A winner's mindset

I would like to start by congratulating you, by opening your mind to this email, you have demonstrated the most important mindset that already puts you a step ahead - that is the willingness to learn… otherwise known as a ‘growth mindset.’

Three decades ago, Dr. Carol Dweck introduced us to the terms 'fixed mindset' and 'growth mindset.'

Essentially if you believe you can get better or smarter, and understand that effort makes you stronger, then you will put in extra time and effort into this pursuit.

This extra effort leads to breaking out of old patterns and reaching greater heights. Embracing challenges, enduring setbacks, and continuously adapting become second nature to those who believe that they can.

I have a love for Brazilian JiuJitsu, and in BJJ we have a philosophy: you either win or you learn. That's the essence of a growth mindset.

The opposite is a fixed mindset…

A fixed mindset is like a trap. It revolves around fear—fear of inadequacy, fear of poor outcomes. Thoughts like, “My efforts won't matter,” or “I'll fail anyway, so why try?”

What is fear anyway?

Fear is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. There’s no true threat of immediate physical danger, no threat of a loss of someone or something dear to us, actually nothing there at all.

F.E.A.R. is an illusion. Something we fabricate in our own minds and pretend is real. It’s a fairy tale we tell ourselves that keeps us from doing what we really want.

This keeps people stuck in a pattern. This mindset is the antithesis of progress, keeping us from realizing our true potential.

So, in any give moment and with any given challenge you have a choice: you can either win or learn.

Do you understand?