born growth mindset person, just been that way all my life. (See what I did there? :) )

But seriously though, I believe anybody can get good, really, really good at anything they want to pursue. But, to be great requires the combination of a natural born talent and that desire to pursue it to mastery.

Goodness requires one or the other.

Greatness requires the combination.

Thanks,
Fred

Thanks Derek for new article
best regards
Audio-Rarities
Jan

That's an interesting way to encapsulate our mindsets as an approach to things like problem solving and simply participating in activities. It reminds of the fundamental attribution error. But it's more of an internalized attribution about our character rather than an observed actor. Personally, I always think of pool or bowling. I'm terrible at both but still manage to enjoy these activities. I do think that I could improve if I focused on either activity.

Thanks again!

Beautiful Derek, love this insight!

Great stuff as usual Derek, but here's a counter. Hartley Peavey, CEO and founder of Peavey electronics, has said that 'recognizing his limitations' and acting on that opinion, was what drove him to do what he does. He realized that while he wanted to be a performer and 'star' more than anything, he realized that he was better at building and repairing amps and that he didn't 'have what it takes' to 'make it'. He says that teaching kids to always 'reach for your dreams' is a bit misleading. His opinions and outcomes, on the surface anyway, seem to blur the lines a bit, dontcha think......?
Yes! More on that in the next post. — Derek

I like your short paragraphs, Derek. I think big blocks of text push readers away, whereas little bits draw us in. I'm writing a book, and you've encouraged me to consider how short I can get a paragraphs and still keep the coherence... :)
Thank you! I also picked it up from others, and noticed it was easier to read, especially on screen for short articles like this. — Derek

Staying on the rails. Which isn't to say, staying in the box. Is it better to let a project slide off the rails and go off on a tangent, or stay on the rails? Certainly a fixed mindset would hold to stay on the rails. Fixed how? Perhaps vision or idea is fixed, and the direction you wish to go in, the place want to be is fixed. Then, I should propose that you stay on the rails, even in a growth mindset. Get there faster, more defiantly against the obstacles. And as for growth, I found the "power of habit" by duhigg to be an excellent read, and one piece I have as a take away is that as you change your habits in one area, other unrelated habits begin to change as well, as is the case with self discipline. Also, nothing is fixed in the universe, everything is moving, changing. a fixed mindset just isn't based on reality. however, I will say, that personally, letting go is the hardest part. there is a comfort in feeling that things will stay the same, and in fact, reality shows us this illusion all the time. Everything appears the same as is was yesterday, though subtly changed. And that subtlety, can go unnoticed. It is either growth or decay. (although it could be argued that decay is just another form of growth)

Great post Derek!
This is a topic that has fascinated me over the past few years. Through a lot of reading and learning it has changed my life and perspective on life for the better (much better). I think it really comes down to what we BELIEVE about ourselves, each other, and the world is what defines our lives. Belief is all that really matters.
And I realized it's why "Trading Places" has always been one of my favorite movies ;-)
Rock on!

This came right on time! Thanks for sharing Derek!!

Thanks for that article. Im always glad when I read your blog. It seems to be information I need to read at the perfect time. Thanks

Very insightful! However, I would still question this part:

"In a fixed mindset, you look inside yourself to find your true passion and purpose, as if this is a hidden inherent thing.
In a growth mindset, you commit to mastering valuable skills regardless of mood, knowing passion and purpose come from doing great work, which comes from expertise and experience."

How about "looking inside yourself to find your true passion", and then "committing to mastering valuable skills" which help you moving towards your goal? Only then, I think, you can really feel the "passion and purpose" coming from "expertise and experience".

So, in other words, I believe that a person with "growth mindset" can still benefit from some qualities that you describe as "inherent" for the one with "fixed mindset". And also:

"In a fixed mindset, it’s all about the outcome. If you fail, you think all effort was wasted." -- OK, agreed, but:

"In a growth mindset, it’s all about the process, so the outcome hardly matters." -- actually, it does! Yes, "your abilities are entirely due to your actions", but in order to act full-heartedly working hard to achieve those abilities one needs to know (or, rather, feel) that he/she is follow the "path that has a heart". The process, of course, is much more important than the outcome (or goal) -- this is your very life! But your true goal is what gives it the heart.

Once again, very good post. Thank you, Derek.

Derek - Both of those are great books and I absolutely agree and live by this. The concept has shaped my teaching, my parenting and even how I approach development for myself.

It's such a simple and powerful concept.

Thank you for sharing this and making those recommendations.

All my best!

Hi Derek!
I unloaded the dishwasher as I listened to your deep and thought provoking talk on life...
Horse...before the cart..I say. Or, instead of catching the diffused light beam, catch the point where it begins...
Also..did you know that the word PERFECT means : " a bone that has been broken, and has been set in place. It is healing ...but isn't healed yet."
How beautiful is the original.
Have a great evening Derek!...me, back to work. :-)
Rachel

Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Especially the part about passion. See The War of Art, which actually I think I first found through a link on your page. Thank you!!!!!!

I have to admit that I do try to have a growth mindset. And sometimes it has to be a conscious decision that you make first thing in the morning, about how you will deal with what life will throw at you. But sometimes so many things are happening at once, many of which you cannot control, that you get worn down and the fixed mindset can be a comfortable place to be. At least for a while. Until you realize that you will not grow as a person with that frame of mind.

I think I know this already. Oh, dear. Do I also think I am capable of expressing it this well? Probably. Thanks, Derek.

I remember the frame shift in my life when I realized that one really can do anything when they work towards achievable goals. It's made all the difference in my life. I have noticed though, especially in office environments, a lot of people that have maintained the same job, same life circumstances for a long time become more likely to fall within the fixed mindset. I am convinced that this is when people really start to age. Just my personal observations :)

As always, thanks for the insightful words, Derek!!

Dude, I just finished reading Carol's book! Loved it. It's one of those books I'll keep around forever. A reminder when things get tough to not despair and just look inward.

My take on this is a little bit different.

Everyone is a hodge-podge of fixed AND growth thought processes. It's what makes us each who we are and how we see/interact. Much like a spider spinning/crawling/navigating a web, it's our hard-wiring which allows us to create fixed outlook/perceptions. This gives rise to the shape of our web. Catastrophic events come along and knock us out of our web and we either fall out, grab onto a safety line, or redefine our fixed beliefs with a whole new web. The growth thought process allows us to adapt and change our web to suit our needs. The more imaginative, the more readily we construct a new web (fixed thought processes allow us to repair the "old" web, but never quite the same). The mechanism for switching between the two is therefore our imagination. I often wonder whether spiders dream of using their webs to fly as they do in youth as opposed to just creating a world to live in. Maybe some do, which would explain why you can on occasion find unusual species in disparate locations. The same is true of us every day. Imagine if the ideas we have as fixated thought processes could be applied differently to allow us to reach higher goals. One might argue Growth mentality = Fixed Mentality + Imagination. I guess the long and short of it is we all have to start going where we are going from where we are presently.

I agree with the overall spirit of this argument, but it's way too simplistic. I don't think that there's anything wrong with playing to your strengths, which would be considered a 'fixed' mindset. I think the term 'fixed' is inaccurate. If you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, but you're a total math whiz, would it be wise to make it your mission to become a professional football player rather than a mathematician? In the 'growth' construct, that would be the way to go, if that's what you really wanted to do. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with blindly doing what you love, despite your natural leanings. Many people overcome incredible obstacles in order to become great at something that they wouldn't naturally be good at, but this comes at a huge sacrifice, and these people are usually completely consumed with achieving their goal. Is it worth it? Is it healthy? I think, like everything else, the right balance is required. If you are good at something, why not do it? Why does the dirty word 'fixed' need to be used in order to describe this? And since whatever it is you're good at comes naturally to you, it affords you the opportunity to work on things that you are not good at. For example, I took to guitar very quickly, and I was good at it (imho). I had lots of bands growing up, but we could never find a decent singer. So, I decided to sing, which wasn't really in my wheelhouse. But I busted my ass, and after many years, I developed into a pretty good singer (again, imho). It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. Not to toot my own horn, but this is an example of both the 'fixed' and 'growth' mindsets. One is not evil and one is not good. They are what they are, and different situations call for different ways of thinking.

Maybe instead of a "successful" or "failed" relationships, it would be more accurate and useful to look at the growth of each of the people perusing a relationship as leading to outcomes. This is true for lovers, employees, co workers, bandmates....
Yes! I love this point. I was actually thinking of writing another article about this subject - “failed” relationships. Great example. Thank you. — Derek

Excellent post!

A seemingly trivial subject but totally makes you think about how you view life.

Hi Derek. I know you from when I submitted my CD to CDbaby years back. I love your articles and am especially fond of this one. I plan on ordering both of these books. Take care and have a great day. Bob

This is spot on. As a music teacher I'm always trying to instill "growth" mind in my students. You CAN learn to improvise well...but I'm amazed at how many 6,7 & 8 yr olds come to me for lessons with the "fixed" mindset already ingrained, by family most likely. "I'm not good at this...this is too hard..." are the common things they say. It's really hard to undo this in children and harder in adults but I (and many other teachers) keep trying anyway. Thanks for the article.

This is how I've been living my life for quite a while now and it works well for me indeed. And learning is so much fun anyways so why go about it any other way?

I find myself in both categories. I have a fixed mindset for the things I'm not interested in and a growth mindset for things I am interested in. For example, I never cared about dancing so I tell people I'm not a good dancer if it comes up.
......Did you come up with this, Derek?
Great observation! — Derek

Derek, Man, I hope you never stop writing and sending these! They almost always hit a sweet spot of something I need to hear or be reminded of when I am stalling out mid-air or just need a jolt of fresh thinking. Blessings and best to you.

Brilliant article. Fixed mindset vs growth mindset, it reminds me of Newton's science (fixed mindset) versus Goethe's science (growth mindset) or viewing the world throught the lens of a product or a process. Love your talks too!

There are Audio versions of the books for those who prefer to listen while
moving about. I also recommend " 15 invaluable laws of Growth-----John Maxwell"

It's not always your mindset,it's your bodyset.If you are a 98 pound weakling,you will never excel at a contact sport like football or hockey, but you might be great at chess.Talent is important too, anyone can learn the mechanics of songwriting but if you have no God given talent in that area,it is unlikely you'll ever be a great songwriter.Some people have great brains and can become lawyers or Doctors,but if they have a natural talent for one or the other,they can be great at it.

Thanks for sharing this article with us :)

I think reliance in natural talent or "just focus on creating great music and the business stuff will work out) is part of the musician’s fixed mind. By the way The Art of Learning is the next book on my list. (Borrowed it from a friend)!

Want to pick up easy to understand tools which can be put to use immediately ? I suggest read books by Psychologist Albert Ellis.

I do believe that some things come more natural to some than other do to physical and environmental advantages. For example a kid who has parents who are musicians and who has long slender fingers may have a much easier time learning to play guitar than a kid with short stubby fingers who parents do not like to listen to music. I do think that when the kid with short stubby fingers does learn to play guitar he will have a greater since of accomplishment even if he is never as good.

Thanks. Appreciate the inspiration to stay developing an not get caught believing that things are fixed and cannot be developed over time.

People are people everywhere. All have the ability to grow with practice and perseverance. That's something my lifelong study of music has taught me. Everything I play correctly now was at one time just a bad mistake.

Hi Derek:

Interesting; I might have matched up fixed with flexible, to compare; growth, with its opposite, decay.

It would seem that a fixed mind set might almost fail to account, then, for either growth or decay; illusionary, perhaps, in that case ... or blind.

Ah well, at any fixed point in time (fixed by reflection, that is), perhaps there we measure up the growth/decay parameter ... analyzing the sub-set of the "net income" line in the balance sheet of our lives ... hopefully drawing any lesson(s) out that may be there to draw out; ones discovered or uncovered via our reflection processes, as we then move on (as we always must, i.e., move on).

I must agree, though, that only via a flexible and adaptable/learning approach are we going to better be able to move things in the direction of growth, i.e., versus the direction of the inevitable decay inherent in "nature", where we don't.

Perhaps our true "nature", if we ever discover such ... or, flushing that out, at least ... lies in the discovery of the merits of "nurturing" our own growth, though ... and the growth of those in our lives and people generally.

Great to reflect on such things, in any case. Thanks Derek, as always, for the "inbox" inspiration to do so. :-)

All the best - Cam

"Never let knowledge stifle discovery. Much human knowledge is consensual myth enforced enforced by institutionalized power-structures. Trapped in a Universe of cause and effect, you will be denied the awareness of a blazing infinity full of astounding changes and mind-shattering possibilities . . . surprises everywhere!" I wrote that on my own blog a few years back and it holds true now.
I find all kinds of propaganda propping up obsolete assumptions—fundamentalist religion, "belief systems" (a dangerous weapon against the free mind), consensual myth. The experience you share proves to me that you knew these "truths" as mutable and dynamic, never static or unchanging. Just like the music business, which so many still believe has not changed a bit since The Beatles. I was just talking to a producer who remembered me playing, 40 years ago, with Eddie harris, Sonny Stitt, and Leroy Vinnegar. When I told him they were all long dead, it was as if the concept of death was beyond him, and he thought that I myself was still that same person that had played so many years ago. Aside from immense changes in my physical person, I am made of different molecules, atoms, and I vibrate at an entirely different frequency.
Thank you for the illuminating posts here. I'll be back. - Jessica Williams

As always,I like the prospective you bring to table...yet another brilliant insight into fixed mindset and growth mindset.

Failure can be your best friend!

Thank you Derek for always never failing to provide thought provoking inspiration ♫ Regarding this topic of growth mindset I agree with the concept however I can't even count how many I know who have spent their entire lives trying to learn how to sing or play an instrument or dance or to become a model or actress but now in their 60s without success aka they have never been able to even improve at all. Some believe it or not still living with their parents convinced that one of these days the currently absent talent will surely eventually show up . So how long should one continue trying to learn a talent they desire to possess or develop but definitely do not have still even after years of diligently investing time and finances for instruction always with expectations of eventually learning ...but so far DEFINITELY NOT... Also I love 84 yr old Charlie's comment !!! Reminding me that my biological "father" jazz legend Sir Charles Thompson is still performing (and playing a mean game of golf) at the age of 97. I hope to inherit his growth mindset and longevity LoL &;-) ♪♫ >♥< ♪♫

Thanks Derek, I loved Mindset and will look for The Art of Learning.

Your thoughts are always welcome and you are greatly missed by those of us who continue to do business with CDBaby and HostBaby...

Glad to know you're still at it!

How can someone with a fixed mindset be changed to a growth mindset? My mother, in her late 70s, and my boyfriend of 6 years who is in his early 30s, both have fixed mindsets. It's frustrating for me! I wouldn't want anyone to change for any reason but if I had to pick one thing, this would be it.

They say it's easier to have money being a robot. (spell like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_8Pma1vHmw)

Thanks Derek,
Encouragement and enthusiasm are contagious. Our thoughts
and words are much more important than we realise on a daily basis.

Couldn't agree more, Derek. Thanks for putting it so short and elegant.

Cheers,
Rasmus

A fixed mindset has a hard time seeing life as a journey or adventure. A growth mindset requires us to cultivate an open and participatory attitude towards exploration which is more curious and process oriented and less goal oriented or materialistic. That is a thread I see through most of these examples. It's helpful to see so many fixed mindset examples because they are so prevalent and it is so easy to fall into them, even if you know better! So thank you for the reminder and support.

I often do wonder what things I can change and which ones I can't.

Very well put for younger folks. At 65 the world looks different to me now. With growth mindset, you become aware of opportunities taken that reveal your place in current culture. Now I don't see opportunities, irregardless of growth mindset, because current culture has evolved to a fast and narrow span of age for growth. As a musician, I was surprised that this view affects many of my nonmusical friends of my age group. The road just sorta ran out. I'd be very interested if anybody else has had this experience.

Well he mindset is more a middle ground of both concepts you describe here...
You are able to practice a lot of things I agree but some people just excel in certain areas. take me for instance no matter how much I would practice I would not be a good singer or a formula one driver. Why not? My reaction speed is too slow I am not even allowed to drive a normal car anymore. And singing? Well I am also a bit slower when speaking and my voice ain't that great and I do not have the faintest idea what to sing about. But I am or was good in the ict department.
I could go on and on bu will keep it o this short explanation that you cannot state this as black and white as you do here with the statements I think
Tom

I am still greatly enjoying your articles. Always, I am inspired by your ideas. Thanks Derek! I read every word and get some great nuggets of wisdom, every time. You are the bee's knees.

yours truly, Catfish

Yes, I've first heard about these concepts from Carol's book too.

Most people live in a fixed mindset. This is because they think that reality has fixed rules and you can not achieve more than you achieve now. I don't know if it is poor self-esteem or simply how they have been raised.

Since I'm an atheist and I don't believe in God or destiny, I simply believe in causality. You do this, you get that. Everything is up for grabs as long as you are willing to put in the price.

This is why I don't consider life to be "fair" or "unfair". It simply is. Once you eliminate the concept of subjective morality and you understand that you are exactly where you wanted to be thanks to your own actions, everything becomes so much easier.

thanks for your views, very usefull and will remember it next time i praise my son for archieving a goal. But there is this tiny voice that keeps telling me that maybe all skills are learnable but some people by nature have a damned good headstart at it. Thats what makes us all different and so interesting.

The biggest challenge reading this is accepting how often I find myself in the fixed mindset group. Thank you for the message. Couldn't have come at a better time. Now on with the work of shifting my mindset!

- g

Hi Derek, Monday, 10/6/'14
You make some good points from the books you mentioned. I believe a balance takes place in a person open to leading. I do believe in the Bible and it is fixed while open to interpretation and discussion. I do believe we all have different talents even though I do try to understand and deal with areas that don't come as easy as others. I do believe if you're using those talents, there is a Helper who smoothes the way in front of you. I try to stay open to areas including change, but some areas are harder than others including all things dealing with computers. Being 69 but not using that as an excuse, I grew up doing figures in my head and paper. Today's generation grows up using the computer and I try to catch up but it takes patience for an instructor to get it in my head for the applications I need. For instance, I like many of the suggestions given by bookbaby.com and cdbaby.com but the majority of them go unheeded because of my lack of knowledge about how to complete the process. There's a tremendous amount of Baby Boomers like me who have much to give to our society but silence reigns because they'd rather not fool with something they don't understand. It's like a gold mine sitting there waiting to be dug out.
I hope you're enjoying Singapore. I have a little stock that trades on that exchange called EUNetworks. Check it out and thanks for your service at cdbaby.com I think I have about 16 projects on there under my name and our label. I've written two ebooks but they're floundering under bookbaby.com and amazon's kindle service.
By the way, I send out a song for the weekend to folks all over the place and would like to join you in my mass email. It's just a suggestion to find the song on Google and watch the YouTube presentation. It usually comes out on Friday.
Cheers to you and thank you, Bill Hunter
William ( Bill ) P. Hunter
4536 Andover Ct.
Roanoke, Virginia 24018

Epechomusic is my label for most of my projects on cdbaby.com

The Hunter Family/Bill Hunter/ William P. Hunter should get you to others.

This is one of those changing ideas. They change you when you contemplate it. I've noticed, in my life, that I have a bit of both types in almost everything I do.

Derek, this is very thought provoking. It reminds me of Sir Richard Branson's hiring practice philosophy. He believes everyone is teachable, if they possess a growth mindset, so he doesn't hire on education alone. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin

I was a victim of attempted dissuasion by a former employer. He told me not buy a new Stihl chainsaw, so I could do side jobs on my own.
That saw made me thousands of dollars.
Later he told me it was a bad idea to buy a competitor of his's business.
That business purchase was the best investment I ever made.
As for failing...listen to Michael Jordan when he says that every failure is a learning experience, and something you can build future success on.
Ha! Great example of why we shouldn't take everyone's advice. ☺ Thank you. — Derek

Thanks for the reminders. I always appreciate hearing what you're up to these days. Ever since first corresponding with you at CD Baby many years ago I have been trying to follow the growth mindset path. Actually, my connection with CD Baby was a big step towards following this path.

Sounds very familiar. I recently corresponded with some one from out of my past who seems to be of the fixed mindset. That grieves me.

Thanks, Derek. I needed to read these words.
I am in my mid 40s, changing careers and I've learned that learning Physics, is not actually something my brain enjoys. However, I think that's more of an emotional and/or lazy response. You're so right on the money about the truth with the fixed vs. growth mindset. Amen to growth! : ) Let me get back to my vector lab...lol

You can say so much in a thoughtful number of words, Derek. Still hoping we can collaborate on a synergistic project...something that my "growth mindset" can contribute to. My sincere regards, Marc

Nice thoughts.

Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but I think people should just try to moderate the amount of their growth mindset so they don't get carried away and become overly aggressive or annoying to the others. In a way they need to strive for a "fixed" rate of "growth". Or better said a "moderate" rate of "growth". With that in mind I agree with you.

It is great to build some confidence through the growth mindset, but it is dangerous to become overconfident in too many ways. It needs to be done gracefully.

Otherwise, your ego gets you and pushes you into the fixed mindset, dressing it up to look like the growth mindset. I have seen too many people fall into that trap, never to come out...

For example, they would abuse the growth mindset and still be driven by the outcome. With a little help from their egos. They would try to fix/improve the process because they (their ego) wanted desperately to change the outcome, not to make the process better or approach it as an art form. While they may appear to casual observers as if they were driven by the growth mindset, they would actually be the slaves of the fixed mindset (and their egos)...

In essence, your ego wants to keep you in the fixed mindset, while your own inner self strives for the growth mindset. That is the battle being fought.

So, if you find yourself acting more like within the fixed mindset, beware of your ego. It took over and imprisoned your inner self. Find it! Liberate it!

Great words! Thanks.

I like how you always keep things packaged in a nice bite sized manner. Easy and clear to understand. I will not let my fixed mind prevail, growth beith thy direction. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing this, Derek. Couldn't have expressed these words more succinctly in print myself. I will now share it with the rest of my family, friends & peers!

I believe in the power of having a positive attitude coupled with intentional living. Our choices determine our outcome. If we know what we want it's a simple matter of making the choices that will yield the corresponding result. Too often people lack a clear vision of the future life they want to live so they continue to do the same thing and wonder why they don't arrive at a different destination.

I used to be the positive person that believes I could do anything but since I've been in Florida I feel like I'm under a rock. Trying to raise my daughter. everything you say makes sense. Good luck with your book

Great words of wisdom Derek! Everything that they don't tech you in schools and unis for that matter..and just like Ford said “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”

I would agree somewhat..I do think that some are more talented in certain areas, more easily than others. It could just be a brain wiring thing....As long as you do anything you do with soul, that's all that matters to me

Fantastic. An excellent lecture.
One comment: I think that in a growth mindset the outcome matters, but it´s only a part of the process.
Good point. I agree. I just said it “hardly matters” to be succinct. — Derek

I agree that a growth mindset can open up a world of possibilities and opportunities. However, I do recognize that I have talents and some things come easier for me. I just need to recognize when I am at my limit where more effort yields diminishing returns. Thanks for framing this for me in such a succinct manner.

Derek,
Respect for the food for taught, I always try to encourage people to do the same thing, just keep on working on there craft! It only gets better as your life progress!!!

Check out this track'!
You tube, Johnny , incline original. Your feedback would be appreciated!!

Thanks,
Calvin

Very good stuff. Brings to mind one of the best lines from Shawshank Redemption: "Either get busy living or get busy dying."

At first I thought I knew everything in this article, but as you started to list examples I realised that this also effected me. Thank you Derek, some useful things to take from here and work through. :-)

Useful, but I would extend this subject somewhat deeper; personally, I've come to see the world largely as people who are either growing or not…and those who have a fundamental commitment to growth, gain an awareness of more than just their own world, but start to seek answers to humane and spiritual questions which take them down much more complex roads than 'mere' career path musings. Whereas people who are essentially fixed in their thinking do not WANT to grow - because growth challenges their core beliefs. This friction or tension between the two types of people needs to be addressed, IMO, as it is fundamental to whether we can ever broker societies which satisfy everyone within it - which of course is fundamental to World Peace..!

Bless you, Derek. You are generous with your insights. Anyone who feels discouraged about their shortcomings or past failures should post this article on their bathroom mirror! In my case, I got into some bad singing habits which cause my pitch to waver. I started thinking, "Im a lousy singer." Very fixed, and very discouraging! Then I went back to my voice teacher, who showed me how to pronounce word and where to place my voice , and already I noticed vast improvement! Now I have to practice what she taught me every day-- that's the kicker!

Thanx! you hit a lot of nails on the head. I'm pretty much on track, however, I'm sure many people found this to be 'food 4 thought'. May you continue to be blessed.

Yes! It is a practice - we need reminders. Im grateful for the "School of Derek Sivers". AND people like Charlie Evans! We all have stories of horror somewhere in our lives, ( I do) but being in the "growth mindset", means we live fully every day. A new day and opportunity to be and do all that we want on this day. To help, inspire, care, smile, learn, and listen. LISTEN. Seems so simple, maybe thats why its hard sometimes. Thanks Derek.

This was a very fascinating outlook on the human mindset. Although I agree that these two mindsets do exist, I also believe that there are other mindsets that are left unaddressed in this article.

Thanks Dereck, Believe this is true too. We're all limited however effort pays off and success is relative.

"so it’s worth understanding and considering how it’s affecting you." It's even worse when you see how strong it's affecting other ppl around too, specially when the fixed mindset person is a parent and the child is just about to find his way around the life , career etc.. If someone can't help it and accepts himself as a fixed mindset it's good to at least realizes that it's not a positive thing and does not spread out his thoughts as his point of view may be harmful for others. You know in psychology terms being a entrepreneur or a good leader or a good programmer requires that the person to be able to pass some of characteristic factors , i have a BFF that i wasn't quiet sure that his characteristics would match those certain requirements but he was really interested in web development , programming and being a web entrepreneur so i kept motivating him and helping him in the field as this is what i do too. The results ? are just unbelievable , now i easily see a great potential in him to be a really good web entrepreneur in future . Thanks Derek , I'm not a very reader kind of person i prefer visual information/learning but your blog is a reader magnet ! ;)

Yes, Chanah, it would be great if we could get enough people to change our cultural, economic, and political actions in the way that you describe. But you are right to doubt. And still, we are alive and the world awaits.

Great insight. I have learned some of these concepts from 12 step literature. You might be interested in Power Vs. Force by David R. Hawkins (et al.). He had the largest psychiatric practice in NYC in the 70s. Friends with Bill W. Love getting your emails!
Brian

@ Naresh - "Also any practical insights on how to transition from fixed to growth mindset?"

Let's say you're in college pursuing a degree in psychology. While you have the normal course load, you really dig psychology. So above homework and class assignments, you check out and read a book written by Martin Seligman.

Guess what?

You have a growth mindset.

To all who are wrestling with the term, the definition and the science, take a step back and relax. Embrace your desire to get better. Be curious about a subject. Read up and learn it. Try it, use it and do it. That's it!

I'm taking a Math 45 Statistics course and book is the main reading. I'm new to stats and its really complicated. However I understand your book..

Hi everyone, this is Mary. I am absolutely mesmerised by this website, I cant say how much I appreciate it. I think its wonderful how you Derek Sivers can create such a beautiful website and change so many peoples minds, you know like some people have a fixed mind set, but I don't, I love me for who I am, I think I'm the most greatest woman of all times, well at least that's what my handsome little chap Jesus says everyday. I am living in Bethlehem at the minute, and I shall be moving very soon, but the people in my village all have growth mind sets and love every minute of life and love their selves just as much as me, and this is me and I will not tolerate any negative attitude towards my personality or my gorgeousness. Also I shall be putting myself on a dating website, if any offers are available.. the tall tanned men are the best.

I attended the skillful training session given to us teachers. I now see that my fixed mindset has to change for me and my students. Thanks for the info.

I was such a fixed mindset kid, and have made a conscious (strenuous!) effort to be a growth mindset adult and parent. I bristle when someone pays a compliment to my child by telling them they are talented and I make a point of revealing how hard my child has worked. Shinichi Suzuki's does a lovely job of examining the growth mindset in his book.

Thank you,Derek! It is really helpful! I was in a fixed mindset. When I encountered some troubles, i would feel really depressed. Now, I'm trying to change my mindset. I believe that having a growth mindset will make me much better and happier. Thank you again for sharing with us!

I believe we sometimes want to hide behind a fixed mindset, pretending we have it so that we don't have to change, get better, and grow. Inevitably, we "break," accept we can't change our desires and that, yes, we need to get better/change if we want to move forward. Growth mindset back on!

Dear Derek,

I am SO glad I saved your email to me about Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset; I sure needed the pearls of wisdom that you shared with me today!

At age 57, I'm oft times pigeon-holed me into the over-the hill category. When I tell the "fixed mindset crowd" that I'm a singer/songwriter, and that I produce, direct, and host a show on PBS about the power of art to shape society, I get some truly daunting responses. For example: "You can still sing?" -- "That's an expensive hobby." -- "What do you know about making a TV show?"

Those comments are typically followed up by the double question, "Shouldn't you be preparing for retirement/Don't you have something better to do?"

I've been so flummoxed by this 'fixed mindset" point of view that I haven't known how to respond without sounding defensive. Worse, I sometimes allow those disapproving remarks to erode my self-confidence, causing me to justify my pursuit of my passion to myself.

Reading the sage advice you so kindly shared with me this morning about 'growth mindset" was the perfect counsel needed to nudge me out of the 'fixed mindset" discomfort zone and back into the world of infinite possibilities.

Thanks so much for the "pep talk"...☺

Kind regards,

Elisa Brown

Host, The Heart of Art with Elisa Brown on PBS
Presented by Conscious Evolution Media

hey at my elementary school we talk about this im actually suprised

PSY 202 and needed more clarification. Thank you, this helped.

i think growth mindset is better because you always think you can achieve more

I believe l have a fixed mind set... And think of myself as a failure how can l change it pliz help

Very Informative

This Website helped a lot thank you.

Hi, Inspiring, thanks for sharing.

I never eally though about it that way. Thanks for letting me know. You should think about writing a book your self.

My friend has a fixed mindset about have a fixed mindset

Yeah while I completely respect your opinion there is a core flaw in your perspective. It's not that simple people work as hard as they can and will still fail. The world isn't nice enough to simply give you what you want because you worked harder and longer than everyone else. There is such a thing as natural talent. Yes that isn't the only factor but if that talented person works as hard or even almost as hard as you. You will probably fail. It's sad to admit, but that is reality. Those who keep trying at a futile effort aren't having a better mindset then those who give up immediately because of talent. If anything they are both equally dangerous, and detrimental to people. My advice work hard but know what to work hard in and know your own limits because as human beings we all have them.

Fixed mindset?In order to believe your conclusion i have to
accept your premise which is based on what research?Hear we go !another Globalist trying to sell this idea that we as humans are the sum total of are experience We people on the planet are Human too complicated and individualistic for putting in categories and yes we humans have DNA thats chemically encoded traits we are born with go to any barn yard look at the traits all humans learn and have traits and behaviors they are born with sell your phyco babel at the ball game

Awesome Info!

You should check out Maria Popova's article on brain pickings about these mindsets if you haven't already.
Yeah! She's wonderful. Love her site. — Derek

helped with a project. Thanks!

The first time I heard about fixed vs growth mindsets is from the book "Small Bets". It's an amazing book about how innovation is nothing but a series of very small experiments and iterations. However, if you have a fixed mindset (you are afraid of failure), you won't allow yourself to experiment. It's a great read. I highly recommend it.

is so nice and interesting

This was very helpful and I appreciate your detailed explanations. Wow if your not getting credit for your paraphrasing and summating, let me give a high five for your brilliant display of wording.
Sincerely,
Psychology/Admin.of.Justice
Student @SCC

Me and my class are learning about what a growth mindset means. This was a big help thanks ;)

My Algebra 1 Math teacher told everybody in the open house of school about these two things. She and you kind of have the same opinion. I also agree the opinion from your guys does better at Growth Mindset don't do fixed mindset. Right here I have a small request: Can you give me some information about math resources to study like right now I study Algebra 1 make me very frustrated.

Thank you for clarifying these mindsets! You provided great examples and used friendly vocabulary. Well done! Thank you!
~ Lynn

Brilliant, insightful and made my day. I too is a student of life always trying learn news ways to break my own personal mindset limitations and not let my past define my future. This is my process and I want to say thanks for adding to this clarity.

Have an awesome day I know I will

I learnt alot from the book, its just interesting and opening an individual's mind.

Everyone has the right to have a fixed mind set

All good

Thank you for your clear explanation that brings and invites more positive insights and brings about deeper refection to what we do and how we think especially towards people who are not similar to us and differ in how they might see things because other people can also be right.

amazing :)

I have learnt so many things about mindset which is never I learnt before.

Perfect. Just what i needed to read. Pretty much fixed is negative, positive is growth. Thanks

In my case, I think I have both but it all depends on the situation.MY vut isa lean

Hi Derek, I love your writing and I've read this post every day for the past weeks.

I've made it my mission to build a Growth mindset among all my students, and I also try to pass it on to fellow colleagues.

Thanks again!

I remembered a book called The Little Red Engine(train)"I think I can".

This is not my comment. (I am not good at in Eng.)I just want to tell you. The two words : Growth mindset will made me clever meanwhile Fixed mindset will made me the poor. Everyone should change to the Growth mindset because it will benefit to themselves and others. I will find/read that two books You were recommend.

i believe that i have a growth mindset because i believe i can do anything that i work hard at completing. I know i use to have a fixed mindset and changed that because you wont get far in life not believing in yourself.

I have learnt so much about this that I purely couldn't care any more. I hope you continue to strive for excellence but just remember to make it interesting from the start so people like me that get taught it 3 times a week don't have to learn about boring stuff again.

tks you so much.

I love to have those two books y

I find that the test is quite inaccurate, and somewhat misleading. When taking the mindset test, I found questions such as " do you believe that intelligence can be increased", but the thing is anybody with any knowledge on science knows that your IQ cannot be increased. Your IQ level is determined by your genetics and DNA, not by whether you've learned about this or not. And I find that asking these questions on if you can increase your intelligence or not to be both misleading and kind of childish.
Because If you have done your research then you would know that these types of questions are quite pointless. But in the end, even if you answer the questions using both your logic,and sense of reasoning, you will always end up getting "fixed mindset", as a result. Even if you may not have a fixed mindset, just because you were answering these questions using your common sense and knowledge of biology, and how intelligence and IQ's works.

These are learning curves for growth and value. please keep emailing to me. thank you.

Developmental indeed.

I really liked this article. It was simple, straightforward, and easy to follow. I personally am a 16 year old and I look up to and am inspired by friends of mine that are gritty. I did not have a term for what they are until now, and I've been (very slowly) trying to become more gritty. I really love how well you laid out these qualities that I admire in my friends, along with examples, and I will be using this to help me on my journey to becoming more gritty.

The ONLY person that decides whether you live a happy life or not, have a successful career or not is.....YOU. No excuses. if you want to obtain something you go and do that. if you can dream it, you can 100% live it.

Hi
I am highly impressed.
shocked and sooooo happy.
i have a million questions to ask, but thank u so much for this stuff i just read.
U have made a new person out of me.
THANK U SO MUCH.
PLEASE send me an email
would love to know more and ask questions, if its okay with you.

Ugh! Light bulb moment for how I parent versus how I live my own life! I am teaching my daughter a growth mindset, whereas I am a bit stuck in the fixed. I always thought it was important that she not make the same mistakes I made. I My language though, is that she must learn to grow. It's a battle I fight in my own mind and behavior. Yikes!

It is interesting to think about all the different ways kids think about a fixed mindset compared to a growth mindset. Wonder how many kids we have that are fixed compared to growth. We can pick these kids out usually but can we change their minds to help them be better in school and in life.

I see more benefits to having an growth mindset than a fixed. More opportunities arise when you push yourself to the best you can be.

My 12 year old grandson just asked this question as part of his homework tonight. Google is my friend! After reading and discussing what we read he had better insight and grandma, after a tiring day, was quite inspired. Thank you!

We are in big Tim Growth Mindset at school, grade 1. We take the MAPS test three times a rest to measure growth. I have to admit I was nervous at first but I embraced the challenge. I love it now though I am reticent at telling this to another teacher. I try to constantly challenge my kiddos and find new ways and new materials that will do this. Any new ideas on how to grow more..in every way we are getting better. Smart is not what I am its what I become.

This is helpful thanks

HI GREAT ARTICLE THANKS SO MANY GREAT FACTS

At the national level, I like comment # 193 that some people don't want to grow because they might have to change their core beliefs.

I would add: And by doing so, they might have to be different than their neighbours. Which might be uncomfortable and lonely.

Incidentally, one of the joys of university, like travel, is learning to have a higher comfort tolerance for culture shock.

I think in rural areas where they are fewer people, and more dependence on others, there might be more of an incentive for comfortable relations. To me this means that if you wanted to teach an Arabic country (such as Iraq) to believe in human rights then you would do best to start with the urban areas, and then let the urban consensus spread to the rural.

And to me it means that to have a "Tienamen Square" succeed in, say, Iran, you need to have reached out to the dictator's power base in the rural areas, Great Plains and midwest.

Fixed mindset is a very common ideology among Hong Kong people. Only few of them can be open-minded to things they don't know and they are not interested in.People tend to undermine themselves and others hindering and even strangling their great potential. One of the illustration is that the progress of technology development in Hong Kong is unutterably slow. People believe what makes them rich(finance,property and professional services industry) is a secured and reliable income for lifetime so they stop exploring business opportunities from technology and Internet development and try to grab what they get to survive. Now this cliched thought has led to the economic downturn in Hong Kong and those Hongkongers who still uphold a fixed mindset suffer.

I agree with all of this.

Is it possible to have a growth mindset on the country you come from? Because I am canadian and canada is a cess pit of vile nastyness only second to france.

I grew up as almost the youngest in a large rural family that was dysfunctional.

Well, in late middle age I was pleased when a sibling said I was the "most normal" of our family, "because you've worked on yourself."

Luckily I always had a growth mindset, even in the midst of despair. I think the others all (figuratively) stayed where they were, down the years, because they believed in a fixed mindset.

Im mostly reading this and i noticed that im a fixed mind

GOOD JOB, LOVE THE FONT, OOPS ( caps lock, lol)

It seems in many spheres, people praise the youth & millennials & seem to push the idea that "it's their time" due to ideas & change, as if any other age group doesn't matter. To me...that concept is fixed & stubbornly puts a dark spot on people of all ages who have a growth mindset. In a roomfull of educated people, few of them said we need "young blood". I feel it's wrong to use that concept whenever there are young or older ppl competing against because it gives people with a growth mindset a feeling og staying or being stagnant or not even trying. It should be about who is competent and not about age.

Get me more information about this
..

Great website

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." - Tim Notke

I'm learning the difference in growth mindset vs fixed mindset. share more information with me. Email it to me. Thank you.

So can we have both at the same time is it impossible?

Blabla
Blablablabla
...
Blablablablablabla...

This is an manager / not-impacted-decision-maker bullshit: it's not a problem, but task...

Open minded / growth minded does not delete, but argues...

I loved the things that you have been talking about and you sometimes get a bit emasimal at times.

i should thank you for providing us such a concise text

I've heard that we should focus more on what we're good at and delegate/outsource what we're not good at. It's a waste of time to try to get good at the things we're simply not good at.

Thank you for your dedication to the research of helping one another to live into our highest potentials, I love that. The question I have is, exactly what causes failure in the human mind. What is the one principal that all failures and successes come from ? There are endless variations of ways to fail and succeed. So if it can be pinned down to one thing that causes these two perceptions ,and it can be . What and how would we share that type of information?

i think the passage of a growth and fixed mindset

thx u got me a a+ on ym report thankk you for the info u put out

In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities are simply fixed traits, and use their performance to document those traits.
In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed, and improved upon, which creates a love of learning and a resilience.. C Wilson Meloncelli(https://www.cwilsonmeloncelli.com/) website also tackles about how mindset can greatly trigger the flow state. Check it out.

Evrything is impossible
U will try and try again

Thank you Derek. I have read a lot of Carol’s work but your summary really helps to define it in a way I can use with my students. I’m also going to try to pass this on to parents as many of them have a fixed mindset and don’t understand why their little Johnny, who was achieving good results in primary school, is not thriving in high school, even though he has a high IQ.

I’m good at kayaking

i think that the people that have a fixed mindset are just scared to face challenges and those with a growth mindset arent afraid to try different thing whether judged or not.

I like it 👏

I love Mr. Charlie Evans' comment! You are blessed to have reached your age, exceeding the Bible's life average of 70. I admire both you and your 95yo friend (in 2014). I love especially this part which is understandable - "Keep doing the things we know how to do, and always strive to do them better. Maybe not as often, maybe for not long at a time, but keep working on them!"