Replace "No" with "Not Yet"

I was eleven years old, and I was thoroughly embarrassed.

A week earlier, one of the counselors had asked me if I would share a Torah thought at an upcoming Shabbos (Sabbath) camp meal in front of hundreds of others.

I was a pretty confident kid, so I agreed.

And then I spent many minutes preparing.

When the time arrived, I stood up on the bench and started speaking.

Towards the end, my mind froze and I couldn't remember the next part.

Somehow, I got through it, but I crumbled inside from embarrassment.

Which resulted in me burying myself underneath the table afterwards in shame.

Thankfully, I did not let that early failure frame me.

I knew that I was better than that and that I would succeed in the future.

Which is what has enabled me to speak publicly thousands of times since.

The other day, I visited a school to address its faculty on growth mindset.

So often, we allow early failures define us as who we are or who we're not.

Like, "I'm not good at public speaking" or "I'm awkward socially."

A person with a Growth Mindset is on a journey of growth, recognizing that a lack of success doesn't mean "no," but rather "not yet."

Those with Fixed Mindsets, however, do not reach their full potential because they allow their self imposed limitations restrict how far they can go.

Want to learn more about how I help people shift their mindsets?

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