My notes are informal and often contain quotes, key nuggets, and personalized thoughts from the book. When I come across an interesting idea or concept while reading, I save it in my notes for future reference and reflection. If you find a book’s notes appealing, I highly recommend reading the whole book to get much more context and insight. My notes are not meant to substitute the book.
Fixed mindset: I can’t do it.
Growth mindset: I can’t do it… yet.
Parents should teach their children to embrace challenges, make mistakes, and enjoy learning.
A sociologist named Benjamin Barber said “I don’t divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and the failures…. I divide the world into the learners and non-learners.”
More and more research is showing that much of personality is bendable, dynamic, and evolves over the lifespan and is molded by the experience.
“Why waste time proving over and over how great you are, when you could be getting better? Why hide deficiencies instead of overcoming them? Why look for friends or partners who will just shore up your self-esteem instead of ones who will also challenge you to grow? And why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you? The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that
Teaching is an incredible way to learn.
Seeking challenges & trials is a part of the growth mindset.
When you have a fixed mindset, you’re concerned about how you’ll be judged.
An individual with a fixed mindset believes common characteristics such as personality, talent, creativity, and intellect, are qualities that are carved in stone, they can’t be developed.
Fixed mindset: Who you are is who you are.
Fixed mindset: Only smart or talented people prosper.
Growth mindset: I can become smarter. I can stretch myself to learn something new.
When you have a growth mindset, the only thing you’re worried about is improving.
“Becoming is better than being”
With the fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome; If you fail, it’s means you wasted your time.
“Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.” –
At the University of Hong Kong, where courses are taught in English, some students were asked if they would be interested in taking a free course to improve their English skills if the school provided one. Those with a fixed mindset weren’t interested, but those with a growth mindset were totally interested.
If you or your company cannot self-correct, you cannot succeed.
Does your mindset have any effect on significant life decisions? Ex. marriage, health, career, education
People with the growth mindset know that they need to play the long game; it takes time for potential to blossom.
In one of Carol’s studies, they offered four-year-old kids a choice: They could reassemble an easy jigsaw puzzle they’ve already assembled once or they could try a harder one. Kids with the fixed mindset chose the safe route and wanted to redo the puzzle.
The kids with the growth mindset welcomed the harder puzzle; they found the safer puzzle to be boring. The fixed-mindset kids believed those who are born smart “don’t make mistakes.”
How you view yourself is how you lead your life.
The growth mindset allows people to relish what they’re doing —regardless of difficulties and setbacks.
“The whole point of marriage is to encourage your partner’s development and have them encourage yours.”
“Choosing a partner is choosing a set of problems. There are no problem-free candidates.”
Praise kids for their effort. Don’t praise them for their intelligence. It damages their motivation and makes them question themselves. They begin to fear difficulty because they begin associating failure with stupidity.
“In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here’s a chance to grow.” – Carol S. Dweck
Don’t seek out the tried and true, instead seek out the uncomfortable and the unfamiliar.
Test scores don’t tell you where a student will end up… They only indicate what a student’s current aptitudes and skills are
Test Scores don’t tell the whole story, they can’t test for resilience, experience, character, effort, and emotional intelligence
“For twenty years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value.” – Carol S. Dweck
Putting in the effort at the end of the day is what matters. It means you care about improving. As long as you’re willing to work for it, you have a growth mindset.
Everyone can mature and develop their talents, interests, & aptitudes by learning and applying that knowledge.
You control your mind. You can manifest your destiny by using your brain in the right way.
“Did I win? Did I lose? Those are the wrong questions. The correct question is: Did I make my best effort?” If so, he says, “You may be outscored but you will never lose.” – Carol S. Dweck
With the growth mindset, you value process and effort, regardless of the outcome.