Developing a Growth Mindset: Why You Should Never Count Yourself Out
Before I get started, let me pause by saying that I reference football a lot in this post. I know we’re in America, but let me be clear: it’s football, not soccer. You do play with your feet after all 🙄. And no, I won’t be debating this. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
When my son first started playing football, he was up against a tough reality: most of the “elite” players his age had been honing their skills since they were barely out of diapers. Some started as young as four. He on the other hand, didn’t begin until he was 10. Add to that the fact that he jumped straight into goalkeeping, meant he missed the early field player training that many of his peers had been mastering. Having played briefly as a defender in college, I figured I could help him adjust, but goalkeeping is a whole different beast. It’s no longer just about stopping shots; the position is evolving into that of a hybrid field player who uses their hands, and that means footwork matters.
At first, my son was resigned to the fact that his footwork wasn’t up to par. “I’m just not good with my feet,” he would say, almost defeated before he even tried. And if there’s one thing I know, whether it's on the field or in life, a fixed mindset like that is going to be a roadblock. It was time to reframe the way he saw his abilities. I started retraining him to shift his language: Instead of “I’m just not good with my feet,” he now says, “I’m working on getting better.” The focus is no longer on where he is now, but on where he’s going. We began documenting what’s working well, what he’s improving on, and where he needs to spend more time—and honestly, it’s helped both of us. Watching him improve bit by bit, while acknowledging his setbacks along the way, has been an incredible reminder of how important mindset is in personal growth.
The same lessons apply to all of us in our professional lives. Whether you’re transitioning careers, stepping into a new role, or navigating a workplace that wasn’t built with you in mind, it’s easy to get stuck in a fixed mindset—thinking you’re just not good enough or too far behind to catch up. But the truth is, with the right mindset, you can grow into the person you want to be.
What Is a Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset is the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, learning, and persistence. It’s the mindset that tells you, “I may not know this yet, but I can learn.” In contrast, a fixed mindset assumes that talents and intelligence are static. People with fixed mindsets often avoid challenges because they believe their abilities are limited.
Adopting a growth mindset means embracing challenges, seeing setbacks as learning opportunities, and believing in your capacity to improve over time. This approach has been instrumental in helping my son move past his initial frustrations with football, and it can be equally transformative in professional settings.
Growth Mindset in Your Career
In the workplace, we often fall into the trap of comparison—feeling like everyone else has mastered something that we’re still struggling with. This mindset is especially prevalent among immigrants, first-generation professionals, BIPOC candidates, and those transitioning into new industries. The pressure to “catch up” can feel overwhelming.
But here’s the key: you don’t have to be an expert right away. What you need is the willingness to grow. Just like we track progress on the field, you can document your professional development to remind yourself of how far you’ve come, even when the road feels long.
A growth mindset is the power of yet!
It’s the belief that you’re not there yet, but you’re on the path to getting there. Instead of focusing on limitations, you’re embracing the process of growth and development.
Introducing the Accomplishment Tracker
To help with this, I’ve created an Accomplishment Tracker that you can download for free. This tool will fulfill the task I mentioned in last week’s blog and help you track your accomplishments, document positive feedback, and log any instances of bias or unfair treatment.
It’s designed to help you document your growth in real-time, so when you feel like you’re stuck or not progressing, you can look back and see how far you’ve come.
How to Build a Growth Mindset
Now that you understand the power of a growth mindset, here are some practical ways to develop one:
Reframe Negative Thoughts: Change your inner dialogue from “I can’t” to “I’m working on it.” Progress doesn’t happen overnight, but the mindset shift will help you stay motivated.
Track Your Progress: Use the Accomplishment Tracker to document your wins, no matter how small. This could be learning a new skill, receiving positive feedback, or overcoming a challenge.
Embrace Setbacks as Learning Opportunities: Growth isn’t linear. You’ll face setbacks and failures, but each one is a chance to learn and come back stronger.
Surround Yourself with Growth-Minded People: Find mentors, colleagues, and friends who encourage you to grow and aren’t afraid to challenge you. These are the people who will support you through your setbacks and celebrate your successes.
Stay Curious: A growth mindset thrives on curiosity. Keep learning, keep asking questions, and stay open to new ways of thinking and doing things.
Take Control of Your Growth
As I continue to help my son develop his skills, I’m reminded that growth isn’t just about thinking positively. It’s a process—one that requires effort, time, and a willingness to push through the hard moments. The same applies to all of us in our careers. We have to be willing to put in the work, to track our progress, and to recognize that we’re constantly evolving. And in moments when doubt creeps in, remember that progress isn’t always linear (yes, I know I’ve said this already… make a note), but it’s still progress.
So, whether you’re working on improving your skills or navigating a career transition, remember: progress happens over time. It doesn’t happen all at once, but with the right mindset, it will happen.
Download the free Accomplishment Tracker and start documenting your growth today. Let’s keep moving forward, step by step.
In the end, growth is about trusting your path and putting in the work, knowing that "wah fi yuh cyaan un fi yuh."
~Meisha
