I recently read a Harvard Business School article about entrepreneurship and one's mindset. Essentially the article shares the traits and aspects of having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset and the hopeful message that anyone can change their mindset.

To summarize the article, a growth mindset perspective is that our talents, traits, skills, and I add opportunities, can grow with effort, training, and practice. A fixed mindset perspective is that these things are set and unchangeable while a growth mindset believes in one's ability to be evergrowing and changing with new knowledge and experiences. I really loved how the article related these mindsets to business and entrepreneurship.

An entrepreneur with a growth mindset sees the opportunity in a challenge. This seems apropos as our valley faces many opportunities and challenges. A fixed mindset might look at how our valley is changing and think our best days are behind us, our culture and heritage are threatened, and our challenges too overwhelming. Whereas a growth mindset might see new business opportunities in providing the services and products a growing community needs, or how we can share and expand our unique culture, and how our valley has more to offer than ever before.

I don’t think having a growth mindset is about putting on rose-colored glasses or turning an overly-optimistic-blind-eye to these challenges. I think having a growth mindset is to see things clearly, honestly, and holistically. Just as there is opportunity in the growth of the population and in local businesses, there is also opportunity in preservation and history. To me that is clarity.

Finally, if a growth mindset doesn’t feel natural to you, then there is hope and ways to build this mindset. The article points out things like embracing challenges, celebrating effort, and cultivating curiosity as tools to be used along the way to developing a new perspective.

There is a lot to look forward to as our valley evolves. New entrepreneurial opportunities that will create new jobs. New people in which to share and celebrate our unique culture. Creating new solutions to our challenges that could be potential blueprints for other communities. A having a growth mindset isn’t the easy or even safe route, but it is a perspective that I think is needed for community to continue to unite in purpose, foster greater
connections, and promote all the good that is Heber Valley.