By: Courtney G. Clifford

Mindset Matters: The Foundation of Success

We’ve all heard the saying, attitude is everything. And while that rings true in many circumstances, there's something even more fundamental—something that comes before attitude. That something is mindset. It forms the invisible framework through which we view ourselves, interpret challenges, and interact with the world. Whether you're launching a new business, training for a competition, or simply trying to improve your day-to-day life, the mindset you adopt can either propel you forward or hold you back.

This blog post explores why mindset is essential to any endeavor, how to intentionally choose the right one, and why working with a coach or friend can be the secret to sustainable success. We’ll also dive into the widely studied concepts of fixed and growth mindsets and how they play out in high-pressure scenarios, such as an athlete preparing for a major competition.

What Is Mindset?

Mindset refers to the established set of attitudes or beliefs held by an individual. It shapes how we perceive success and failure, how we respond to challenges, and how resilient we are in the face of adversity. More than just a passive mental state, mindset is a dynamic, evolving lens through which we experience life.

According to psychologist Carol Dweck, who pioneered the research on fixed vs. growth mindsets, our beliefs about our abilities deeply impact our performance. Those with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence, talent, and abilities are static and unchangeable. Conversely, individuals with a growth mindset see those same traits as malleable and improvable through effort and perseverance (Dweck, 2006).

So, before you take action in any endeavor, your mindset sets the stage. It influences your attitude, which in turn affects your behavior, decision-making, and ultimate outcomes. That’s why I firmly believe mindset comes first because it is the soil in which attitude takes root.

The Power of Choosing Your Mindset

One of the most empowering truths about mindset is that it is a choice. While your default mindset may have been shaped by early life experiences, education, and environment, it doesn’t have to be permanent. Consciously choosing your mindset is a powerful act of agency and self-determination.

But let’s be real, it’s not always easy. It takes intention. You must be self-aware enough to notice when you're slipping into an unhelpful mindset and disciplined enough to course-correct. And this work doesn’t just happen once. It’s a continuous process of reflection, choice, and action.

This is why it’s so helpful to engage with someone outside yourself in this process. Whether it's a friend, mentor, or professional coach, having someone to support and hold you accountable can make a world of difference. They can help you recognize blind spots, reframe negative thoughts, and stay aligned with your intentions, especially when challenges arise.

Research supports this. A study published in Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice found that coaching interventions can significantly improve goal attainment, resilience, and well-being—largely because of the mindset shifts that occur through the coaching process (Theeboom, Beersma, & Van Vianen, 2014).

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: A Closer Look

To fully appreciate the importance of choosing the right mindset, it helps to understand the distinction between what psychologist Carol Dweck famously termed the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.

A person with a fixed mindset tends to believe that traits like intelligence, talent, and ability are inherent and unchangeable. They often think people are born with a certain level of capability, and that’s more or less what determines their success. As a result, they may avoid challenges for fear of failure, give up easily when faced with obstacles, and feel threatened by others’ achievements. Feedback, in this view, can feel like a personal attack rather than a helpful tool.

On the other hand, someone with a growth mindset sees intelligence and ability as qualities that can be developed over time with effort, learning, and perseverance. These individuals embrace challenges as opportunities to grow, are more resilient when setbacks occur, and are inspired by the success of others. They actively seek out feedback because they view it as essential for improvement rather than as criticism.

Of course, no one operates entirely from one mindset or the other in every area of life. Most of us have a blend. For example, you might have a growth mindset when learning new hobbies but hold a fixed mindset about your leadership potential at work. The key is recognizing where your default patterns lie and understanding that you have the power to change them.

Real-World Example: An Athlete’s Mindset in Action

Let’s illustrate this with the example of an athlete preparing for a big competition. Picture this: two athletes with similar physical abilities are training for a national-level marathon.

Athlete A has a fixed mindset. She believes she’s either naturally fast or not, and that performance on race day will largely reflect her innate ability. When training gets tough, she questions whether she's cut out for this level of competition. When she loses a race or performs poorly in a practice run, she internalizes it as a sign that she’s not talented enough. Over time, she becomes discouraged and starts pulling back in her efforts.

Athlete B, on the other hand, embraces a growth mindset. She believes that her performance will reflect the quality and consistency of her training. She sees each run as a chance to improve. When she loses a race or experiences a bad day, she analyzes her performance to identify areas of growth. She’s driven not by a need to prove herself, but by a desire to learn and become better.

Which athlete is more likely to persevere through challenges and improve over time?

Unsurprisingly, research backs up the idea that a growth mindset is linked to greater athletic performance. A study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that athletes who believed their abilities could be developed were more resilient, more motivated to improve, and more likely to succeed long term (Robins & Pals, 2002).

The key takeaway? Mindset doesn’t just influence how we feel—it changes how we perform.

running through Oregon — running in the PNW

Practical Ways to Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Now that we’ve established the importance of mindset and the benefits of adopting a growth-oriented perspective, the next question becomes: how can we cultivate it? Here are some practical strategies:

Practice self-awareness. The first step to changing your mindset is becoming aware of your current one. Pay attention to your self-talk, especially in moments of struggle or failure.
Reframe challenges. When you encounter a difficulty, practice seeing it as a learning opportunity rather than a threat to your identity or capability.
Seek feedback. Rather than avoiding critique, actively seek feedback and use it constructively. Ask, “What can I learn from this?”
Surround yourself with growth-minded people. Engage with individuals who encourage your development and who model the type of mindset you want to embody.
Work with a coach or accountability partner. Having someone who understands mindset work and can reflect your blind spots back to you is invaluable. They can help you stay aligned with your growth path, especially when it gets hard.
Celebrate effort, not just outcomes. Make it a habit to reward persistence, discipline, and curiosity—not just wins or achievements.

Final Thoughts: Mindset as a Lifelong Practice

Mindset isn’t a switch you flip once. It’s more like a garden that needs regular watering. Life will present new challenges that test your default thinking patterns. That’s why being intentional about your mindset—day after day—is so important.

Doing it alone is possible, but like most meaningful things, it’s better when you don’t have to. Support, whether from a friend or a professional coach, multiplies your capacity to maintain and grow a mindset that serves you. In community, you gain both perspective and accountability. And in doing so, you create a more resilient and fulfilling life.

So the next time you set out to achieve something important—ask yourself not just what you want to do, but who you need to be to do it. Start with your mindset. Everything else follows from there.

References

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

Robins, R. W., & Pals, J. L. (2002). Implicit self-theories in the academic domain: Implications for goal orientation, attributions, affect, and self-esteem change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 406–419. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.406

Theeboom, T., Beersma, B., & Van Vianen, A. E. M. (2014). Does coaching work? A meta-analysis on the effects of coaching on individual level outcomes in an organizational context. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.837499

Mindset Matters