Part 4: Mindset X2
By: T.J. Jumper
This post is part four of the 4 Foundational Characteristics that Determine High Success. The first three focused on DRIVE, COMMITMENT, and DETERMINATION. When first planning the 4-part series, I had thought about GROWTH MINDSET. But, the more I thought about it, the more I became convinced I couldn’t write about GROWTH MINDSET without also mentioning CHAMPION MINDSET. Therefore, I retitled this blog mindset X2. GROWTH MINDSET is how you view life. CHAMPION MINDSET is how you act and carry yourself.
GROWTH MINDSET was developed by Dr. Carol Dweck in her 2007 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. According to Dr. Dweck, there are two types of mindsets: fixed and growth. Fixed mindset is the perspective that things are unchangeable, example would be you were born this way. Whereas, growth mindset is having the perspective that things can be improved and learned (Dweck, 2007). Way too often athletes, parents, media, and coaches focus entirely on wins and losses. When winning is the main focus and the only focus, there will be extreme ups and downs emotionally with very limited improvement. This is the fixed mindset. When the emphasis is on the process of getting better and continual learning there will be a great deal of improvement over time and the winning will take care of itself. This will also create a balance emotionally because there will be a purpose to everything. This is the difference from winning some of the time to becoming consistently excellent.
Conclusion of the 4-Foundational Characteristics
CHAMPION MINDSET is carrying yourself with confidence and putting into action DRIVE, COMMITMENT, DETERMINATION, and GROWTH-MINDSET in all areas of life. This is working to become the “best” you and reaching your potential in everything you do. Far too often, an athlete will only have the CHAMPION MINDSET for their sport, but won’t have it in their everyday life. They will short change, cut corners, or do what is easiest instead of having DRIVE, COMMITMENT, DETERMINATION, and a GROWTH-MINDSET.
Instead the athlete will turn it on and off, the opposite of a CHAMPION MINDSET. An athlete’s mind, emotions, and body don’t work like that, you can’t just turn it off and on. It may work sometimes, but eventually it will catch up and the body won’t respond in the key moments. The body and mind creates routines. When the competition is at its greatest and the stress is high, the mind and body are going to go to that routine. If the routine is not the CHAMPION MINDSET mistakes will start to be made and the performance will result in an athlete losing the big competitions and most of all not reaching their potential as an athlete or a person.
The CHAMPION MINDSET is hard work. Few people are willing to continually put the energy and decision-making into living the Champion Mindset. This is why so few people are continually excellent. Being continually excellent doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes or don’t lose. It also doesn’t mean you are perfect. It means you learn from those situations and improve to be better next time. You are driven to be better, you are committed to be better, and you are determined to overcome any challenge to be better each and everyday. It is a marathon to get to a level of being continually excellent. This is the difference of being average, great some of the time, and a repeat champion
We hope you enjoyed our 4-part series on the Foundational Characteristics to be Highly Successful. For Jumper Athletics, this is our foundational philosophy when working with student-athletes to reach his/her potential. Our next blog will be posted December 5, 2021 and will feature “How to self-analyze with a growth mindset.” If you ever have questions, please reach us at jumperathletics@gmail.com
Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter @TJJumper1 , Instagram @jumperathletics, and on Facebook at Jumper Athletics.
Works Cited
Dweck, Dr. Carol (2007). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House Books.