I was considering a different summer format for “The Innovator’s Mindset” podcast. As I was at the gym, I thought about this table I shared in “Innovate Inside the Box,” which is a build-on from the table shared in the book “The Growth Mindset Coach” by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley.
For the next five weeks, I will write a blog post and share a podcast with insights on each “situation” and what it looks like when we move from a Growth Mindset to an Innovator’s Mindset. Moving from a growth mindset to an Innovator’s Mindset is going beyond “knowing” and shifting to what we can do with what we know.
Today I will focus on episode one, which is focused on “effort.” I am writing each of these blog posts after recording the podcast so the ideas shared in each will be similar but with some differences 🙂
Here is a link to the podcast that you can listen to on Spotify, Soundcloud, or Apple Podcasts or watch on YouTube.
What is the effort you put in when no one is watching?
When Hundley and Brock connect the idea of effort to the growth mindset, they share the following idea; “Doing hard work and putting in effort paves the path to achievement and success.” Hard work, to me, is a minimum, but it also doesn’t guarantee results. As I write this, I think of one of my favorite quotes that Jim Valvano shares from his father; “hard work does not guarantee success, but lack of hard work guarantees no success.” That is not only a powerful statement; it is also the truth.
But hard work is not only putting effort into the things that are thrust upon you. We often ask students to put their best effort into subjects and areas where a) they do not have passion and/or b) they do not see the relevance in their lives. Yet if you connect “point B” to “point A,” you will likely see an improved effort. Not guaranteed, but more likely.
What elevates this idea is when you go out looking for opportunities to push yourself and grow, as opposed to just putting in effort for the benefit of others. As someone who is self-employed, the only way I see results in my work is if I go out of my way to create content. In fact, I am writing this post not because it is due to someone else but because it is an opportunity to sharpen my own thinking and grow.
That is why I wrote the following:
“Hard work and effort are continuous, and we look to make time to
create new solutions and ideas for growth.”
First of all, one of the most complex parts is putting in effort when no one is watching. I think about the difference between working out at home and working out at a public gym. Knowing that other people see my actions (or inaction) is a bit of a motivator, but I have developed the discipline to push myself even when alone.
Looking for inspiration in others is motivation; looking for inspiration within yourself is discipline.
Discipline > Motivation
But I haven’t always been this way.
I remember when I was a student in elementary school, I always excelled at math. But in high school, it was a different story. The focus of the math curriculum in elementary school came naturally to me. But in high school, it was hard. And it wasn’t just that it was more challenging content. The issue was that I hadn’t known how to deal with a challenge because I didn’t face it before. Once things became tough, I pivoted to becoming the class clown instead of trying harder. It was way easier to be seen as funny than stupid, so I was pretty challenging for my teachers as I got older.
Fast-forward to adulthood, when I started teaching the same level of math where I began to flounder as a kid. I was asked to teach grade 9 math, and although I tried to get out of it, it wasn’t happening. I learned it along the way, not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice! What was interesting about the experience is that I could do a great job of helping the students who struggled with the concepts because I was in their shoes a little over a decade earlier.
But some students found the concepts to be easy. And instead of just letting that happen, I would throw problems and questions that were way beyond the grade level their way. I also refused to help them with the content (I am not sure I could of!) and challenged them to figure it out independently. There were no “bonus” points or extra credit for doing this; I just wanted them to struggle with stuff for no other reason than to see the value.
“Mr. C! Why do we have to do this?”
“Because you will thank me later. It is good for you!” I remember the whining in class about the situation.
Until they started figuring things out and realizing that the boredom they were feeling earlier was dissipating with the rush of doing something beyond what was expected.
It was great to hear the shift from complaints to cheers.
One of the reasons I brought this all up, and even started this series, is an idea from David Goggins’s book, “Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds,” as I was out on a long run. I don’t just run for my physical health, but my mental health as well. It serves as both a moving meditation and a challenge to see if I can go beyond my mental limits. Right as I was running, Goggins shared that one of the ways that he dealt with challenges in his life was that when he felt like quitting, he would learn to push harder. Once you start doing that, what once was tough, becomes easy, and what once seemed impossible becomes possible. As I was about to start walking, I heard that idea and pushed harder. I had way more in my tank than I understood at the time.
People who go out and seek challenges will always grow faster than those who don’t or wait to put in effort for the challenges that come to them. The ability to push yourself when no one is watching can help someone reach and often go beyond their potential.
In my home gym, I have a poster of Muhammad Ali that shares the following:
The effort you seek and put in when no one is watching can lead to remarkable achievements and opportunities in the presence of others.
