“I Almost Quit Everything Because of a PowerPoint” (My Growth Mindset Wake-Up Call)
Let’s talk about growth mindset stories – not the polished LinkedIn versions, but the real, messy ones where you cry over PowerPoint animations at 2AM. That was me last month. After my third failed attempt to make text “zoom in dramatically,” I nearly threw my laptop. Then I remembered my favorite growth mindset story – about how the inventor of the Post-It note initially created a failed adhesive.
Why These Raw Growth Mindset Stories Matter
- They expose the ugly middle phase nobody posts about (like my 37 drafts of this article)
- Failure becomes familiar instead of frightening
- You realize everyone’s faking it until they make it
3 Growth Mindset Stories That Don’t Suck
1. The Artist Who Painted Over 100 Bad Portraits
Found this interview with an artist who literally painted the same face for a year before it looked human. Her early attempts? “Demonic Walmart portraits,” she said. Now she sells out shows. Moral: Keep making ugly art until it’s less ugly.
2. My Cousin’s 5-Year “Overnight Success”
He started a TikTok in 2019. For years, his most popular video was titled “how to microwave ramen.” Then boom—one viral post about laundry hacks (??) and now brands pay him. Key takeaway: Keep microwaving your ramen. Metaphorically.
3. The Toddler Theory (Again, But It Works)
Kids eat dirt, fall, cry, then eat more dirt. Zero shame. Meanwhile, I debate for 3 hours whether to send a “hey, sorry to bother you” email.
How I (Sort Of) Apply This
- Embrace the “good enough” draft. This blog post? It was 3 rants cobbled together.
- Track tiny wins. Example: Today I didn’t cry over spilled coffee. Growth!
- Find your “ramen video.” What’s your weird, unsexy starting point?
The Truth No One Talks About
Growth mindset stories aren’t about motivation. They’re about stubbornness. It’s not “I believe in myself!” It’s “I’m too annoyed to quit.”
Your Homework: Text someone your dumbest fail this week. I’ll start: I wore mismatched shoes to the grocery store. Progress.
Outbound links :
- Why Your Brain Hates Trying New Things (Spoiler: We’re lazy)
- The Science of Screwing Up (Validates my Excel meltdown)
- Famous People Who Failed A Lot (For when you feel extra pathetic)
