by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges, Vision and Goals
After reading the last two posts, you might be saying: What am I? Would I be labeled a “fixed” or “growth” mindset?
In the last two posts we met Janet and Hal. They had entirely different mindsets and their attitudes affected their career progress. Yet things are not always so cut and dried, so we need to dig deeper into this idea of attitudes.
Growth mindset and fixed mindset might seem like opposites, and in many ways they are, but there’s more to it than that. These mindsets are different ways of looking at the world and of processing and using the information that we are presented with.
From a personal development standpoint, a growth mindset is preferred, but that doesn’t mean it’s better than a fixed mindset in other ways. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and having more of a fixed mindset or more of a growth mindset doesn’t determine what type of person you are.
Furthermore, the vast majority of people don’t have either a pure fixed mindset or a pure growth mindset. It’s doubtful if a person with such a mindset even exists. All that can be said of anyone is that they have more of one type of mindset than the other.
Mindset is a tricky thing in that it can vary from one facet of life to another as well. This means that someone can have a strong fixed mindset in one arena and a strong growth mindset in another.
As an example, you’ve met people who are fitness experts but who don’t have any desire to learn computer technology. And vice versa; people who are online geniuses yet feel inhibited when they go to the gym.
Another important fact about growth versus fixed mindset is that no one’s mindset is static. It changes throughout your lifespan. It usually (but not always) becomes more mixed or a predominantly growth mindset as you age.
The changes are directed by innate personality and life experiences unless a person is actively involved in personal development.
Because mindset is changeable, it can be directed by both internal and external forces in one direction or the other. That is to say, you can direct your mindset into more growth mindset-oriented patterns, but other people can influence you also. Educators and psychologists have designed numerous programs and developed multiple methods of doing this with students and employees.
If you’re interested in learning which type of mindset you have, psychologists have designed quizzes you can take for this purpose. Some of them are available online for free but keep in mind that these aren’t comprehensive and provide only a small snapshot of the large portrait that is your mindset. They are handy for identifying specific areas you want to work on.
As you pray and seek God’s guidance, you can discover areas of your life that are on target, and ones you want to improve.
Take a deep breath,and move forward. Changes can come, if you’d like.
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs will help you and your customers. You can use this Done-For-You Content as blogposts, e-books, short courses, and any other way you can imagine!
by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges, Vision and Goals
Hal was gifted in sports. He played baseball, soccer, basketball – and golf. Needless to say, his high school and college years were loaded with games, practices and more of the same. Hal loved all the activity, and it trained him in many ways.
It taught him to be disciplined and to press through when things weren’t going so well.
When Hal graduated from college, his obvious career choice was that of a coach. So he tried that. However, after awhile, he felt stagnant in his job and started thinking about a change.
That’s when the management job at a sports equipment company was offered.
This would be totally different. Instead of being physically active, he would be at a desk much of the time. This would require lots of computer work – a skill Hal didn’t have. There would be many reports – not Hal’s forte.
Yet the pay would be much better, and there was much room for advancement.
Hal took the job, knowing that whatever he had to learn, he could. And whatever he had to do, he would be able to acquire the skills.
Hal had a growth mindset.
A growth mindset is one that believes in change and improvement. You can start yours HERE
Someone who has a growth mindset believes that their skills and talents can be improved through hard work, practice, and dedication. Natural talent is a gift of genetics, but it alone is not enough to make someone a master of their craft, and even the most talented person can get better through practice.
People with a growth mindset have a love of learning and never stop trying to learn new things, even many years after they get out of school. They’re always trying to understand the latest methods in their field, improving their skills at a sport, or learning something new.
The 80-year-old woman in the Beginning French class has a growth mindset, as does the newly retired executive who takes up windsurfing for the first time.
A growth mindset embraces challenges, sometimes to the point of seeking them out. People with this mindset see challenges as learning and growth opportunities rather than obstacles standing in their way. They don’t get easily frustrated by failures and roadblocks; they believe these things are to be expected and are a sign they need to adjust and try again.
Intelligence and other personal attributes aren’t fixed, or so believe those who have a growth mindset. They believe that these things can change with hard work and effort.
Genetics are merely a starting point, a blueprint provided by God, and \you can improve upon your abilities as you grow.
Growth mindset people see constructive feedback as a helpful method of improving themselves rather than criticism or a personal attack. They take the feedback and use it to improve their performance in whatever area it’s regarding.
Stress doesn’t affect those with a growth mindset as strongly as it does those with a fixed mindset. This mindset confers a resilience that allows them to be less affected and to bounce back faster than other people. This is not to say that serious problems or negative life events (such as deaths in the family) don’t affect them, but they tend to recover faster.
The success of other people is inspiring to those with a growth mindset. They try to figure out how the other person succeeded and how to imitate them. This increases their own odds of success.
Persistence, resilience, dedication, and a commitment to growth are the hallmarks of the growth mindset. No one has a pure growth mindset, but every person can work on cultivating their mindset to make it more growth-oriented.
If you have “limiting beliefs” this is for you. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges, Vision and Goals
Janet was offered a promotion at work. – a promotion which would have brought her a greater future. However, acquiring some internet skills would be required, and she knew that she couldn’t do the job.
Janet had never been “techy.” She figured that her mentality was geared more toward arts and not tech.
So she let the promotion pass her by.
Janet was suffering from a thing called “fixed Mindset,” and this attitude caused her to let many opportunities pass her by.
There are two basic types of mindset: fixed mindset and growth mindset. Of the two, growth mindset is the preferred one, but that’s not to say there is anything inherently wrong with having a fixed mindset; it’s just a different way of viewing the world.
And that mindset can limit you just as it did Janet.
Furthermore, few people have a pure fixed or growth mindset. Most people have a combination of the two, and they might have different aspects of each in different parts of their lives.
A person’s mindset is also changeable and changes naturally through time or due to conscious effort.
See how you can Overcome Limiting Beliefs and share these ideas with your community.
All of that said, what is a fixed mindset? A fixed mindset believes personal qualities and attributes are fixed at birth and aren’t able to be changed or improved upon. An example is intelligence; someone with a fixed mindset sees that as a fixed quantity bestowed upon a person by the genetics.
Other things someone with a fixed mindset sees as fixed include things like skills and natural talent. For example, a fixed mindset person might say “I’m just no good at sports” and downplay the possibility of improving their skills through practice.
Skills are given from the fixed mindset viewpoint, not earned.
People who have a fixed mindset often seek safety rather than opportunities for growth.
They see challenges as obstacles rather than learning opportunities.
They also tend to take constructive feedback as a personal attack rather than using it to improve their skills and performance at work and elsewhere. After all, if skills and attributes are fixed, why try to improve?
A fixed mindset leads people to give up on things they’re not immediately good at and to move on to other things that come more naturally. Some also give up when they feel frustrated.
One final disadvantage of a fixed mindset is that it can lead to a tendency to feel envious of or threatened by other people’s success.
There are two big advantages to a fixed mindset, however.
The first is that it forces people to embrace reality.
The second is that it avoids problems with unrealistic optimism.
People with a fixed mindset are usually the hard-core pragmatists and realists who keep other people on the ground.
Again, most people don’t have either a purely fixed or growth mindset.
And if you don’t like your current mindset, guess what? You can change it!
by Suellen | Start Your Week With Purpose, Success, Uncategorized
Digital Devices have transformed our lives, and I love them. Yet, often we allow ourselves to be controlled by them, and not the other way around.
Digital noise is a real thing. It’s all those distractions coming from our phones and computers that prevent us from focusing on the important things in life, like our loved ones, our businesses, or our health.
Answer these questions to determine if digital noise is affecting your life.
- Do you feel like you must be online all day every day?
- Yes, otherwise I might miss out on news, events, or speaking to prospects.
- Not sure; I don’t really think about being online. It’s just a part of my life.
- No, I can unplug on the weekends and/or after business hours easily.
- Does your online work on your computer or phone take away from your physical activity?
- I’m the definition of a couch potato with a sedentary lifestyle.
- Sometimes, it all depends on my deadlines.
- I still fit in time for exercise and meal planning.
- Do you use your phone while watching TV, eating dinner, or spending time with your family?
- Yes, my clients need me.
- Sometimes; I’ll turn it off during dinner but then I need to be online.
- My family is more important than business.
- How long do you spend on social media each day?
- I have it turned on all the time.
- Too much; I really need to cut back but don’t know how.
- As little as possible. I outsource my posts, so I only go on to answer questions or to post in my private groups.
- How many times a day are you interrupted by notifications from email, social media, or other platforms?
- Too much; it’s really a nuisance.
- I haven’t noticed.
- Very little. I never sign up for those push notifications.
- Do you take your phone on vacation?
- Yes, my clients might need me.
- Sometimes but I only use it at night when the kids are in bed.
- No, I prefer to stay focused on my family.
- Do you answer every phone call, no matter what time of day or night?
- Yes, it might be a future customer or client.
- Sometimes, it depends on the caller ID.
- I have client boundaries and office hours for a reason.
- Do you miss important conversations or fun activities with family or friends due to phone calls?
- Yes, but my family knows I’m running a business and I have to be on call.
- Sometimes I have to excuse myself to take a call.
- My clients know I stay unplugged after hours.
- Does your work impede your sleep habits?
- I have clients from around the world and figuring out time zones is a pain.
- Sometimes I work late, depending on deadlines.
- No, I have an evening routine that I live by, including no phones in the bedroom.
- Do you actually accomplish work on your phone or are there too many distractions from various sources?
- Yes, my phone is a necessary part of my business and I can’t live without it.
- Sometimes; I use it mostly for phone calls and recording live videos.
- No, I can’t do real work on my phone. I need my laptop.
Now you do the assessment. Do you notice any patterns?
Take a look at the following points to see where you need to make adjustments:
Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep daily in order to be productive. Televisions, cell phones, email, and social media right before bed can cause sleep patterns to be interrupted.
As a result, we can be sluggish and tired when we wake up.
Daily exercise and healthy eating are also vital parts of living longer but our phones and sedentary lifestyles in front of the computer are hampering that healthy living.
Learning to set boundaries and office hours as well as taking breaks during the day gives you small bits of time for stretching or walking to get your blood flowing.
Lastly, all humans need attention but will feel slighted if you have to work during their special time. Directing your undivided attention to your most favorite people will help them to feel special and will strengthen that relationship.
And if you have children, remember that you are their first teacher and they will follow your example. So, if you constantly have your head in your phone, expect them to do the same thing years down the road.
Take the quiz and decide where you might need adjustments.
When we are conscious of these things, we will be able to improve our lives – and our performance.
2022 Here We come!! Let’s make it great!
Blessings,
P.S. Start your 2022 on the right foot with this offer: 2022 Blueprint for Business Success
by Suellen | Meeting the Challenges, Success, Vision and Goals
Many people start their home based businesses with tremendous excitement and delight. Yet after some time on the job, they may start experiencing second thoughts and discouragement.
They find themselves tired of the business and burned out.
Being burned out is no fun. It’s especially no fun if you are a self-employed solopreneur! You need to stay on-the-ball in order to run your business successfully.
The best way to overcome this energy and productivity sapper, is to take steps to overcome it before it happens. So let’s look at some ways to do that.
Okay, let’s be honest. You love your work. You know that your mission is important, and you are thrilled to be helping people as you move ahead. (And, of course, you celebrate as the money begins to flow in).
Yet anything which we do day in and day out – with no breaks – will get tiresome from time to time. That’s why we need to focus on avoiding this before it happens.
So here are a few things to avoid.
- Taking on Too Much Work –
When you are just starting out, you are so happy to get any work at all that you can’t imagine too much ever coming your way.
Yet after you’ve been in business for awhile, this can happen. And it’s a trap for countless solopreneurs. Often this is driven by the fear that at some point, they won’t have orders coming in. So they take on a huge amount of work whenever it’s available
The irony is that this tends to result in poor quality work, which actually means they’re more likely to lose clients!
2. Oversleeping –
What’s that? Sleeping too much can cause burnout?
It might sound surprising, but if you start work late then you will quickly enter into a vicious cycle. You will start late – and end late – thus having your work go into the night and onto your days off.
This is a hazard especially if you are single and don’t have the family time table to help you stay on a more regular routine.
Be strict with yourself, ask others to help, and make sure you get an early night.
Find ways to help yourself maintain regular hours. A cup of Camomile Tea to help you get to sleep. And leaving the curtains open lightly when you go to sleep. Thus when you wake up in the morning. the natural sunlight will prompt you to get up and not go back to sleep.
Even little habits can make a routine more doable – and life lots easier.
3. Others’ Disrespect for Your Work
It’s interesting that if you work in an office, others don’t think that you are available at all times. They respect your office commitment. However, if you are working from home, many think that you are available at all times.
This is a common problem solopreneurs have to address.
People don’t mean this in a condescending way. Yet many people will think that being your own boss means you can be at their beck and call at any time of day.
Let’s go shopping. Let’s go to lunch. Let me tell you the latest gossip.
Or if you have children at home, it’s even more difficult.
It takes willpower to have a schedule which works – and one which avoids this random free time mentality.
Having a schedule of certain times for concentrated work and other times for taking calls helps you stay on track.
Eventually others will recognize your routine and will be more likely to honor it.
4. Not switching off
This is a huge risk you face as a solopreneur.
When you work from home, your work can become your life to the point where you can’t seem to switch it off. It’s always there. Always in your mind. Always demanding concentration.
It’s quite common for anyone to finish work and then realize that there was something they forgot to do, But for most people, they will plan to do it first thing the next morning. The difference for you is that you can go and rectify that mistake right away.
That can be a hazard. You need time off. You need to forget about your work and enjoy other aspects of your life.
It takes discipline to put your work aside – and enjoy your leisure time. But your spiritual time, your family time, and your leisure time are significant to a healthy life.
It might make it easier when you realize that playing is a responsibility!
So there you have a few things which can cause burnout. They basically come down to scheduling times for work and times for play. They also involve knowing your limitations and not overloading yourself with too much work.
Through prayer and planning, you can find a plan and a schedule which works for you and allows you to maximize your impact while enjoying your work.
Avoiding burnout can lead to many years of enjoyable productivity.
