Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

This is a book you have to read!!!! If you are all about growth, development, change and getting better and better every day than this book is for you!

The author, Carol S. Dweck is a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and a leading researcher in a field of motivation. She wrote this book as a summary of her study about mindset and what motivates people.

As she writes:

“In this book, you’ll learn how a simple belief about yourself—a belief we discovered in our research—guides a large part of your life. In fact, it permeates every part of your life. Much of what may be preventing you from fulfilling your potential grows out of it. No book has ever explained this mindset and shown people how to make use of it in their lives. You’ll suddenly understand the greats—in the sciences and arts, in sports, in business—and the would-have-beens. You’ll understand your mate, your boss, your friends, your kids. You’ll see how to unleash your potential—and your children’s.”

Dweck talks about two different types of mindset- fixed and growth one and how to make sure you choose growth mindset to change your life.

Fixed mindset is described as believing that your basic abilities, skills and intelligence are fixed traits and you have only certain amount of. Fixed mindset believes as well that everything is about the outcome. “Believing that your qualities are carved in stone—the fixed mindset—creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over. If you have only a certain amount of intelligence, a certain personality, and a certain moral character—well, then you’d better prove that you have a healthy dose of them. It simply wouldn’t do to look or feel deficient in these most basic characteristics.”

Growth mindset, on the other hand, is all about learning and the challenge. People with growth mindset aren’t discouraged by failures- they learn from them and believe in constant development through effort and persistence. The journey and not the outcome is the most important for them. “In this mindset, the hand you’re dealt is just the starting point for development. The growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way—in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments—everyone can change and grow through application and experience.”

People with the growth mindset believe that what they were born with is just a starting point they can build on and grow. This type of thinking encourages further development.  The research showed that this is a type of mindset which is common for successful business people or great athletes. With diligent, patient, persistent effort and passion people can get extraordinary results.

Get this book today! you will not be disappointed! Recognize your mindset today! Make changes in your life for better and develop your better self. Make sure you feed your growth mindset!

Few quotes:

“no matter what your ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.”

“Mindset change is not about picking up a few pointers here and there. It’s about seeing things in a new way. When people…change to a growth mindset, they change from a judge-and-be-judged framework to a learn-and-help-learn framework. Their commitment is to growth, and growth take plenty of time, effort, and mutual support.”

“What on earth would make someone a nonlearner? Everyone is born with an intense drive to learn. Infants stretch their skills daily. Not just ordinary skills, but the most difficult tasks of a lifetime, like learning to walk and talk. They never decide it’s too hard or not worth the effort. Babies don’t worry about making mistakes or humiliating themselves. They walk, they fall, they get”

“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.”

“Think about your hero. Do you think of this person as someone with extraordinary abilities who achieved with little effort? Now go find out the truth. Find out the tremendous effort that went into their accomplishment—and admire them more.”

“In one world, failure is about having a setback. Getting a bad grade. Losing a tournament. Getting fired. Getting rejected. It means you’re not smart or talented. In the other world, failure is about not growing. Not reaching for the things you value. It means you’re not fulfilling your potential. In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you’re not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn’t need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.”

“So what should we say when children complete a task—say, math problems—quickly and perfectly? Should we deny them the praise they have earned? Yes. When this happens, I say, “Whoops. I guess that was too easy. I apologize for wasting your time. Let’s do something you can really learn from!”

TITLE: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

AUTHOR: Carol S. Dweck

PUBLISHED: 2007

COVER: paperback

PAGES: 288

BOOK PRICE: $9.60

KINDLE: $8.49

WHERE TO BUY: click here to buy

TAGS: growth mindset, change, success, personal transformation, personal development, mindset, fixed vs growth mindset