QUOTES OF THE DAY
"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle: when the sun comes up, you’d better be running." - Thomas Friedman
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle (ancient philosopher)
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." - Abraham Lincoln (vampire hunter)
“Fortune favors the prepared mind.” Louis Pasteur (inventor)
SUMMARY
Attaining success has never been easier in the history of mankind. And yet, many people are growing complacent and spoiled, leaving no middle ground. This leaves you with two choices--do you want to be among the elite performers or the mediocre many.
So, how can you cultivate a mindset for success? What are the traits of successful entrepreneurs? Are entrepreneurs born or made? What can you learn from elite performers? How can you use stress to your advantage? And, how can you develop the mental toughness of a Navy Seal?
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT AS YOU DO THE READINGS
1. What is the difference between the growth & fixed mindset?
2. What steps can you take to cultivate a growth mindset?
3. How are the best of the best getting better?
4. What is the mindset of breakthrough innovators?
5. What is the 40% rule?
6. How can you use stress to your advantage?
REQUIRED READINGS/VIDEOS
- Melissa Schilling (2018). Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits, Foibles, and Genius of Breakthrough Innovators. (read only ch. 2 and ch.5)
- Carol Dweck (2007). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success [amazon] Read only Ch. 1-3 [TED talk] [Bill Gates review] [RSA animate]
- Graham Jones (2008). How the best of the best get better and better. Harvard Business Review [read here]
- Crum and Crum (2015). Stress Can Be a Good Thing if You Know How to Use It. Harvard Business Review [read here]
- Bill Gates on success [read here]
- The Two Key Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs [watch here]
- The 40% Rule: A Navy SEAL’s Secret to Mental Toughness [read here]
- If you want to change the world, start by making your bed in the morning [watch here]
OPTIONAL MATERIALS
- 8 Ways Billionaires & Elite Athletes Perform at the Highest Level [read here]
- Most Badass Businessmen in History [read here]
- The Apps That Trick You Into Being 50% More Productive [read here]
- A Manager at Google Wrote the Perfect Email on Time Management [read here]
- Steve Jobs Was an Asshole, Here Are His Best Insults [read here]
- Why 70% of Millennials Have Impostor Syndrome [read here]
- Plug into your hard-wired happiness [watch here]
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Take Quiz 7: Entrepreneurial Mindset (due on Oct 18 at noon on Canvas)
2. Classroom Discussion 8: Entrepreneurial Mindset
Undoubtedly, achieving success is a combination of hard work and luck. But what role does your mindset play in the equation? Many entrepreneurs believe that entrepreneurs are born and not made--some people are born with certain traits such as having a higher propensity for risk-taking or ability to use stressful experiences as motivation that can help them flourish as entrepreneurs. In other words, becoming and succeeding as an entrepreneur (and in life in general) depends on your mental attitude or your mindset. So what can we learn from the most successful entrepreneurs, and how can you cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset? Answer the following questions:
What is the difference between the growth & the fixed mindset according to Carol Dweck? Do you agree with this distinction or do you think that it’s overly simplistic?
What was the mindset of breakthrough innovators (according to Melissa Schilling)? Who is your most favorite breakthrough innovator (from her book) and what were the traits that made them stand out to you?
What is your mindset? What steps can you take to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset (based on the readings)?