Your mindset can influence your progress and future success.
Maybe you failed to land your dream job. Or your newsletter isn’t gaining any traction. Or your side hustle isn’t making any profit. Do you view these setbacks as confirmation of your weaknesses? Or do you see setbacks as something that can be improved upon?
When you tell yourself I’m just not good enough or I don’t have a mind for business, you’re actually hurting your future shot at success. Your internal talk becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, in which you start believing the power of these words, and lose motivation to keep going or to improve.
But people with a growth mindset don’t see their weaknesses or setbacks as permanent flaws. They see their weaknesses as something they can develop and improve. They see challenges as learning opportunities.
In her groundbreaking book “Mindset,” psychologist Carol Dweck explains that a growth mindset is integral to one’s future success. By believing that you can develop your talents and skills through hard work and perseverance, you can increase your chances of success.
After all, if you don’t believe that you can improve as an entrepreneur, then you’re probably not going to make an effort to join a small business group or take a class. Meanwhile, someone with a more positive, growth mindset believes that with effort and patience, they can make great strides. They’re probably going to join that group and sign up for those classes, and they’ll meet people who can offer helpful feedback, and learn new skills to help their business.
Here are some strategies you can use to reframe your challenges and adopt a mindset that is positive and growth oriented.
Know your options
Having a positive or growth mindset isn’t about being delusional about your skills or circumstances. You’re not simply telling yourself that you’re talented. You have the self-belief that through hard work and patience you will ultimately overcome your challenges.
For example, let’s say that you’re out of a job, and need to pay rent next month. Someone who is delusional or practicing toxic positivity, would remain passive. They might even believe that a miracle will fall into their laps or good fortune will come out of the blue.
But someone with a positive or growth mindset would take charge of their situation and do something proactive. And a simple but impactful way to create your own destiny is to make a list of your options.
In their book “Performing Under Pressure,” Drs. Hendrie Weisinger and J.P. Pawliw-Fry recommend making a list of options because it helps you see all the possibilities of moving forward.
So, for example, if you were in urgent need of a new job, you would make a list of your possible options and resources.
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I can email 5 former clients and ask them if they need freelancing work.
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I can reach out to my closest friends to see if they know anyone who could use my services.
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I can put out a call on social media about looking for a job
So instead of telling yourself that your situation is hopeless, or falsely believing that a miracle will fall into your lap, be active and make a list of your options. Then, use these options as an action plan to success.
Reframe your challenges as learning opportunities
When experiencing a setback or failure, it’s important to view the situation from a positive perspective. Instead of dwelling on all the things you did wrong, or all the things you don’t have, use this as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and bounce back even stronger.
Here are some examples of reframing challenges as opportunities:
I didn’t get into my first choice grad school. But I can use this time to improve my application, get feedback on my essays, and polish my resume so that I can get in next year.
I didn’t exercise all month. Instead of blaming myself, I’m going to take a realistic look at my schedule and see what I can do next week to get back on track.
I didn’t nab the big client but I’m going to work on my presentation skills, listen to some inspiring business podcasts and jot down some good tips, and make a list of new clients that I can pitch.
Allow for reflection
Are you giving yourself time each day and week to reflect on your work?
Without reflection, it’s easy to fall into the same patterns and processes that are not serving you. You need to make time for daily reflection and assess what’s going on so that you can actually learn from your past mistakes, instead of repeating them.
Process feedback
If you want to improve your performance, it’s important to regularly ask for and process feedback. At one-on-one meetings with your manager, ask for feedback on a recent project or presentation. Join a writer’s group to get feedback on your manuscript. Use customer surveys to get feedback on your side hustle.
Compare your expectation to your results
Another reflection exercise is to compare your expectations to your results. For example, let’s say you're launching a new product. How do you think it will be received by your customers? Then, later on, ask yourself: how did it actually go? Did you meet your profit goals? Did customers seem satisfied? Comparing your expectations to your results can help you fine-tune your strategy for the future and increase your chances of success.
Acknowledge the progress you are making
A helpful way to maintain a positive outlook and growth mindset is to track your small wins and show gratitude for the progress you are making.
Use a tracking journal. Keep a notebook and track your progress everyday. If you’re a writer, jot down your word count for the day. If you’re training for a marathon, record the length and duration of your run. This tracking notebook is proof that you are making progress everyday, even if it’s not immediately apparent to you.
Show gratitude
Don’t take your hard work or results for granted. Express gratitude for how far you’ve come. And don’t forget to be thankful for the people in your life who are helping you. Managers. Teachers. Coaches. Friends. When you show gratitude for the people and resources you have, you will be motivated to keep going for more.
