Power of Possible 2
(Wednesday)
Context:
The "Power of Possible" mindset is a precursor to a growth mindset. In contrast, self-doubt can lead to a fixed mindset.
Additionally, the "Power of Possible" mindset is essential for innovation, which is a key trait employers look for in potential employees.
At the core of both innovation and the "Power of Possible" mindset is imagination.
Definition:
A growth mindset means thriving on challenges and viewing failure not as a reflection of yourself, but as a springboard for growth and the development of your abilities. Your intelligence and talents are seen as qualities that can grow and improve over time.
In contrast, a fixed mindset is the belief that your basic qualities, such as intelligence or talent, are fixed traits. People with a fixed mindset focus more on proving their intelligence or talent rather than developing them.
Why it’s important: During the industrial age, workers were typically hired as laborers in factories. Their jobs required them to complete repetitive tasks, rather than innovate, problem-solve, or engage in research and development.
Today’s workplace demands much more from employees. Employees are expected to take initiative, collaborate with others, and use their intellect and creativity to solve problems and develop new products and industries.
Utilizing the "Power of Possible" mindset now can help build a growth mindset, which in turn can enhance your ability to innovate and problem-solve in the workplace.
As we grow older, we often undervalue the importance of imagination. However, imagination is a key component that will enable you to be innovative in the workplace.
Primer Questions
What can prevent you or others from developing the Power of Possible mindset?
There’s a saying: "There is nothing you can't do if you set your mind to it. Anything is possible." Is this something you personally believe about yourself?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal.
Finding Your Reason Why
The more important and meaningful the potential outcome, the more likely you are to believe that achieving it is possible.
This means that if something is very important to you, you are more likely to try to reach that goal, or at least believe it’s achievable. If something is important enough, you will put forth the effort and give it a try.
For some, good grades may not be important enough to keep trying in a difficult subject. But what if the goal wasn’t just to get a specific grade, but to develop qualities like persistence and determination—two traits highly valued by employers? Could you focus on developing those qualities instead of focusing solely on a particular grade?
“Of all the things that can boost inner work life, the most important is making progress in meaningful work.” - Harvard Business Journal
You are living the impossible.
So much of your daily experience is taken for granted. What we mean by this is that many of the things you do and use today wouldn’t have been possible even ten or twenty years ago.
How have people harnessed the Power of Possible throughout history to create the world we live in today?
Watch the following video, then create the different lists as directed below.
Make a list of things you do or use every day that didn’t exist when your grandparents (or parents) were your age.
Next, make a list of things you do or use every day that would have been considered impossible 100 or even 1,000 years ago.
Finally, create a list of things that people may use or do in the future that aren’t yet a reality today.
The goal is for you to see evidence that, truly, anything is possible—even things that were once thought to be impossible.
Imagination’s Important Role
The one quality that all inventors and innovators possess and develop is imagination.
Think about this: Everything you use or do throughout the day had to be imagined before it was created. Everything.
The chair you're sitting on, the computer or device you're using right now, the place where you live, and every appliance in it—at one time, none of these things existed, until someone imagined them.
When we were young, we naturally had a very active imagination. As we age, we tend to neglect this essential skill in favor of academic skills. Do you still nurture your imagination?
Don’t underestimate the power of imagination! Without it, people cannot look at problems from new perspectives.
Thought of the Day
“Imagination is the number one tool for creativity and innovation. Without imagination, people cannot imagine how various solutions to a problem would work. Without imagination, people simply cannot dream up new ideas. Imagination provides the vision that allows people to see in their minds how a process will work from beginning to end. Imagination allows people to see what may go wrong in a process and envision how various solutions might solve those problems. Imagination allows leaders to envision the big picture and devise strategy.” -Hiring manager.