(Ep. 37) The Growth Mindset: Why Diligence Matters More than Talent

 

"I naturally have coconut head...I'm naturally not a bright student". 

"But for you, you are just gifted with natural brilliance and smartness!"

As someone who speaks from time to time with students, I've heard this a good number of times. I share my testimonies sometimes and tell them of my several academic exploits. But instead, many just take it that it's because I am naturally brilliant and they just cannot be like me. 

This is so wrong!

Yes, there are people who are naturally smart. But most great people are made, not born. Diligence will always beat talent in every area of life, including in academic excellence.

The Growth Mindset

Psychologist Carol Dweck discovered that people generally think in two ways: The fixed mindset and the growth mindset

Those with a fixed mindset believe their intelligence or ability is something they’re born with — and that nothing can change it that much.

Those with a growth mindset believe they can get better at anything through effort, learning, and practice.

Those with the growth mindset believe in the power of diligence over talent. For them, nothing is too difficult, or impossible. They believe that if you put in the necessary effort and willingness to learn, you can achieve any feat you want to.

Diligence Always Beats Talent

I love to define diligence as a 'careful constant effort'. Mark the words. Efforts are focused on a task carefully and with consistency. History has shown us time and time again that there is no mountain that can't be brought down with diligence.

Diligence is what will make you study Maths or any seemingly difficult subject to master it, even when you know that you are naturally not good at it. The fixed minded person will just conclude that he is naturally not good at Maths.

Natural brilliance kind of appears once in a while, like a spark. But diligence is seen in the consistency of always showing up and putting in the necessary effort.

Many talented people stop growing because they rely only on their gifts. But diligent students — the ones who keep trying, keep improving, and keep showing up — often go farther in the long run.

As the saying goes:

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard."

How to Build a Growth Mindset as a Student

1. Embrace Challenges

Don't ever shy away from challenges. Face them squarely like David against Goliath. The more challenges you overcome, the stronger you get. It's like gyming your muscles. Find out what is required to do excellently well in that course where they say everyone fails. Find the code and crack it. You can.

2. Learn from Failure

Failure is, in disguise, a step to success. Don't be afraid to fail. Learn from every mistake and failure. Dot your i's and cross your t's and try again. This time better. You could be the next Thomas Edison who failed until the 1000th time just to give us the light bulb.

3. Love to Learn

Be humble enough to learn. Many students these days are too proud to learn. Fall in love with learning. Be punctual for your classes. Take notes, visit the library. Do your assignments promptly. Take corrections. Learn from criticisms. Love learning. 

4. Be patient and persistent

Learning requires patience. You may not see all the applause now. You may not have gotten to your destination yet. Be patient. Keep making the efforts. One day your diligence will make you stand before kings.

5. Focus on Daily Progress

As an undergraduate, I had a motivational wallpaper that I bought for my room. On it was the picture of a duck, it's ducklings and some eggs. An inscription was written on it: 'A little progress everyday adds up to big results'. Focus on becoming a step better daily. Consistently make daily efforts to be better.

6. Surround yourself with the right Company

If you find people with the fixed mindset, stay far from them. Surround yourself with people who have the growth mindset. They can help spur you into continuous progress.

7. Be Compassionate to Yourself

As you engage in this growth mindset, be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Remind yourself that you are doing your best and that you will get there. There will be setbacks and struggles. Remind yourself that they are part of the processes involved in getting to your desired destination. Be optimistic. Have faith. Pray.

Final Thought

You must not be born brilliant to succeed. Just stay diligent. The growth mindset reminds us that potential isn’t something you have, but something you develop.

So, stop comparing yourself to others. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

Keep learning. Keep trying. Keep growing. Keep putting in the required careful, constant effort.

Because at the end of the day, diligence doesn't just beat talent, but also builds it.

Let's meet at the top

"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men."; Proverbs 22:29

✌️ 💕 

Dr Tochukwu Onu (PT)

Lover of education, health and business.