“As soon as you say, ‘I have a growth mindset’, you don’t have a growth mindset, by definition.”
— Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft
Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had a problem. Microsoft had just become the most valuable company in the world (that was not the problem).
The problem was that he and his colleagues were strutting around their campus with great pride, thinking they were “the best thing to humankind.”
While some people thought this was warranted (it was quite an achievement), Nadella shared that he was deeply concerned. He said there has been one thing that has brought countries and companies down, from the Middle Ages to Silicon Valley …. and that quality is: HUBRIS.
So, what did Nadella do?
Fortunately, a few years earlier, his wife had introduced him to Carol Dweck's book Mindset. The book contrasts two approaches to thinking:
1) A fixed mindset centered on proving one’s identity.
2) A growth mindset, which sees every experience as an opportunity to learn and improve.
“This is not about top-line growth. This is not about bottom-line growth. This is about us individually having a growth mindset.” — Satya Nadella
This meme of growth mindset became the focus of Microsoft. Satya claims, “I attribute a lot of our success culturally to that meme.”
And succeed they did. During his tenure they added almost 3 trillion dollars to their market cap. They did this not, in his words, as “know-it-alls” who believe they are smarter than others, but as “learn-it-alls.”
(This is yet another example of how the success of companies often traces back to the wisdom of a woman—in this case, Nadella's wife!)
"In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh, I'm going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here's a chance to grow."
— Carol Dweck
The End and the Beginning
While I do not adhere to everything in this model, I appreciate the focus on learning.
The next time there is a challenge, notice if you ask,“Who can I BLAME?” or “What can I LEARN?” So hard to do, and so important to do.
And as we come to the end of the year, learning seems particularly appropriate.
Maybe 2024 “went well” or maybe the year “did not go well,” but what did we learn?
I thought this would be interesting to do together. Join me here for meditations, journaling, and small groups, January 10th»»»
Also Roshi Joan Halifax led us recently in a beautiful guided practice that included a series of “micro meditations.” Watch and try the meditation here »»»
May all beings be well, may all beings be at peace, and may we all put on our seatbelts for what by most accounts could be a raucous 2025!
Blessings,
SOREN