A message from Stanley Cup winner ryan Walter

Prosper from your MISTAKES! ADVICE FROM A 97-YEAR-OLD CHAMPION: “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything.” This advice came from John Wooden, the Hall of Fame UCLA Basketball Coach who won a record 10 NCAA championships. In an article by Matt Furey, the great John Wooden, who has since passed, said: “So many people do everything they can to avoid making mistakes – yet mistakes are the corrective feedback we need to help us reach our goals. Better to take action and correct mistakes while you’re in motion than to sit idle trying to figure out how not to make a wrong move. It’s like driving a car. You must always have your hands on the wheel so you can make minor adjustments. You must continually modify and correct your course based upon ongoing feedback. When you make a mistake and someone points it out to you, don’t say 'I’m sorry.' The correct response is: 'Thank you for telling me that. I’ll work on it.' People who see feedback as helpful are grateful to learn what is steering them away from their goals. It may be tough to listen and be open to change – but it’s what the best of the best do. Yes, you have the option to agree or disagree with the feedback – and you’ll become better at discerning what is helpful and what isn’t, the more you practice listening to it. But you’ll never get anywhere if you view mistakes as negative and feedback as undesirable.” I sense that our 97 year-old champion was teaching us less about “listening” or “doing things differently” and more about choosing the correct attitude or mindset. In her amazing book Mindset, Dr. Carol Dueck explains that we can adopt one of two mindsets while we are receiving feedback, either FIXED or GROWTH. “Mindsets frame the running account that’s taking place in people’s heads. They guide the whole interpretation process. The fixed mindset creates an internal monologue that is focused on judging: 'This means I’m a loser.' 'This means I’m a better person than they are.' 'This means I’m a bad husband.' 'This means my partner is selfish.' People with a growth mindset are also constantly monitoring what’s going on, but their internal monologue is not about judging themselves and others in this way. Certainly they’re sensitive to positive and negative information, but they’re attuned to its implications for learning and constructive action: What can I learn from this? How can I improve? How can I help my partner do this better?” Successful people have a unique perspective on making mistakes! 1- They recognize that taking action can lead to mistakes, and they not only grow comfortable with this but increase the cycle. 2- They choose the Growth Mindset, staying open to the critical concept of adjusting to become better. Make your mistakes, make your adjustments, have a great week!