Think about your own attitudes toward failure and success. In what ways have they helped you meet your goals, and in what ways have they hindered you? How much do you think your attitudes, actions, or talent explain your past successes or account for past failures?

How much do you agree with Dweck’s argument that human talent, ability, and intelligence are traits that can be developed over time with effort? Does this mean that with enough effort, anyone can qualify for the Olympics, play piano at Carnegie Hall, or create a life-changing invention? Why or why not?

Dweck says most people have a blend of mindsets. Describe an area of your life in which you display a growth mindset. What makes this a growth mindset, and why do you suppose your attitudes toward this aspect of your life are growth-oriented? Now describe an area of your life in which you display a fixed mindset. What makes this a fixed mindset, and why do you believe your attitudes toward this aspect of your life are fixed?