GROWTH MINDSET: you believe that your skills and intelligence are things that can be developed and improved. That you DO have the capacity to learn and grow. Skills are built.

FIXED MINDSET: you believe that your skills and intelligence are set – that you have what you have. That you DON’T have the capacity to learn and grow. Skills are born.

The research shows that a growth mindset can foster grit, determination, and work ethic within students, athletes, and people of all ages.

Carol Dweck’s extensive research of the topic also shows that people with a growth mindset learn, grow, and achieve more than people that have fixed mindsets.

This table outlines the key characteristics (or symptoms) of the two mindsets.

For a closer look at this table and to understand why and how it all works check this out!

PRO TIP: This table is great! But the key is to understand that the top two characteristics: beliefs & focus matter the most. The rest our by-products. This article explains more.