Overcoming the 'Can't' Mindset
CAN'T creeps in everyday -- from your people, in meetings, and in your own mindset.
I can't work with her.
I can’t increase 2X my revenue.
I can’t because clients don’t like change.
I can’t because marketing/operations/finance told me no.
Can’t is a mindset.
Can’t is a decision.
Can't is not a FACT: It’s a thought you believe.
Can’t keeps you from exceptional growth and big dreams.
Can’t holds your people back.
It sacrifices success.
Stops momentum.
And leads to more of the same.
Without progress, we fail, but sometimes it’s just so damn hard. We just can’t.
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck pioneered the concept of a Growth versus a Fixed Mindset from her interest in students' attitudes about failure. Here's Dweck's TED talk on believing you can improve.
Saying "can't" is like deciding to fail before even trying.
It's often a sign of being overworked and too exhausted to think about doing anything differently because it might cause more work!
Sticking to the way things have always been done, just because it's familiar, robs you of the joy of learning, exploring new ideas, and seeking out new possibilities.
Start with the assumption that the best way to do something is not the way it's being done right now. – Aaron Levie
What if the ‘can’ts’ were simply a problem to be solved?
What if each can’t was an assumption ready to be busted?
Answering these questions may bring up more questions, and that’s amazing. That’s a new start to something you would not have thought of without questioning Can't.
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't -- you're right. -- Henry Ford
If you want to move your can’ts to CANs, come work with me and my proven process, which leverages visualization, cognitive behavioral theory, and Neuroscience research. We help teams get curious and open to seeing huge possibilities for leadership and the organization. The real magic happens when our clients move beyond the assumptions holding them back and begin to see possibilities for revenue growth, impact, and success.
Here’s one client’s experience:
The program captured input from voices previously only sometimes heard and helped us think creatively about the areas of the business that needed to be prioritized. They challenged our assumptions and perspectives. They helped us broaden our critical thinking skills. The result was that they supercharged our agility to pivot as needed to scale our business profitability.
--Agency CEO
Let’s make business fun again.
Finish the year strong with a plan for 2025 that is backed by solid strategy, game-changing initiatives, and a team motivated by their own personal goals.
