Becoming is better than being

This point is . . . crucial,” writes Dweck. “In the fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome. If you fail — or if you’re not the best — it’s all been wasted. The growth mindset allows people to value what they’re doing regardless of the outcome.

No matter what your current ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.

Did I win? Did I lose? Those are the wrong questions. The correct question is: Did I make my best effort?” If so, he says, “You may be outscored but you will never lose.

Praising children’s intelligence harms their motivation and it harms their performance.

In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh, I'm going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here's a chance to grow.

Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that others can't do it (and sometimes do it even better) with training.