Category: Recommended Books

Mindset Matters

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to get ahead? If so, then you may want to take a closer look at your mindset. According to psychologist Carol Dweck, your mindset plays a crucial role in determining your success in life.

In her book, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success“, Dweck outlines two different mindsets that people tend to have: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Let’s take a closer look at what these mindsets are and what they mean for your success.

The fixed mindset is the belief that your abilities and intelligence are set in stone. People with a fixed mindset tend to think that they are either good at something or they aren’t, and that there’s not much they can do to change that. They see failure as a reflection of their inherent limitations, rather than as an opportunity for growth.

On the other hand, the growth mindset is the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and perseverance. People with a growth mindset see failure as a chance to learn and improve, rather than as a reflection of their limitations. They embrace challenges and see them as opportunities to stretch themselves and grow.

So why does your mindset matter so much? According to Dweck, your mindset shapes your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which in turn shape your success in life. If you have a fixed mindset, you’re more likely to shy away from challenges and give up easily when you encounter obstacles. You may also be more likely to play it safe and stick to what you already know, rather than taking risks and trying new things.

On the other hand, if you have a growth mindset, you’re more likely to embrace challenges and persist in the face of obstacles. You’re also more likely to seek out new opportunities for growth and take risks in pursuit of your goals. As a result, you’re more likely to achieve success and reach your full potential.

So how can you cultivate a growth mindset? Dweck suggests a few key strategies:

  1. Embrace challenges: Rather than avoiding challenges, seek them out and view them as opportunities to learn and grow.
  2. Persist in the face of obstacles: Don’t give up easily when you encounter obstacles or setbacks. Instead, keep pushing forward and stay committed to your goals.
  3. Learn from criticism: Rather than getting defensive or discouraged when you receive criticism, use it as a chance to learn and improve.
  4. Cultivate a love of learning: Focus on the process of learning and growing, rather than just on the end result.
  5. Surround yourself with growth-minded people: Seek out friends and colleagues who share your growth mindset and can support and encourage you in your journey.

By embracing these strategies, you can begin to shift your mindset from fixed to growth, and start achieving greater success in your life. Whether you’re trying to improve your career, your relationships, or your personal growth, a growth mindset can help you overcome obstacles and reach your full potential.

Your mindset is the driving force behind your well-being, because it changes the lens through which you view any event that occurs. By cultivating a growth mindset, you can embrace challenges, persist in the face of obstacles, learn from criticism, and surround yourself with growth-minded people. So if you want to achieve greater success and reach your full potential, start by examining what goes on in the six inches between your ears. Make the decision to view yourself and the world in the context of a growth mindset.

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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” has been a bestseller since it was first published in 1989 and was a catalyst in my own self-development. It encouraged me to be thoughtful about the actions I take, and to focus my attention on what matters most: the people in my life. It can help you gain a better understanding of yourself and how you can become more effective in your personal and professional lives.

The book is divided into seven habits or principles that the author believes are essential for achieving personal and professional success. The habits are:

  1. Be Proactive: The first habit focuses on taking control of your life, instead of letting circumstances control you. Covey believes that the most effective people are proactive and take responsibility for their lives, rather than waiting for someone else to fix their problems.
  2. Begin with the End in Mind: This habit emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals and having a vision for your life. Covey argues that by knowing your destination, you can better plan your journey and make more intentional choices.
  3. Put First Things First: This habit is about time management and prioritization. Covey suggests that you should prioritize your tasks based on their importance in achieving your goals, rather than focusing on the urgent but unimportant tasks that can distract you from your vision.
  4. Think Win-Win: Covey’s fourth habit is all about finding solutions that benefit both parties in a relationship or negotiation. He believes that by thinking win-win, you can create more meaningful and sustainable relationships in both your personal and professional lives.
  5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: This habit is about effective communication and active listening. Covey argues that by understanding others’ perspectives and needs, you can communicate more clearly and build stronger relationships.
  6. Synergize: Covey’s sixth habit is about collaboration and teamwork. He suggests that by working together towards a shared goal, individuals can achieve more than they could on their own.
  7. Sharpen the Saw: The final habit is about self-improvement and personal renewal. Covey argues that by taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally, we can become more effective in all areas of our lives.
    Throughout the book, Covey uses real-life examples and anecdotes to illustrate his points and make them more relatable. He also includes exercises and worksheets to help readers apply the habits to their own lives.

“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” is a classic that provides a roadmap for you to live a richer and more meaningful life. Covey’s habits are practical and easy to understand, yet powerful enough to create meaningful change. By applying these habits, you can become a proactive leader who prioritizes your values, achieve your goals, and build stronger relationships with the ones you love.

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A legend in leadership

Some leaders in history are greater than fiction. Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller is one of those examples. Widely considered the greatest U.S. Marine in history, Chesty’s career spanned four decades over which he accumulated five Navy Crosses. His life is biographied by Colonel Jon Hoffman in the work “Chesty: the story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller”.

On first appearance, Chesty was the “Marine’s Marine”. A gruff voiced, profane warfighter who led from the front. He frequently determined how much courage a leader had by the casualty counts, and boasted that his officers had higher casualty ratios than his enlisted men. His Virginian ancestry gave him a love of Confederate tales and both he and those around him had a tendency to aggrandize the stories of his own careers as he progressed in age. Nevertheless, the historical records of his leadership under fire need no embellishment. Winning skirmishes in Haiti and Nicaragua in his younger years, then on to the legendary battles of Guadalcanal in World War II and the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, Chesty’s reputation was well deserved.

But his legendary leadership was more than a blood and guts desire for military conquest and glory. Chesty had exemplary conduct of how to lead his troops, on and off the battlefield. He was known for treating everyone with the same amount of respect, from the lowest enlisted man to the commanding general. He had unwritten rules for the officers under his command, requiring them to eat last in the chow line and ensuring they were ready to perform any task they asked their men to. He was a superb trainer, and on multiple occasions led the training elements that prepared Marines for the future battles the country would face. Beneath the image Chesty displayed to the world was a man who cared deeply about the people around him and who held everyone accountable for their actions, particularly those in authority.

Chesty’s example reminds me that leadership is a complex task. To lead myself and others effectively, I must look the part of the role, but also be present with the people I lead. I have to set high expectations and then show my team how to accomplish the mission. I have to work beside them through their efforts to accomplish our collective goals. Moreover, I need to set increasingly higher levels of achievement and accountability for my senior team members, as they are responsible for assisting me in creating a culture of accountability. Most importantly, I must care deeply about the people I lead and the mission we are trying to accomplish. People are capable of surmounting seemingly impossible feats when inspired by the presence of a leader who is fully invested in them and fully committed to the task at hand, as Chesty Puller demonstrated throughout his career.

Chesty by Jon T. Hoffman

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