Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, written by Stanford University’s acclaimed behavioral psychologist Dr. Carol S. Dweck, could have been written today for today’s changing real estate market. Instead, Mindset was initially released in 2007, just in time for the collapsing real estate market ten years ago.
If you read Dweck’s book back then, reread it now to remind yourself that nothing about you and your working styles are set in stone. And if you’ve never read this gem, Dweck’s words may just kick-start your action plan to excel in this now changing housing market.
Dweck believes that “knowing” can change your beliefs; that changing your beliefs can change your behavior; and that changing your behavior can change your career trajectory.
Tim and Julie Harris have provided (and will continue providing) you with the “knowing ” part – essential market information (sales have dropped by 11% in Southern California; sales have jumped by 25% in Florida’s luxury market; days on the market are increasing from weeks to months; etc.) and now is the time to spring into action… changing your beliefs and your behavior in order to thrive in this new and changing market.
Dweck’s words about mindsets are enlightening. She identifies a “fixed” mindset as being static, unchangeable, steadfast. Just as one has brown or blue eyes at birth, a fixed mindset dictates that whatever abilities, aptitudes, interests and/or skills a person has now are the abilities, aptitudes, interests and/or skills that person will always have. Nothing new added over time, nothing refined or nuanced by experience and training, nothing changed by curiosity or market needs or “outside” innovation. Just the same ole, same ole efforts seeking to be right, special and/or entitled.
Dweck identifies a “growth” mindset as being developmental, additive, adaptive and fluid. She points to Darwin Smith, the man who remade the paper industry (Kimberly Clark) by “always trying to be qualified for the job.” Dweck cites NASA as being an employer that seeks applications for potential astronauts from those who have experienced significant failure and who have bounced back.
Dweck writes, “Just by knowing about the two mindsets, you can start thinking and reacting in new ways. People tell me they start to catch themselves when they’re in the throes of a fixed mindset – passing up a chance for learning, feeling labeled by a failure, or getting discouraged when something requires a lot of effort. And then they switch themselves into the growth mindset – making sure they take the challenge, learn from a failure and/or continue their effort.”
