Key to Achieving Goals and Success

Introduction

• Common suggestions for success: hard work, focus, persistence.
• Research indicates these are byproducts of something more powerful: the "growth mindset."

Case Study: Josh Waitzkin

• Chess international master and martial artist.
• Achievements: National chess championships and two world championships in Tai Chi.
• Key insight: Losing his first national chess championship helped him avoid psychological traps.
  • Avoided belief of being special or smarter, embraced hard work.

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

• Fixed Mindset: Intelligence and abilities seen as static.
• Growth Mindset: Intelligence and abilities viewed as developable qualities.
• Research by Dr. Carol Dweck shows behaviors and results differ based on mindset.
  • Study with seventh graders: Growth mindset students improved grades; fixed mindset students did not.

Consequences of Mindset

• **Fixed Mindset Traits:

  • Focus on judgment and performance.
  • Effort seen as a sign of low ability.
  • Setbacks lead to withdrawal and loss of motivation.**

• **Growth Mindset Traits:

  • Emphasis on learning and improvement.
  • Effort viewed as a pathway to growth.
  • Setbacks seen as opportunities for learning.**

Research Findings

• Praise influences mindset:
  • Fixed mindset praise: "You must be smart."
  • Growth mindset praise: "You must have tried really hard."
• Kids receiving growth mindset praise prefer challenging tasks and perform better over time.

Changing Mindsets

• Mindset can be altered:
  • Workshops can instill growth mindset in students, leading to improved interest and performance.
• Impact on various demographics, including minority students and girls in math.

Applications of Mindset

• Mindset affects workplaces, relationships, health, and even broader social issues (e.g., Israeli-Palestinian relations).
• Importance of teaching growth mindset in education and beyond.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

1. Recognize Benefits: Understand that growth mindset is supported by neuroscience.
2. Learn and Teach: Educate on deliberate practice and effective effort.
3. Challenge Fixed Mindset Voices: Replace negative thoughts with growth-oriented affirmations (e.g., "I can't do it yet").

Conclusion

• Share knowledge about the growth mindset.
• Encourage others to fulfill their potential.