27A - Reading Reflection No. 3

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

 The book I chose for this assignment is "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck. The general argument of this book is that the mindset you have plays an extremely important role in your success. Dweck explains the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, and whichever one you choose impacts how you deal with situations and improve. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

I feel as though the book connected with the material we have learned in class since you should be opening your mind to criticism, critique, and feedback throughout the entire length of the course. The book says those with a fixed mindset believe they are naturally good at everything and simply correct, while those with a growth mindset believe that they can achieve anything if they work hard enough and work. In entrepreneurship, if you simply pitch an idea and try to run with it then you will not create an idea nearly as successful as one that accounts for the opinions of others. Instead, it is much more useful to conduct some of the similar activities we do in class, such as reaching out to professionals and interviewing those in our target market.  

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

If I had to design an exercise for this class, it would involve getting involved and learning a new skill that would eventually assist you in the future. The skill could be anything ranging from taking a writing workshop, or attending public speaking classes. In this way, students could focus on developing their growth mindset and becoming a better entrepreneur.

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

My biggest aha moment while reading this book was the importance of the difference between a fixed and growth mindset due to the implications that each of them has. For example, people with a fixed mindset seek approval, while people with a growth mindset seek development. Dweck states many differences between these two throughout each section of the book, elaborating and explaining. Another example is: fixed mindset avoids difficulties while a growth mindset relishes them. I find these surprising and interesting because I never took a step back and analyzed the way my mindset might be holding me back.