Let me tell you about the time I tried to bake sourdough during the pandemic like every other Pinterest parent in America. Three days of feeding a starter named "Dough-Brad Pitt," flour dust covering my Instant Pot like Midwest snow, only to pull out a brick that could’ve doubled as a doorstop. My kid looked at it and deadpanned, “Mom, can we just buy bread?” Ouch. But here’s the thing—that lump taught me more about growth mindset than any TED Talk ever could.
Lesson 1: “Yet” is magic fairy dust for your brain
I used to tell my son, “I can’t coach your T-ball team—I don’t know baseball!” until his coach (a former minor league player) said, “You don’t know baseball yet.” That tiny word changed everything. When I botched my first Zoom presentation at work (“Why is my cat licking the camera?!”), I told my team, “I’m not tech-savvy… yet.” Six months later, I was the one teaching coworkers how to use breakout rooms without triggering existential crises.
The BBQ Sauce Incident (& Why Failure is Secret Data)
Last Fourth of July, I tried making smoked brisket for 20 people. The meat turned out drier than a tax code manual. But instead of swearing off grilling forever (my husband’s suggestion: “Let’s just order Chick-fil-A”), I asked my Texan neighbor for feedback. Turns out, wrapping the brisket in butcher paper at 160°F makes all the difference. Now I’m the annoying person who brings their own smoker to potlucks.
Everyday Growth Mindset Hacks That Actually Stick
- Reward the grind, not just the win: When my daughter finally rode her bike without training wheels, we celebrated the skinned knees too—those Band-Aids were proof she kept going.
- Steal strategies like a raccoon at a campground: My friend’s “15-Minute Rule” (give any frustrating task 15 focused minutes before quitting) got me through learning QuickBooks. Now I use it on everything from spreadsheets to assembling IKEA dressers.
- Talk to yourself like a kind soccer mom: When I failed my real estate exam twice, I swapped “You’re terrible at this” with “Girl, you’ve survived 3 C-sections. You’ve got this.” Passed on the third try.
The Library Book That Changed Everything (No, Not That One)
Our local librarian once handed me The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken—a kids’ picture book where blobs become masterpieces. Now, when I spill coffee on client reports (hey, Yeti mugs aren’t foolproof), I channel my inner Bob Ross: “Happy little accidents.” Last month, that coffee stain inspired a new infographic layout my boss actually praised.
You’ve Already Done This More Than You Think
Remember learning to drive? That terrifying mix of stalling at stoplights and parallel parking nightmares? But now you can probably merge onto I-95 while sipping Dunkin’ and arguing with Siri. That’s growth mindset in action—you just didn’t call it that while white-knuckling the steering wheel.
Here’s my challenge for you: Pick one thing you’ve been avoiding (PTO spreadsheets? Kickboxing? Finally organizing the Tupperware cabinet?) and attack it with “yet” energy this week. Worst case? You’ll get a funny story. Best case? You’ll surprise yourself. Either way, you’re growing—and I’ll be over here cheering you on, probably burning another loaf. (Pro tip: Trader Joe’s frozen garlic naan saves dignity every time.)