Creating a Growth Mindset in College
What does it look like and how do I build it?
Today, I want to talk about growth mindset. By now, you probably already know what it is, but in case you don't, it’s the belief that you can develop your intelligence and abilities through hard, consistent work. The idea of a growth mindset isn't new; we all have one and use it to become better people.
But adopting a growth mindset means so much more than just pushing through pain. It's about becoming intentional about your growth, identifying gaps in your knowledge, and learning things to fill those gaps. Let's break down what a growth mindset looks like in the real world and how you can adopt one right now.
Growth = Success
You most likely know some students that are undeniably exceptional at everything they do. They're leaders and visionaries with the results and resumes to prove it. But they definitely didn't start out that way. Over time, they improved their skills, placed themselves in situations they had no right being in and found themselves making more progress than they originally planned for.
Those successful students had adopted a real growth mindset. They had identified early on that they could start making meaningful improvements in their lives by developing the right habits and taking control of their future.
Over the past few years, I've spoken with students and professionals I'd consider exceptional and successful from across the country. When listening to their stories, I identified patterns in their behaviors and habits. Here's a list of them:
Set Goals
People with a growth mindset are intentional about how and why they want to grow. They have a goal they want to reach and a list of priorities on how they intend to reach it. The goals they set are actionable, measurable (Ex. speaking with 10 new people a week), and are aligned with a vision they set for their future.
Seek Feedback
Getting feedback on your work or performance is scary to a lot of people. We don't want to be told we suck at doing something. People with a growth mindset don't relish negative feedback either, but they know that in order to get better, they need direction. They need to know what's going well and what needs to stop. Feedback is essential for personal growth and people with a growth mindset will go out of their way to get it.
Do things that matter
What "matters" is different for everyone, but spending your time on interesting projects, attending meet-ups and networking, or reading non-fiction books are a few examples of things that matter for most growth mindset adopters.
However, don't do things that you think are supposed to "matter" because other people said they do. Do them because they'll make you smarter, align with your future goals, or bring you joy and excitement. You'll have more fun that way and start realizing that you should have done it sooner.
Show up
It's really easy not to show up to things and cancel your plans. Nobody can force you to not play video games 40 hours a week. But people with a growth mindset always show up, even if they aren't invited. They look for opportunities that will lead to something of value, like a powerful contact, a relevant resource, or a job. You might not like where you showed up and that's okay. Make note of that and move on.
Grind
At the end of the day, personal growth is a grind. The people you admire made sacrifices to end up where they are now. It takes effort, time, and hard work to overcome challenges, make meaningful changes to your lifestyle, and accomplish your goals.
When you adopt a growth mindset, this grind is expected and acknowledged upfront. And if you aren't grinding, you probably aren't doing enough. This doesn't mean you shouldn't take breaks and spend time with people you care about. It just means that you should seek discomfort, take risks, and be okay failing.
What Now?
If you're a student in college, you don't have much to lose by taking some risks. Think deeply about your future goals, both for college and your career.
Identify two or three things that matter to you the most (grades, personal projects, internships) and try to make them happen. Grind early and often.
Show up and be in places you aren't qualified to be in. Get feedback on your work from people you admire and trust and start getting to work.
Resources of the Week:
Growth Mindset - Eduardo Briceno Ted Talk
Grit - Angela Duckworth
Angela Duckworth's Talk on Grit for a summary
Fishbowl Challenge (To get you started working on things that matter)
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