Chapter 1: the dusty road

I've spent some time musing over the possibilities for the first chapter of this blog, which will set the precedent for the ensuing theme of the life and the times of. Needless to say, during this time Desmond (that's the name of my turtle) got quite restless while parked on the side road of the old dusty road. Eventually his snorts became quite obnoxious, to the point where I began to regret not going with a camel after all. Yet I digress. This is, of course, all simply a means to say that the topic has been decided. I believe my proceeding explanation of the particulars of how this topic was selected will serve as a more than sufficient justification for its selection. It is my hope that you will find this topic (to be announced shortly, rest assured) agreeable and well-worth the journey.

The idea stemmed primarily from a YouTube video lecture I recently watched - Darden Professor Jeanne Liedtka speaking on Design Thinking. Part of Professor Liedtka's talk hits on how an innovative mindset and the capacity for entrepreneurship are best fostered. Early in childhood, Liedtka mentions, we develop one of two mindsets:

The first of these mindsets is a "growth mindset." Those with this mindset have the outlook that life is a journey of learning. They are very accepting of uncertainty. They are open to new experiences and environments, even those that may be difficult or uncomfortable to them. As a result, they gain a broad repertoire. They can pull ideas from various differing areas. Those with a growth mindset are also customer focused, with a deep knowing of customers and a persistent mental image of real people that they are serving, rather than some data points on users. They can identify unarticulated needs that customers have, that only results from a deep knowing of customers. 

The opposite mindset is that life is a test and you should never be caught looking stupid. Primary school encourages and develops this mindset. As Liedtka says, "it teaches that being smart is the same as being right. Individuals with this mindset spend their lives trying to prove they are smart by never being wrong." They avoid new experiences. They do not know their customers on a deep level and consequently cannot identify unarticulated needs the customers possess. This type of person likely did better in school, and on paper may appear "smarter" than those with a 'growth mindset'. But really, are they? 

It should be painfully obvious that individuals with a growth mindset make for excellent innovators, managers, and entrepreneurs. Broad repertoire and knowing of customers are key.

After watching this video, I reluctantly admitted to myself that I belong to those of the second mindset. I lack the growth mindset; I have failed to view life as a journey of learning; I've viewed people as data points. Alas, it is time to change this mindset, to undo the indoctrination of the public schooling I was exposed to during the greater part of my upbringing, to cocoon myself and emerge an innovative, creative butterfly. This, friends, is the journey we will undertake throughout the life and the times of. Because, if you are anything like me, you've fallen prey to the same traps in life, the same 6 foot holes that will take some time to climb out of. The path is not well-paved, no it is not.

It is a dusty road.

Video (Design Thinking): http://youtu.be/LyaUS2PNiVQ
Subtly-Related Podcast (How to Learn): http://rubyrogues.com/131-rr-how-to-learn/