Dear past self,

As you know I’ve always been a leader. Even as a kid, I naturally took the reins—organizing weekend plans, rallying my friends during sports, and encouraging others to do better. Leadership was in my DNA.

But confidence? That took time.

What most people didn’t know is that I had a speech impediment growing up. I couldn’t pronounce my R’s, and as a result, I spoke differently. Kids noticed. They laughed. They teased. And while I was technically “friends” with many of them, that didn’t stop the bullying. In fact, it made it sting more. By seventh grade, I’d corrected my speech, but the bullying didn’t stop—it just shifted. New reasons, new insults, and eventually, new bullies.

By eighth grade, it boiled over.

One day during lunch, I was hit three times—once with pizza, once with pink lemonade, and once with a plastic knife smeared in cream cheese. I reacted. Three different altercations. One lunch period. The principal had my back that day, and the bullying stopped cold after that.

But the damage had been done. My self-confidence was shattered.

The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

Years later, while dating my wife, she introduced me to Mindset by Carol Dweck. She challenged me to read it. I did—and it changed my life. It helped me realize something important: I realized I’d always had a growth mindset toward others—but when it came to myself, I often defaulted to a fixed mindset. I had unknowingly internalized beliefs about what I could and couldn’t do. I was the one holding myself back.

That book flipped a switch.

Since then, I’ve recommended Mindset to countless people—employees, college students, and even my 11-year-old daughter. Because here’s the truth: even natural leaders fall into fixed mindsets sometimes. Even high performers hit ceilings they’ve subconsciously created.

And this doesn’t just affect individuals—it impacts entire organizations.

What’s Your Business Mindset?

Let me ask you this:
Does your business operate with a growth mindset?

Not just on paper.
Not just in mission statements.
But in:

• How your team responds to failure

• How feedback is handled

• How leadership reacts to change

If your company is serious about growth—about tackling new goals and reaching new heights—you need more than talent.

You need a culture that believes growth is possible. That sees failure as feedback. That understands discomfort is part of the process.

Why Mindset Matters in Business

A growth mindset in business unlocks:

• Higher employee engagement

• More innovation and creativity

• Resilience during challenges

• Better leadership development

• Greater long-term profitability

And most importantly, it unlocks people.

Because when your team believes they can evolve, improve, and achieve more—they will.

Leaders Set the Tone

If you’re the founder, CEO, or team lead, your mindset matters most. If you believe you’ve hit your limits—or that your team has—then you’ve already stalled your own growth.

Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentional. It’s iterative. It’s uncomfortable.

But it’s worth it.

Ready for the Challenge?

I’ll leave you with the same challenge my wife gave me years ago:

📘 Read the book.
🧠 Rethink your mindset.
🚀 Reimagine what’s possible.

Because the biggest difference between teams that grow and those that stay stuck…
is what they believe about themselves.