Summary of Mindset by Carol Dweck

This summary of Mindset by Carol Dweck looks at who this book is for. Some key quotes out of the book and in typical Mind By Design fashion we will also put together the three best mindset hacks that you can use straight away from this great book by Carol Dweck.

“This is something I know for a fact: You have to work hardest for the things you love most. ” 

Carol Dweck

Who is this book for?

Mindset can be defined as someones self theory. In this case Dr Carol Dweck splits people into two groups. Those with a fixed mindset and those with a growth mindset. This book is ready to help you supercharge your growth mindset. The first step in all of this of course is to understand whether or not you have a growth or fixed mindset. To do this please visit the below link to run through a test which will ask you several questions to determine whether you have a fixed or growth mindset: MINDSET TEST

Now once you’ve recognise you have a fixed mindset and want to do something about it, then this book will guide you through some practical measures to get you there. The simple philosophy of having a growth mindset is believing that you as a person have the ability to grow in intelligence and that you can learn and achieve new things. It’s fairly self explanatory as per having a fixed mindset, you believe you are stuck with what you have and there is not an ability to improve. At the heart of it, the growth mindset is the key behind personal development.

“True self-confidence is “the courage to be open—to welcome change and new ideas regardless of their source.” Real self-confidence is not reflected in a title, an expensive suit, a fancy car, or a series of acquisitions. It is reflected in your mindset: your readiness to grow. ”   

Carol Dweck

Summary of Mindset by Carol Dweck best hacks is to follow.

Mindset Hack 1 – Seek Discomfort & Practice Persistence

This one mindset hack has become a pillar of my being. To continuously place myself in positions that are unfamiliar. There is absolutely no point in continuing to do the things that are familiar to you, there is nothing to learn. This provides no extra stimulus to the brain and doesn’t allow you to place the practice of a growth mindset in action.

This indeed can be confronting for many people. The reality is that placing yourself within these vulnerable positions will allow you to get used to this level of unknown. New things are never easy but they are exciting and even scary if they are a fear you need to conquer. That’s the beauty of it though, this discomfort will drive and propel your brain into a mode of growth you have never felt before. It’s as simple as what ever you believe you can achieve. Try it!

“ True self-confidence is “the courage to be open—to welcome change and new ideas regardless of their source.” Real self-confidence is not reflected in a title, an expensive suit, a fancy car, or a series of acquisitions. It is reflected in your mindset: your readiness to grow.”

Carol Dweck

Mindset Hack 2 – See Failure as Learning

Failing is not losing, failing is learning. For everytime that you fail you are now much more wiser than you once were. People with a fixed mindset will see failures as a disaster. Where as those with a growth mindset will identify these as opportunities for growth. The reality is you are never going to be perfect at everything you try to do, the actual key is to just have a go. Just do it! It’s a typical theme within my site. Nike had it right when they said that simple slogan.

Failing also builds a level of resilience and teaches you as an individual to look at situations and figure out different methods and strategies to achieve whatever it is that you are learning or working on. If one route is not working. Just stop doing it and try and find an alternative path. Every goal has multiple methods. They are all waiting for you. You just need to be persistent and find the method to your end game.

“ John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach, says you aren’t a failure until you start to blame. What he means is that you can still be in the process of learning from your mistakes until you deny them.”

Carol Dweck

Mindset Hack 3 – Don’t Seek Approval – Seek Development

In your journey of growth be careful not to fall into the trap of seeking approval. When one achieves great things there is a risk of going down the path of attention seeking and comparison to gain approval from others. The example in the book given is Lee Iacocca, who became the CEO of Chrysler Motors and saves it from the brink of collapse.

He was then turned into a saviour. Although once he had done all the great work of saving this fine company he changed. He became complacent and rested on his laurels to the point where he was acting pompous and flaunting his superiority. Not cool man! He then became obsessed with his own image rather than the health of his own company.

This my friends is the road to disaster. Once you have achieved, continue down that path of development as learning is a never ending game. Great achievements take continued effort and a growth mindset seeks development in their mind, as this will time allow you to continue to achieve. With learning, never focus this on comparing but focus on what you have learned as the comparison will kill. Focusing on what you have learned will make you a better person.

“IF, like those with the growth mindset, you believe you can develop yourself, then you’re open to accurate information about your current abilities, even it it’s unflattering. What’s more, if you’re oriented toward learning, as they are, you need accurate information about your current abilities in order to learn effectively.”

Carol Dweck

Key message of the book

The reality is that anyone can achieve a growth mindset. If you believe you can achieve.. If you don’t, well it’s going to be terribly difficult getting there. If you want some steps on how to develop a growth mindset. Please visit my short guide on how to get there.

How to develop a growth mindset

“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 allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.” 

Carol Dweck

We hope this Summary of Mindset by Carol Dweck has helped you get an understanding of how this book can help you.

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