Insights from my teenagers on harnessing a growth mindset

“Maybe, I am not cut out for that level, Papa :( - confided my teenaged son in a rare moment of emotional conversation between us :( (otherwise accustomed to discussing cricket, technology and entrepreneurship)

So, he’s been grinding for the upcoming JEE (for the uninformed, arguably one of the toughest exams to crack globally), and has been stuck around the 95% percentile in his coaching institute’s internal assessments, while the gold standard is a minimum 99%! 

“Those who are acing this are just brilliant and in a league of their own”, he said with a hint of resignation, a natural reaction for most when faced with tough challenges despite putting in the efforts. 

Now I recently came across the book “Mindset” during our management trainings.  It delves into the significance of embracing a growth mindset, drawing insights from various domains such as business, sports, and relationships. The story about Michael Jordan was particularly inspiring and being so tuned to Sport, something my son would relate to the most. 

Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Jordan faced numerous setbacks early in his career and was far from being the natural athlete we all take him for granted. In fact he did not even make it to his high school basketball team! 

But Jordan didn't let that deter him. He embraced a relentless work ethic, constantly pushing himself to improve his skills. His determination paid off, eventually leading him to win six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and earning numerous MVP awards. After achieving immense success in basketball, Michael Jordan shocked the world by abruptly retiring from the NBA in 1993 to pursue a career in professional baseball. Jordan's stint in baseball, playing in the minor leagues, was not successful and he struggled to perform at the same level of excellence he had displayed in basketball. However, Jordan's competitive spirit never waned. In 1995, Jordan made a comeback to the NBA, rejoining the Chicago Bulls, trained as hard as he had ever done in his life to re-emerge as one of the league's premier players, leading the Bulls to three more NBA championships!

I think there's a lesson here for all of us. It's about having the right mindset—the belief that it's not just about being naturally gifted, with the right work ethic, we can grow, improve, and overcome any obstacle.

I calmed him down and immediately after our call, ordered the book for him to dive deep into this “mindset” thing on his own. I hope this helps him navigate this phase of his life..Thank you Purva Pundit for the recommendation :)