Latest News and Articles

“Your current behaviour is simply a reflection of your current identity. What you do now is a mirror image of the type of person you believe that you are.”

– James Clear

What you practice shapes who you are

Our identity is closely associated with what we practice. By believing you are someone you will start to practice specific behaviour. The opposite is also true: We become what we practice.

This growth mindset (Dweck, 2007) is a belief system and is experienced by individuals who believe that your personality is not fixed. They believe that your identity can be changed. That you are shaped by how you experience and learn from challenges in your life. Individuals who have a growth mindset welcome challenges. They know that they will change and grow from these challenges.

A growth mindset is not about seeking recognition for outcomes, but rather about recognizing the value of the effort. To put this in different words, someone who has a growth mindset believes that what you practice shapes who you are.

Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset

A growth mindset is particularly important for individuals who want to become entrepreneurial. In a seminal study by Saras S. Sarasvathy (2001), she found that entrepreneurs have a specific way in which they approach entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs have a specific mindset. It is this mindset that helps them to grow themselves and their businesses.

The special man theory in entrepreneurship holds that entrepreneurs are born special and that their identity is fixed from birth. The theory states that entrepreneurs have unique personalities. They are born different from other people and are special due to this difference. I have always found this theory to be quite debilitating. When I looked at the characteristics of entrepreneurs I personally believed that I did not have all the characteristics. This made me feel as if though I could never be or become an entrepreneur. We now know that this special man theory is false.

How to Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Anyone can develop a growth mindset. It is the effort that you take to develop these practices that will create your mindset. This leads us to the question: What are the practices that we can apply to become more entrepreneurial? The book: Entrepreneurship: The Practice and Mindset offers more insight into these practices. Here is a video by Professor Heidi Neck in which she explains the various practices:

Developing your Entrepreneurial Mindset

We have been assisting aspiring entrepreneurs in the development of this mindset. By putting small practices or habits in place you can create an entrepreneurial mindset. Over time these practices start to snowball and create more meaningful outcomes for you and those around you.