Mindset Review

Another point of view on mindset- specifically, the entrepreneur mindset. This is a great blog post from the CEO and President of SiteSell. I encourage you to read it, study it, and put it to use. If someone you know could use this information, pay it forward.

Here's the link: Ken's Blog

As you begin to understand the fixed and growth mindsets, you will see exactly how one thing leads to another-how a belief that your qualities are carved in stone leads to a host of thoughts and actions, and how a belief that your qualities can be cultivated leads to a host of thoughts and actions, taking you down an entirely different road. It's what we psychologists call an Aha! experience.

These two simple concepts lead to a great deal of heavy thinking. The way that we think about ourselves internally directly relates to how we act externally to others. Mindset is a must read book in the journey to open your mind to new things, break down old patterns and begin building new ones. It may not be a quick process, but the rewards once complete will last a lifetime.

I personally enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one night! I could not put it down. It related to so many topics that I had been studying and proved so many of my own thoughts, that I was amazed I hadn't discovered it earlier. Only to find out it was just released in 2006.

Some readers may find the information upsetting as it relates so closely to them. The important thing to remember is that it is OK to get frustrated or even upset to a point. I believe that we all have our own beliefs and change is hard for a lot of people. However, once you allow yourself to see another viewpoint from a neutral standpoint, you can start to then look back on your current views, making adjustments as you see fit.

Change will only happen to those that welcome it and embrace it with open arms. Those who resist change and resist to see other views on topics will stay the same, or in the fixed mindset.

There is a quote that I feel relates to every aspect of life. I am reminded of it again and again, sometimes multiple times in a single day. The author is anonymous, which adds to the allure of the quote.

"What you believe is true, is true, and nothing else."

-Author unknown

This simple quote is so powerful. This goes along the same lines as the fixed and growth mindsets. It all comes back to you and your mind. What and how you speak to yourself internally ultimately defines and shapes your environment, who you interact with, and how you interact with those people.

Think about that for a minute. What if you spent your time telling yourself you were no good, had no skills, was always going to be broke, and will never succeed or be happy in life. These thoughts will start to shape yourself and your life. You may continue to work at a job that doesn't allow you to move up, may stay friends with others who have jobs leading no where, and are struggling financially and emotionally. Is this the life that you want for yourself? I know few people, if any, who wish that life upon anyone, let alone themselves!

Now, let's look at the optimistic side of things. You are young, ambitious and very motivated. You have a job that has the potential to turn into a career. And you know that you are only starting out and are working extra hard to learn more and grow more. On top of all that, you decide to start a part time business to earn extra money to pay off debt, put more away for retirement, and allow yourself a few extra "toys" that you feel you deserve. Having these thoughts will allow you to meet and exceed your goals, will surround yourself with like-minded individuals who push you and encourage you to succeed and help you along the way.

Real life examples of these two mindsets can be seen everywhere once you understand them. Look at yourself, your family and friends, even coworkers to casually place them into one of the two mindsets. You might be amazed! It all comes down to this: choice. Every day you have a choice. You can choose to be rich, or poor. You can choose to be closed-minded or allow new thoughts and ideas in. You have the power to choose the fixed mindset or growth.

I encourage you to start developing the growth mindset, if you haven't already!

Also check out the Squidoo Directory for more great info! Squidoo Directory

Once you understand the power of mindset, you can start to break people down and to understand their points of view better. Many people struggle with seeing views other than their own. Having this skill of being able to understand multiple perspectives can be invaluable. Here is a great example.

Recently, I received an email showing off a car covered in diamonds which happened to belong to a Prince in the Middle East. The basis of the email was to get at the fact that the Prince can afford a car covered in diamonds and we Americans have to pay a> in gasoline.

From my perspective, the two are unrelated. Wealthy people in America buy things that would seem outrageous to those in America who cannot afford the those same luxuries. The gas issue is irrelevant because, as a capitalist society, the oil companies are doing nothing wrong- they are simply running a business that is giving them great profits. I do feel, however, that the American government should step in to clear the high gas prices up.

To me, I was able to get an insight into the mind of the person who sent the email. Based on their reaction, they are convinced that the Middle East is out to screw over Americans with high gas prices. Basically, that it is not fair. This is the fixed mindset. They believe what they think is true, and do not allow new ideas to come in easily, if any at all.

I, on the other hand, make a conscious decision to live with a growth mindset. I have acquired certain skills and have honed others. To me, this is only a snapshot in time. In other words, I continue to keep learning and growing in order to continue to have the growth mindset. Getting upset that a Prince in the Middle East has a diamond-covered sports car is besides the point. The Prince did not create the $4 a gallon gasoline. There are a number of factors that go into the price of oil per barrol and the cost of gasoline at the pump.

The email from the get go was nonsense. However, it is a great example of mindset and how powerful it is. It affects us in all situations, all relationships, whether business or personal. Learn to transfer the blame onto your shoulders to then deal with the problem. In this case, the real problem is, most likely, pain at the pump. In order to deal with this, there are one of two choices:
1. Make more money to lessen the impact that gasoline has on your finances
2. Change your driving habits to lessen your dependence on oil. Period.
Here is an article on gas prices for Spring 2008.


It is ultimately up to you how you choose to live your life. Your mindset will determine if and when you achieve your goals and your definition of success. To achieve your goals faster, start by changing your mindset. When you change your mindset, you will see a change in your environment and your thoughts to yourself. You may also see a change in who you associate yourself with.

To learn more about mindset, log on to Business is People.