Ibrahim's blog

Mindset: Carol Dweck

Chapter 1: Summary

            The opening chapter introduces the foundational concept behind the rest of the book, which is that of two different mindsets. A fixed mindset is one that accepts the idea of predetermined abilities, aptitudes, and talents that can only be proven or not. A growth mindset is one that believes that traits like these are not fixed, but can be cultivated, learned, and changed. These mindsets lead to behavior traits: fixed mindsets avoid new challenges and are quick to give up when they fail. The growth mindset is persistent, tenacious, and views criticism constructively.

Chapter 2: Summary

            The premise here is that both mindsets are choices people make, and those choices can affect every aspect of their lives (I mean EVERY). For instance, those with a fixed mindset tended to care only about learning whether passed a test rather than whether or not they actually understood knowledge that could help with future growth. Failure is viewed by a fixed mindset as a definition of how they are a failure as a person whereas those with a growth mindset are more likely to take failure at a specific task as a learning opportunity. This chapter also serves up a chilling warning about aptitude tests: when a person with a fixed mindset fails on a single test of ability, they very often view that failure as changeable for the rest of their lives, thus potentially missing out on great opportunities.

Chapter 3: Summary

            In this chapter, the focus is on how the two mindsets actually impact modes of thinking that lead to success or failure. The central theme here is how these mindsets become traps that can set the stage for future success or failure. Fixed mindsets become fearful of trying after experiencing failure, putting that failure down to an inherent lacking on their part. This not only has the effect of limiting the possibility of new accomplishments but creates a protective veneer around existing abilities so that they remain in flux. So protective is the fixed mindset of maintaining what is known it can do rather than trying what it is not sure it can do, that it serves the purpose of actually limiting what it can do. By contrast, a growth mindset is not only more open to new challenges; it is more willing to challenge the limits of proven talents and skills.

Chapter 5: Summary

            The fixed mindset in business can be very successful, but with their success comes confirmation of their perspective that the world can be divided into superior people and inferior people. Since they have become successful, it follows that they are superior, and their business model becomes one in which preserving that reputation often trumps everything else. This leadership style is responsible for those corporations where both great success and great failure have resulted from a rigid bureaucratic structure. The growth mindset can thus essentially say to be the innovative tech companies with executives wearing jeans into offices equipped with playrooms in contrast to the iconic army of white button-down shirt IBM employees of the 1960s. A modern-day example could also be Apples, Steve Jobs, where he also had the same philosophy in the work area.

Chapter 8: Summary

            The book concludes with a chapter that becomes a workshop in the steps that can be taken to change a fixed mindset into a growth mindset. The first step is educating people about the theory by showing how it has impacted them personally in their lives. The process then becomes one of cognitive therapy whereby people are stimulated to change negative behavior and habits by becoming more actively aware of them as they are occurring. This self-awareness naturally leads to the realization of the extent to which their behavior produces judgments of themselves, which leads to the critical step of learning how to transform that judgment of worth into a perspective that views failure as an opportunity to learn and improve.