Growing and growing...

Are you and those around you continuing to grow?

With the challenges of the past year, I've certainly watched my waistline grow. With a newborn and toddler in my house, I am constantly reminded of how fast and amazing growth is. However, as we get older, it's easy to lose sight of the importance of consistent growth in our lives.

My goal for 2021 is to keep a growth mindset versus a fixed one. A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence can continue to be developed. Conversely, a fixed mindset is the thought that you can't learn or solve something, that you are only capable of so much. Studies show that students with a growth mindset do better in school, both on projects and tests, so we know it works.

The bad news is that BELIEVING you can do something isn't enough. The belief then drives you to set goals, work hard, and overcome obstacles. That is really the key to success.

So, where do you want to grow?

This isn't a hypothetical question. I'm really asking you. I read an article on LinkedIn that says simply sharing your goals increases the likeliness that you will complete them, so please take a second to respond. In fact, for every person that replies, I'll donate $3 to the charity of my choice.

I'll go first.

That growth mindset led me somewhere unexpected — I'm now certified in TriMetrix® EQ, an assessment that combines behavioral style, motivators, and emotional intelligence into one report. I pair it with live, improv-based exercises so the results become something a team actually practices, not just reads. [Learn more about TriMetrix EQ here.]

I've got a lot of work to do, but I know I can do it, because I have a growth mindset!

New Year, New Attempt?

Did you make a New Year's Resolution this year?

Bad news: most resolutions don't last.

Strava, a social media app for athletes, studied over 31 million people in 2020 and determined that most resolutions started falling apart by January 12. Several other studies show another large drop in commitment to these resolutions at the beginning of February.

The old quote states, "It takes 21 days to build a habit," but the European Journal of Social Psychology found that it takes, on average, 66 days to form a habit. "On average" is important in that sentence, because the individuals in the study actually took anywhere from 18 to 254 days to make it stick.

Those numbers can be really disheartening, but what can we do about it?

The answer lies with the 2006 Indianapolis Colts.

That NFL team coached by Hall of Famer, Tony Dungy, and lead on the field by soon-to-be Hall of Famer Peyton Manning started off the season 9-0, but then things changed. They lost 4 of their next 6 games. In one game, they gave up 375 rushing yards. (If you don't know much about football, that was the second most ever allowed in the modern NFL.)

At this point, some teams might have cumbled and focused on their mistakes, but not this team. They stayed committed to their goal and to each other. They won their last regular season game, before starting their playoff run which culminated in winning Super Bowl 41 in Miami on February 7, 2007.

So let me ask, how are you doing with your resolution? Are you undefeated so far? Have you had any losses? The game isn't over unless you quit.

University of Scranton psychology professor John C. Norcross study people who successfully kept their resolutions for at least 2 years. 53% slipped up at least once with the average number of "losses" being 14.

No team in the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL has ever gone undefeated on their way to winning a championship. There are always going to be bumps in the road, but keep driving.

"It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."
-Rocky Balboa