Growth mindset needs fixed goals

You’ve probably heard of growth mindsets and fixed mindsets.

It seems to me that growth mindsets need fixed goals–to become who we need to be in that reality, and fixed mindsets need growth goals–to become the same person, but a little better:

  • If your goal is set–big and fixed–you’ll live life with that goal as your new reality. You’ll become the person you need to be in order to reach it.
  • If your goal isn’t set, but a moving target (growing), you’ll remain behind the curve of your own ambition. You’re never the person you need to be to reach that carrot.

Epicurus says it well, “If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to opinion, you will never be rich.”

Take away the ever-changing opinion and replace it with your (or your team’s) big goal – how does that change your behavior?