Growth, Grit and Grace.
For Day 34 of my #100DaysOfDesign journey, I had the pleasure of diving into the insights and life lessons from Guy Kawasaki, a man who embodies the essence of a growth mindset and grit. Guy Kawasaki, known for his podcast “Remarkable People,” shares his journey and philosophy that inspire us to think remarkable, embrace growth, and persist with grit.
What: Understanding Guy Kawasaki’s Journey
A Remarkable Journey
Guy Kawasaki’s life is a testament to overcoming challenges with a positive outlook. Despite living with Meniere’s disease, which causes hearing loss and vertigo, Guy remains humble and thankful. He grew up in a lower-middle-class family, and his parents’ emphasis on education significantly shaped his path. Dropping out of law school after just two weeks, he attributes his success to the strong educational foundation his parents provided.
Growing up in Hawaii, a place rich in racial and cultural diversity, also influenced his perspective on life. The diversity of his environment taught him to appreciate different viewpoints and fostered a broader understanding of the world.
Connecting the Dots
Reflecting on his journey, Guy often quotes Steve Jobs: “You can only connect the dots looking backwards.” This perspective became clear when he saw his friends driving Porsches and Rolls Royces, motivating him to study hard and strive for success. His experience at Theranos taught him a crucial lesson: we must question authority and understand that wisdom and insight can come from anyone, regardless of their position or background.
Growth Mindset and Grit
Guy believes that while some people naturally possess a growth mindset, not everyone can develop it to the same extent. A growth mindset is about believing that with effort and determination, one can achieve almost anything. However, external factors and environments significantly influence this mindset.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset Environment
Guy emphasizes that the environment in which we are raised plays a crucial role in developing a growth mindset. In societies where failure is punished, and traditional career paths like government jobs or medicine are prioritized, individuals might feel restricted. Conversely, in environments that encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, people are more likely to adopt a growth mindset.
Defining Grit
Grit, according to Guy, is the ability to keep going when things are no longer easy or fun. It’s about showing up consistently and persevering through challenges. Combining perseverance with grit and resilience can propel individuals to achieve their goals and continue growing, even in the face of adversity. Guy encapsulates this philosophy with the mantra: Growth, Grit, and Grace.
Why: The Importance of Growth Mindset and Grit
Building a Life or Career to be Proud Of
For young individuals, Guy advises not to stress over making perfect decisions. Instead, he encourages making any decision and then working hard to make it the right one. Life is long, and there is ample time to pivot and grow from each experience.
How to Be Remarkable: Insights from Canva
Drawing inspiration from Guy’s collaboration with Canva, the key to being remarkable involves embracing creativity, persistence, and a willingness to learn. The lessons shared in their collaborative efforts highlight the importance of continuously striving to improve and innovate.
How: Applying Guy Kawasaki’s Insights
Practical Tips for Embracing a Growth Mindset and Grit
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Develop a Growth Mindset: Believe that with effort and determination, you can achieve almost anything. Surround yourself with environments and people that encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.
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Cultivate Grit: Keep going even when things are no longer easy or fun. Show up consistently and persevere through challenges. Remember Guy’s mantra: Growth, Grit, and Grace.
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Make Decisions and Adapt: Don’t stress over making perfect decisions. Make any decision and then work hard to make it the right one. Life is long, and there is plenty of time to grow from each experience.
Learning from Guy Kawasaki’s Journey
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Embrace Diversity: Growing up in a diverse environment taught Guy to appreciate different viewpoints and fostered a broader understanding of the world.
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Question Authority: Guy’s experience at Theranos taught him to question authority and understand that wisdom and insight can come from anyone, regardless of their position or background.
How to Be Remarkable: Insights from Canva
Final Thoughts
Guy Kawasaki’s insights on growth mindset and grit offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a fulfilling life or career. His journey teaches us that with the right mindset, environment, and perseverance, we can overcome challenges and achieve remarkable things.
To delve deeper into these lessons, check out the valuable insights shared by the Canva team on How to Be Remarkable by Guy Kawasaki.
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