What a growth mindset actually feels like
I like to think I’ve always embraced a growth mindset—finding life lessons in every mistake or misstep along the way. But the truth is, I’m a recovering perfectionist. Throughout my youth and twenties, I was terrified of the Big F—Failure. In fact, the only B I ever received in school happened when I was newly engaged during my freshman year of college. Needless to say, I didn’t let that happen again.
A fixed mindset creeps in when we compare ourselves to others or feel we need to get everything right on the first try. My years as a senior leader in a global firm taught me that this isn’t just unrealistic—it’s damaging. I’ll never forget one project I led early in my partner days. We’d worked hard on a training program, collaborating with various stakeholders, and I was proud of what we’d built. But then came some unfortunate feedback. The kind that shoots all the way to the top of the firm—like in the Barbie movie (yes, ALL THE WAY UP).
Suddenly, everything we created was being re-evaluated, and big changes were happening as a result. My heart sank. I felt like I had let my team and the firm down.
But that was the moment I needed—the proverbial kick in the butt. It forced me to see that chasing perfection is not only exhausting but completely unattainable. In a fast-paced, complex environment, I had to get comfortable with experimenting, failing, and most importantly, learning. From that moment on, I adopted a simple mantra: I can do hard things. And I carried that mindset into every project, especially when there was no clear roadmap ahead.
Fast forward a few years, and I’m fully leaning into this mindset as an entrepreneur in my “career 2.0.” I’ve had to learn, as my friend Jen Morris says, to “build the plane in the air.” That means not waiting for everything to be perfectly in place before I take the first step.
Six months ago, I knew nothing about Canva, QR codes, LinkTree, Book Brush, publicity, speaking proposals, book award applications, or being a kindergarten mom, for that matter. But every day, I embraced a beginner’s mindset. I allowed myself to be 1% better each day, focusing on progress over perfection.
The more I practice, the more fun I’m having. And here’s the kicker: I find myself saying, “I’m so proud of myself,” more often. That’s when it clicked—I’m finally feeling what it means to live in a true growth mindset.
So, what’s the smallest step you can take today to try something new or get closer to your dreams?
Let me know - add a comment below.
For the world needs who you were made to be.
