6.1: Part I- Mindset

Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.[3] [4] - Mahatma Gandhi

A mindset is a collection of beliefs and attitudes formed through experiences that guide how a person reacts to events and situations. A real estate professional’s mindset influences the strategies they use in their career, which plays a key role in determining their success. As we begin this module, we will examine mindsets and explore ways to develop a positive mindset, build a growth mindset, and stay motivated.

Positive Mindset

A positive, forward-thinking mindset is vital to success in any endeavor, including school and career. Before starting your career in real estate, school is your most important job. You want to make your best effort, strive to excel, and avoid mediocrity. Throughout your academic career, you can cultivate a positive mindset, meaning build an optimistic mental attitude that focuses on possibilities, growth, and solutions, even in challenging situations.

A successful real estate career depends on a positive and growth-centered mindset. A multitude of highs and lows come along with being a real estate professional. Some of the highs, for example, include getting new clients, working with incredible clients, and closing escrows. On the other hand, losing qualified clients, working with difficult people, and transactions falling out of escrow are examples of the lows. With a positive mindset, professionals envision positive outcomes and are confident they can overcome lows.

Tip: Post sticky notes with positive thinking reminders in your study area. Post a list of academic milestones nearby. And post one sticky with your major goal: Real Estate Success! Also, see below, on affirmations.

Positive Mindset for College Students

Cultivating a positive mindset towards classes, studying, tests, and homework assignments can significantly enhance a college student’s academic experience. One effective approach is to view classes as opportunities for growth and discovery rather than mere obligations. By adopting a curious and open-minded attitude, students can find joy in learning new concepts and connecting them to real-world applications. This shift in perspective can transform even the most challenging subjects into engaging and rewarding experiences.

When it comes to studying, students can benefit from setting clear, achievable goals and celebrating their progress along the way. Breaking down study sessions into manageable chunks and using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique can make the process less daunting and more productive. Additionally, creating a dedicated and organized study space can help minimize distractions and foster a focused mindset. By approaching studying with a sense of purpose and structure, students can build confidence and reduce stress.

Tests and homework assignments often bring anxiety, but reframing them as opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skills can help alleviate this pressure. Students can practice positive self-talk, reminding themselves of their preparation and past successes. Seeking feedback and viewing mistakes as learning opportunities can also contribute to a growth mindset. By focusing on effort and improvement rather than perfection, students can approach tests and assignments with a more positive and resilient attitude, ultimately leading to better outcomes and a more fulfilling academic journey.

Applying a positive mindset can make a significant difference in your academic journey. Here are some strategies community college students can use:

1. Set Realistic Goals: Break down your long-term goals into smaller, achievable tasks. Celebrate each milestone to stay motivated.

2. Stay Organized: Keep track of assignments, deadlines, and exams. Use planners or digital tools to manage your time effectively.

3. Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help from professors, tutors, or classmates. Joining study groups can also provide encouragement and different perspectives.

4. Maintain a Healthy Balance: Ensure you have time for relaxation and hobbies. A balanced lifestyle can improve your focus and reduce stress.

5. Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind yourself of your strengths and past successes.

6. Stay Curious: Approach your studies with curiosity and a desire to learn. This can make studying more enjoyable and less of a chore.

7. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your progress and adjust your strategies as needed. Learning from mistakes is a part of growth.

Cultivating a Positive Mindset

Fortunately, you can build a positive mindset yourself; you don’t have to wait for it to come to you from the outside world. Some of the ways to do this include setting goals, creating a vision board, and practicing daily positive affirmations.

Smart Goals.
What does setting goals have to do with a positive mindset? Setting goals provides clarity, purpose, resilience, and a sense of achievement. Clear goals reduce feelings of uncertainty and indecision and provide a sense of purpose. Attainment of even small goals boosts confidence and belief in oneself.

Nurture a positive mindset by setting intentional goals consistently. The SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Bound) goals you set in Module 5 are a good place to start. Here are two other examples: (1) within the next three months, I will increase my monthly property listings by 20% through daily prospecting, networking, and follow-up; (2) By June, I will increase my monthly client base by two qualified leads.

Vision Board.
After listing your SMART goals, try creating a “Vision Board.” The vision board is a powerful tool that can bring your aspirations, thoughts, and feelings regarding your goals to life. To create your vision board, fill a large poster board with quotes, photos, clippings, and other items to help you focus on future goals and on your vision. Use the power of visualization to focus on your goals and achieve them!

Tip: For your vision board, use a graduation picture to motivate yourself while in school. Add a picture of the office where you’d like to work. Include a picture of a property you’d like to buy or sell.

Affirmations
Another way to increase a positive mindset is through the use of affirmations, which are repeated positive statements that reinforce mindset and solidify a sense of well-being. Affirmations help focus on constructive thoughts and encourage self-belief. Here are examples of affirmations:

1. “I am achieving my goals.”
2. “I can do this!”
3. “I am worthy of love and respect.”
4. “I am awesome!”

Affirmations, sometimes referred to as “positive self-talk,” are positive statements said aloud to combat or overcome negative thoughts. Affirmations are a powerful resource to keep negative thoughts at bay. One way to begin writing a set of affirmations is to first write out any of your negative thoughts. Then cross each one out and replace it with what you will do or think to progress toward your desired outcome. For example, the thought “I never get any real estate leads,” can be transformed into “I’m a lead magnet; my ideal client is only one conversation away.” The key to affirmation success is repetition. Create a list of affirmations and recite them every day until they become your truth. Repetition embeds positive thoughts into the subconscious mind and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You may also personalize affirmations to address specific needs and emotions. For example, “I am so happy that I increased my lead generation by 10%. I can do 20%.”

Daily positive self-affirmations yield important benefits, such as decreased levels of stress, increased confidence, and higher levels of motivation. Developing SMART goals, creating vision boards, and reciting affirmations are powerful tools for building a positive mindset. Regardless of which tools you use, remain focused and make continual progress toward your goals.

Practice Zone

Think of one of your favorite quotes and how you can apply it to your real estate career path. Add it to your vision board.

Fixed or Growth Mindset

Fixed mindset

According to psychologist Carol Dweck, PhD., a fixed mindset is one in which someone believes that she was born with her intelligence, talents, skills, and personality and that these are fixed and unchangeable. Because these traits are fixed, they cannot be improved through effort or learning. In Mindset: The Psychology of Success, Dweck, tells us that people with a fixed mindset sometimes exhibit characteristics of a “victim mentality,” which accompanies blaming others and feelings of being trapped or defeated. A fixed mindset makes moving forward and building a successful career difficult.

Some people with a fixed mindset avoid challenges and new experiences, believing that they won’t be able to succeed. Imagine students with a fixed mindset struggling with a math problem. They might say, "I'm just not good at math" or "I'll never get this." They are less likely to seek help or persevere through difficulty.

Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is one in which people believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved over time through effort and perseverance. People with a growth mindset welcome challenges, see failures as opportunities, and are more likely to persist in the face of obstacles. They see setbacks as temporary. Overall, a growth mindset fosters resilience, learning, and personal development and contributes to self-confidence and well-being. People with a growth mindset typically assume responsibility, actively seek solutions, and maintain a positive, can-do attitude. A successful real estate career begins with a growth mindset.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is a type of positive mindset, and the strategies described above also apply to building a growth mindset. Other strategies specific to growth mindset development including

• being curious and exploring the world around you.
• celebrating others and their differences, instead of criticizing them.
• researching and analyzing potential consequences before taking action.
• reading and discussing to build an open mind.
• seeing challenges as opportunities for growth.
• seeking feedback for learning and progress.

By practicing these principles, you can change your mindset from fixed to growth, unlocking your potential and embracing a lifelong path of learning and self improvement. Above all, stay optimistic and persistent.

Growth Mindset for College Students

Carol Dweck’s concept of fixed versus growth mindset has profound implications for college students. Those with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities and intelligence are static traits that cannot be changed. This perspective can lead to a fear of failure, as students may avoid challenges and give up easily when faced with obstacles. They might see effort as fruitless if they believe their talents are predetermined, which can hinder their academic progress and personal development.

In contrast, students with a growth mindset view their abilities as malleable and capable of improvement through effort and perseverance. They embrace challenges, seeing them as opportunities to learn and grow. When they encounter setbacks, they are more likely to persist and find alternative strategies to overcome difficulties. This mindset fosters resilience and a love for learning, which can significantly enhance their academic performance and overall well-being.

Adopting a growth mindset can transform a student’s educational experience. It encourages them to seek feedback, engage deeply with their studies, and develop a passion for lifelong learning. By understanding that intelligence and skills can be developed, students are more likely to take risks, explore new subjects, and push beyond their comfort zones. This shift in perspective not only improves their academic outcomes but also prepares them for future challenges in their careers and personal lives.

Example: Estevan and Math Confidence

Imagine a college student named Estevan who is taking a challenging course in real estate investing. Estevan has always believed that he was “not good at math” and that his abilities in this subject were fixed. When Estevan receives a low grade on the first quiz, he immediately thinks, “I’m just not a math person, and no amount of studying will change that.” This belief leads Estevan to avoid seeking help from the professor or attending study groups, as he feels it’s pointless to try improving a skill he lacks.

As the semester progresses, Estevan continues to struggle with the material but doesn’t put in extra effort to understand it better. He might skip homework assignments or not prepare thoroughly for quizzes, reinforcing his belief that he is inherently bad at math. This fixed mindset prevents Estevan from taking advantage of resources that could help them improve, such as tutoring sessions or additional practice problems. Consequently, Estevan’s performance in the course remains poor, and his negative belief about math abilities becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Estevan can shift to a growth mindset by adopting several strategies and changing his approach to learning and challenges. First, Estevan should start by recognizing that his abilities in math, or any subject, are not fixed and can be improved with effort and practice. This involves changing his self-talk from “I’m not a math person” to “I can improve my math skills with practice and help.”

Next, Estevan should seek out resources and support. This could include attending office hours with his professor, joining study groups, or utilizing tutoring services offered by the college. By actively seeking help and engaging with others, Estevan can gain new perspectives and strategies for tackling difficult problems.

Additionally, Estevan should focus on the process of learning rather than just the outcomes. Celebrating small victories, such as understanding a difficult concept or solving a challenging problem, can help build confidence and reinforce the idea that effort leads to improvement. Keeping a journal to track progress and reflect on what strategies work best can also be beneficial.

Finally, Estevan should embrace challenges and view mistakes as opportunities to learn. Instead of seeing a low grade as a confirmation of his inability, he can analyze what went wrong and how he can improve next time. This shift in perspective can help Estevan develop resilience and a love for learning, which are key components of a growth mindset.

Practice Zone

Using the SMART goals that you created earlier as a guide, create a vision board filled with vibrant photos and inspiring words to visualize your ideal successful outcome. If you wish, expand beyond those particular goals and post items related to school, professional real estate, and personal, financial, health, and travel goals.

Effects of Mindset on Decision-Making and Motivation

Mindset influences how we approach challenges and make decisions. It influences our actions and our ways of achieving goals.

Mindset and Decision-Making. People with a fixed mindset are more likely than others to avoid risk; they tend to make decisions that are “safe” and less likely to fail. When faced with making decisions, they might tend to stick to familiar choices and avoid challenges or opportunities.

People with a growth mindset, on the other hand, may be more inclined to make decisions that are innovative and challenging. They are more likely to explore creative solutions and value long-term growth.

Mindset and Motivation. A fixed mindset can lead to decreased motivation. When people believe they can't improve, they might feel discouraged when faced with difficulty and be less motivated to put in the effort required for success.

A growth mindset, on the other hand, fuels motivation. People with a growth mindset believe their abilities can develop, which motivates them to work hard, learn from mistakes, and persist towards their goals.

Here's an example to illustrate the connection:

Imagine someone with a fixed mindset wants to learn a new language. They might struggle with a difficult lesson and conclude, "I'm just not good at languages." This belief can demotivate them from continuing to practice the language and ultimately hinder their progress.

On the other hand, someone with a growth mindset encountering the same difficulty might think, "This is challenging, but with effort, I can improve." This belief motivates them to seek help, find alternative learning methods, and persist in their efforts to learn the language.

By developing a growth mindset, we can make better decisions, feel more motivated, and ultimately achieve greater success in various aspects of life.The following parts of this module will further examine decision-making and motivation.