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Yahoo
01-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
13 Uncomfortable Things That Happen Right Before Everything In Your Life Levels Up
Life can be a rollercoaster, can't it? Just when you think you've got things figured out, everything feels like it's falling apart. But sometimes, those chaotic moments simply mean you're about to level up. If you ever feel like life's throwing you curveballs left and right, you might be on the cusp of something great. Here are 13 uncomfortable things that happen before everything in your life levels up. 1. You Feel Stuck There comes a time when every day feels like a repeat of the last, and progress seems like a distant dream. This feeling of stagnation, while frustrating, is often the first sign that change is on the horizon. According to psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, pushing through this feeling requires a growth mindset, which helps you embrace challenges and persist in the face of setbacks. When you're stuck, it's easy to doubt yourself, but remember that this discomfort is often a precursor to growth. Old habits are hard to break, but they may be holding you back from reaching new heights. The sense of being stuck can feel overwhelming, and it's normal to feel restless. Your brain craves novelty and growth, so when it's not getting it, you feel uneasy. This discomfort can be a catalyst if you let it. Rather than viewing it as a setback, see it as an opportunity to re-evaluate your goals and try new things. Often, the only way out is through, and once you push past this barrier, opportunities start to unfold. 2. You Begin Questioning Everything When you start questioning every aspect of your life, it can feel like you're losing your mind. But in reality, it's often a sign that you're becoming more self-aware. These questions, although uncomfortable, are necessary for growth. They force you to examine what truly matters to you and whether your current path aligns with your values. It's a chance to redefine success on your terms. This questioning phase is a critical step in personal development. It forces you out of autopilot mode and makes you conscious of your daily decisions. While it can be disorienting, it's the beginning of taking control of your life. By questioning everything, you're allowed to make deliberate choices rather than following a predetermined path. This process can lead to a more fulfilling and aligned life, even if it feels chaotic at first. 3. Relationships Start Shifting As you grow, you'll notice that some relationships start to change, and not always for the better. This can be painful, but it's crucial for your development. A study by Dr. Robin Dunbar at the University of Oxford highlights that maintaining social bonds is essential, but also suggests that some relationships naturally fade as you evolve. These shifts may leave you feeling isolated, but they make space for connections that are more aligned with who you're becoming. Remember, not everyone is meant to stay in your life forever. While it may seem like a loss, these shifts are often necessary for your personal growth. The people you surround yourself with can significantly influence your mindset and actions. When you level up, your interests and priorities change, and not everyone will fit into that new picture. You might face some uncomfortable conversations, but these are opportunities to assert your boundaries and values. In the end, the relationships that remain will be stronger and more supportive of your newfound path. 4. Doubt Creeps In Doubt is like an uninvited guest that shows up just when you're starting to gain momentum. It's that nagging voice that questions your abilities and decisions. But before you let it take over, consider that doubt is a natural part of the growth process. It's your mind's way of protecting you from potential failures. However, these doubts are often unfounded and can be overcome by taking small, consistent actions toward your goals. Facing doubt head-on can transform it into a powerful motivator. Instead of letting it paralyze you, use it to fuel your determination. Break down your goals into manageable steps and tackle them one at a time. This way, you gradually build confidence and competence, proving to yourself that you can overcome challenges. Doubt may never completely disappear, but you can learn to coexist with it and not let it dictate your path. 5. You Feel Overwhelmed Feeling overwhelmed is a common sign that you're on the brink of a breakthrough. There's so much to juggle, and the pressure seems relentless. According to stress expert Dr. Sonia Lupien, your reaction to stress is often linked to your perception of control over a situation. When everything feels like too much, it's a signal to step back and prioritize. This is the time to assess what's genuinely important and let go of what's not serving you. Overwhelm can be paralyzing, but it also provides an opportunity for clarity. When you're forced to stop and reevaluate, you can make deliberate decisions about your next steps. Establishing boundaries and setting realistic goals can help you regain a sense of control. Remember that it's okay to ask for help or delegate tasks when needed. By managing overwhelm effectively, you prepare for the influx of new opportunities that come with leveling up. 6. Old Habits Resurface Just when you think you've kicked a bad habit, it sneaks back into your life. This can be discouraging, but it's a common experience during periods of growth. Old habits are familiar and offer a false sense of comfort during times of change. Recognize that this is a normal part of the leveling-up process and doesn't mean you're failing. It's an invitation to reassess and reinforce your commitment to change. Understanding why these habits resurface can help you address them more effectively. They often pop up when you're stressed or facing uncertainty. Instead of beating yourself up, practice self-compassion and remind yourself why you wanted to change in the first place. Revisit your motivations and make a conscious effort to replace old habits with healthier ones. Progress may be slow, but with persistence, you'll find yourself moving forward again. 7. Your Goals Seem Out Of Reach When you're on the path to leveling up, it's natural for your goals to suddenly feel overwhelming. It's as if the closer you get, the more daunting the task becomes. According to Dr. Edwin Locke, a pioneer in goal-setting theory, setting specific and challenging goals can lead to higher performance. This doesn't mean you should shy away from ambitious goals, but rather approach them with a clear plan. Break them down into smaller, actionable steps to make them feel more attainable. Feeling like your goals are out of reach can trigger self-doubt, but it's also a sign that you're aiming high. Instead of getting discouraged, use this feeling as motivation to strategize and plan effectively. Take a moment to celebrate how far you've already come, and remind yourself why you started. By focusing on incremental progress, you maintain momentum and keep your eyes on the prize. Remember, every significant achievement once seemed out of reach before it was accomplished. 8. You Feel More Emotional During times of change, emotions often run high, and you might find yourself on an emotional rollercoaster. This heightened sensitivity can be unsettling, but it's a sign that you're deeply engaged with your growth process. Emotions provide valuable insights into your thoughts and desires, serving as a guide through uncharted territory. It's okay to feel vulnerable and uncertain; these feelings are part of the human experience. Instead of suppressing your emotions, embrace them as part of your journey. Allow yourself time to process and understand what you're feeling. Journaling or talking to a trusted friend can help you make sense of your emotions and gain perspective. Remember that experiencing a range of emotions is healthy and can ultimately lead to greater self-awareness. By acknowledging your feelings, you're better equipped to navigate the changes taking place in your life. 9. You Experience Setbacks Setbacks are frustrating, no doubt, but they are also a natural part of any growth journey. They test your resilience and commitment to your goals. While it's easy to view them as failures, setbacks can offer valuable lessons and insights. They encourage you to adapt, innovate, and find new solutions to challenges. Remember, every successful person has faced setbacks and used them as stepping stones to success. When faced with a setback, take a step back to assess the situation. What can you learn from this experience? Often, setbacks reveal areas for improvement or highlight alternative paths you hadn't considered. By maintaining a growth mindset, you can transform setbacks into opportunities for further development. With each setback you overcome, you build the resilience and determination needed to succeed in the long run. 10. You Feel Impatient Impatience often creeps in when you're on the verge of a breakthrough. You've put in the work and are eager to see results, but progress can feel painfully slow. This impatience is a sign that you're committed to your goals and ready for change. However, it's essential to balance this energy with patience and persistence. Quick fixes rarely lead to lasting success, so stay focused on the long game. Channel your impatience into constructive action. Use it as motivation to keep pushing forward, but also remind yourself that growth takes time. Practice mindfulness to stay present and appreciate the progress you've made. It's easy to get caught up in the destination, but don't forget to enjoy the journey. By learning to manage impatience, you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges and opportunities that come your way. 11. You Feel Lost Feeling lost is a common sensation when you're on the brink of a significant change. It's disorienting not knowing exactly where you're headed or what the future holds. However, this feeling is often a sign that you're shedding old layers and making way for new growth. Embrace this ambiguity as a chance to explore new possibilities and redefine your path. It's only by losing your way that you can find a new direction. When you feel lost, give yourself permission to explore different paths without judgment. This is a time for curiosity and experimentation. Take small steps toward what interests you, and trust that clarity will come with time. By letting go of the need for certainty, you open yourself up to new opportunities and experiences. Remember, feeling lost is temporary and often precedes a period of significant personal growth. 12. You Feel A Strong Urge To Change This urge can feel like an inexplicable restlessness, a deep desire for something different. It's a sign that your current situation no longer aligns with your true self. While this urge can be unsettling, it's also a powerful driver for transformation. Embrace it as an opportunity to reevaluate your life and make changes that align with your values and aspirations. It's time to listen to your inner voice and take action. When you're driven by an urge to change, it's important to act with intention. Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you and what changes will bring you closer to your ideal life. This clarity will guide your decisions and help you set realistic goals. While the path may not always be clear, trust that you're heading in the right direction. By honoring this urge, you pave the way for personal growth and fulfillment. 13. You Feel More Self-Aware Self-awareness is the foundation of personal growth, and it often deepens just before a major life shift. You become more in tune with your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which can be both enlightening and uncomfortable. This heightened awareness allows you to identify patterns and habits that no longer serve you. It's an invitation to make conscious choices aligned with your true self. With increased self-awareness comes the power to change your life intentionally. You can better understand your motivations and align your actions with your values. While this process can be challenging, it's also incredibly empowering. By embracing self-awareness, you gain the clarity needed to navigate change and unlock new levels of potential. Remember, self-awareness is a lifelong journey, and each step brings you closer to your best self. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
13 Things People Say When They've Stopped Believing In Themselves
When life throws a curveball, it's easy to lose faith in yourself. Everyone can relate to feeling stuck or doubting their abilities from time to time. Whether you're facing a career setback or a personal challenge, the words you use often reflect your internal struggles. To help you spot these moments and hopefully turn them around, we've put together a list of things people say when they've stopped believing in themselves. Recognizing these phrases is the first step toward regaining your confidence and moving forward. 1. "I Can't Do This Anymore." It's common to feel overwhelmed when life gets tough, but saying 'I can't do this anymore' can signal a loss of self-belief. This phrase often creeps in when you've been pushing yourself too hard or haven't been able to meet your own expectations. It's a red flag that your internal dialogue isn't serving you well. According to Dr. Carol Dweck, author of "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," adopting a growth mindset helps people overcome such limiting beliefs. Reframing challenges as opportunities to learn can shift your perspective and restore your confidence. The feeling of being trapped can be paralyzing, and it's easy to fall into a spiral of negativity. When you catch yourself using this phrase, it's a call to pause and reassess the situation. Is the task truly unmanageable, or is your approach simply not working? Consider breaking the problem into smaller, more manageable parts. This method can help you regain a sense of control and accomplishment, even in the face of adversity. 2. "I Knew I Wasn't Good Enough." This phrase often indicates that you've internalized past failures as proof of your inadequacy. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that you're not capable of success, especially when things don't go as planned. When you repeatedly tell yourself that you're not good enough, you reinforce a negative self-image that's hard to shake. Instead of accepting this self-defeating belief, try to identify specific areas where you can improve. By focusing on your strengths and working on your weaknesses, you can start to build a more balanced view of your capabilities. Acknowledging your worth is crucial for personal growth. When you focus solely on what you lack, you overlook the unique talents and abilities you already possess. It's important to celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Take a moment to reflect on past successes and remember that you are capable of overcoming challenges. By doing this, you can gradually rebuild your confidence and silence the doubting voice in your head. 3. "It's Not Worth Trying." Saying 'it's not worth trying' is a clear sign that you've given up before even starting. This defeatist attitude often stems from a fear of failure or a belief that your efforts won't yield any results. Dr. Angela Duckworth, in her book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," emphasizes that persistence and determination are key to overcoming obstacles. By investing effort despite uncertainty, you increase your chances of success. It's easy to dismiss opportunities when you're feeling low, but this mindset can prevent you from experiencing potential successes. Challenge yourself to take small steps, even if they seem insignificant. Each action you take chips away at the wall of doubt you've built. As you start to see progress, however small, your motivation and confidence will begin to grow. Remember, every worthwhile achievement starts with the decision to try. 4. "I'll Never Be Able To Do That." When you tell yourself, "I'll never be able to do that," you set an invisible ceiling on what you can achieve. This self-imposed limitation creates a mental barrier that can be difficult to overcome. Instead of focusing on what seems impossible, try to shift your focus to what you can do right now. By breaking a daunting goal into smaller, achievable steps, you can start to build momentum and confidence. This kind of thinking is often rooted in comparing yourself to others who seem more successful or talented. However, it's important to remember that everyone's journey is unique. By setting realistic expectations and celebrating incremental progress, you can redefine what's possible for you. Over time, you'll find that what once seemed unachievable becomes attainable. Embrace the process and trust in your ability to grow and improve. 5. "I'm Just Not Cut Out For This." Feeling like you're 'just not cut out' for something can stem from a single failure or setback. It's easy to let one experience define your entire self-worth, but this isn't a fair assessment of your abilities. Research by psychologist Martin Seligman on learned helplessness reveals that people often give up after repeated failures, but resilience can be built through positive experiences. Recognize that setbacks are a part of life and that they don't determine your potential. When you find yourself thinking this way, it can be helpful to revisit your initial motivations. Why did you pursue this path in the first place? Reconnecting with your original goals can help reignite your passion and remind you of your capabilities. It's crucial to give yourself grace and understand that mastery takes time and effort. By fostering a more forgiving mindset, you can begin to rebuild your confidence and resilience. 6. "Why Bother?" When you ask yourself "Why bother?" you're essentially questioning the value of your efforts. This mindset often arises from a sense of futility and a lack of motivation. It suggests that you've lost sight of your goals and what they mean to you. To overcome this, revisit the reasons why you started in the first place. Understanding the deeper purpose behind your actions can help reignite your passion. Feeling like your efforts are pointless can be incredibly demoralizing. It's essential to remind yourself that every small step counts toward a bigger picture. Incremental progress may not seem significant at the moment, but over time, these small achievements add up. Focus on the journey rather than the destination, and remember that perseverance is key. By doing so, you can find renewed motivation and a clearer sense of direction. 7. "I'll Just Fail Anyway." The belief that 'I'll just fail anyway' is a self-fulfilling prophecy that can hinder your progress. When you expect failure, you're less likely to put in the effort required to succeed, setting yourself up for the very outcome you fear. According to a study by Albert Bandura on self-efficacy, believing in your ability to succeed is crucial for achieving actual success. Cultivating a more optimistic outlook can change the way you approach challenges. It's important to challenge this belief by examining the evidence behind it. Is your fear of failure based on past experiences, or is it a projection of your insecurities? By understanding the root cause of your fears, you can work on strategies to overcome them. Surround yourself with supportive people who can offer encouragement and perspective. By shifting your mindset, you can open the door to opportunities that you might have otherwise overlooked. 8. "I'm Too Old For This." Telling yourself that you're 'too old for this' reflects a belief that age limits your ability to learn and grow. This mindset can prevent you from pursuing new experiences and opportunities. Instead, consider age as an asset; with it comes experience and perspective that younger counterparts may lack. It's never too late to learn something new or to change your path if the current one doesn't suit you. Life is not a race, and everyone moves at their own pace. Embracing lifelong learning can open doors to personal and professional growth that you never imagined. Your age should not define your potential but rather enhance it. Remember, many successful people found their calling later in life. By adopting a mindset of continuous growth, you can defy age-related stereotypes and continue to evolve. 9. "No One Cares About What I'm Doing." This phrase suggests a sense of isolation and insignificance. It can be difficult to find motivation when you feel like your efforts go unnoticed. However, it's important to remember that your value isn't determined by others' validation. Reflect on what your work means to you personally and the impact it has, however small, on those around you. Feeling disconnected from others can contribute to this mindset. Reaching out for feedback or sharing your journey with someone can help you gain a new perspective. Often, people underestimate the positive influence they have on others. By recognizing and valuing your contributions, you can start to rebuild your confidence. Remember, even small acts can have a significant impact on someone else's life. 10. "I'm Not Smart Enough." When you tell yourself "I'm not smart enough," you undermine your intelligence and potential. Intelligence isn't a fixed trait; it can be developed and expanded over time. Instead of focusing on perceived limitations, try to identify areas where you can grow. Adopting a mindset of lifelong learning can help you overcome this belief and achieve your goals. Comparing yourself to others can fuel this negative self-assessment. Instead, focus on your unique strengths and the progress you've made so far. Recognize that everyone has their own challenges, and intelligence is just one piece of the puzzle. By valuing different skills and experiences, you can build a more balanced self-image. Celebrate your accomplishments and continue to strive for personal growth. 11. "I Always Mess Things Up." Believing that you 'always mess things up' can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Mistakes are a natural part of life, and everyone makes them. Instead of dwelling on your failures, focus on the lessons they teach and how they contribute to your personal growth. By reframing mistakes as learning opportunities, you can start to view them more positively. When you catch yourself using this phrase, take a moment to reflect on your successes as well. It's easy to overlook achievements when you're fixated on what went wrong. Balance your perspective by acknowledging both your strengths and areas for improvement. This approach can help you build resilience and confidence in your ability to handle future challenges. Remember, nobody is perfect, and growth often comes from imperfection. 12. "I'm Just Not Motivated." Lack of motivation often stems from burnout or being disconnected from your goals. When you say "I'm just not motivated," it might be a signal that you need to realign your priorities. Take time to reflect on what truly inspires and excites you. By discovering what drives you, you can reignite your passion and find new motivation to pursue your goals. It's crucial to identify the root cause of your lack of motivation. Are external factors influencing your feelings, or is it an internal struggle? By understanding the underlying reasons, you can start to address them and take action. Setting small, achievable goals can help you regain a sense of purpose and momentum. With time and effort, you can overcome this hurdle and find the drive you need to move forward. 13. "It's Over." Saying 'it's over' conveys a sense of finality and hopelessness. This mindset can leave you feeling stuck and unable to see a way forward. However, it's important to remember that setbacks are temporary, and new opportunities can arise from them. By shifting your perspective, you can start to see endings as new beginnings. When you feel like giving up, take a moment to reflect on past experiences where you overcame adversity. This can remind you of your resilience and ability to bounce back. Life is full of twists and turns, and each challenge presents a chance for growth. By focusing on the potential for new opportunities, you can find hope and motivation to continue your journey. Remember, every ending is just a step toward a new beginning. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
23-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Stare Decisis To Foresight: A Legal Mindset For The AI-Era World
Gear symbols on the head shape. Antonyms. We live in an age of constant, accelerating, and converging change. It is challenging human capacity to adapt--a 21st century edition of 'Future Shock.' That applies equally to individuals and organizations. What separates those that adapt to change and see it as an opportunity from others who are overwhelmed by it and mired in stasis? Mindset is a key factor. It is the prism through which human behavior is filtered. Mindset influences decision making, risk tolerance, curiosity, collaboration, learning, and other important life and career influencers. Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist, divided mindset into two distinct camps in Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. A fixed mindset, according to Dweck, sees capabilities and conditions as static, prioritizing risk avoidance and stability over creativity and exploration. A growth mindset, in contrast, embraces learning, experimentation, and the pursuit of improvement. Despite the controversy around its findings, it is still useful to see mindset in two categories with the caveat that each has gradations. Mindset matters now more than ever. In a real-time, AI-enabled business environment marked by speed, complexity, interconnected risk, and uncertainty, a flexible, forward-thinking mindset has become a requisite to navigate change. Responsible, informed, and creative deployment of AI, data, and other tools is an important element of a growth mindset. So too is developing what Accenture calls a 'digital core' (data, AI, and cloud competency). Teamwork, a shared sense of purpose, curiosity, constant learning, informed experimentation, and a culture that values and supports these attributes, are additional characteristics of a forward-thinking mindset. Research has shown that alignment of mindsets—whether in personal relationships or business—is linked to better outcomes. John Gottman, an American psychologist known for his data-based studies on divorce prediction and marital stability, found that couples who create 'shared meaning'—a common vision of goals and values—are far less likely to divorce. Similarly, research on relational 'growth mindsets' reveals that people who believe relationships can improve with work tend to handle conflict better and maintain higher relationship satisfaction over time. Business offers strikingly parallel findings. Companies that align their mindset and culture around learning, experimentation, and shared vision consistently outperform less adaptive competitors. McKinsey research found that agile organizations deliver ~40% higher total shareholder returns over five years compared to their peers A BCG study revealed that companies with strong adaptive cultures are nearly twice as likely to succeed in digital transformations. Multiple studies have shown that alignment of mindset is a fundamental driver of long-term success. Law and business have divergent mindsets. The 'mindset gap' separating them has widened dramatically during the past quarter century. The divergence is a tale of different responses to a rapidly changing business, geopolitical, and macroeconomic environment. Business has adapted a growth mindset; the legal industry has remained rooted in its fixed mindset and culture. The 'mindset gap' separating law and business adversely impacts not only the legal industry but also business, and society. It diminishes the legal function's efficacy and dilutes its potential enterprise value by narrowing legal's sphere of influence to 'legal' matters rather than expanding its imprint across the many business units law intersects with. It also undercuts enterprise transformation by failing to leverage legal's strategic and problem-solving capabilities and institutional knowledge to create business value. Perhaps most importantly, law's mindset gap has deprived society of an accessible, affordable, fit-for-purpose legal function. This has produced an erosion of public trust in the legal profession, its institutions, the rule of law, and democracy. That negatively impacts commerce, the economy, business, commercial transactions, judicial resolution of disputes, and human rights. What are the causes of the business-law mindset gap, and how can their divergence be bridged to create a legal function that better serves business and society in an AI-enabled world? These important questions have received insufficient attention, perhaps because they principally involve the human side of transformation more than technology. Paradoxically, rapid technological advances—notably AI—have elevated, not marginalized, human qualities that separate us from machines. Soft 'skills (empathy, curiosity, creativity, teamwork) have long been undervalued by the fixed mindset and culture of the legal industry. A spate of psychological studies have found that soft skills are much harder to teach than technical or procedural ones. The takeaway is that for many in the current legal workforce, the transition to a team and customer-oriented mindset will be difficult. EY conducted a study that revealed more than 50% of GC's surveyed reported that legal culture and resistance to change is the greatest obstacle to modernization. Thomson Reuters conducted a similar study that echoed the EY findings, concluding that culture and change resistance eclipse budget and technology gaps as the principal change retardants. The transformation of business during the past quarter century is the story line of the mindset gap with law. This column has long maintained that legal transformation is a business story. Business, especially industry leaders, are well down the path of the transformation journey. The legal function—excepting an expanding number of in-house teams—is just beginning. Business has created a blueprint for legal transformation. It starts with mindset and culture. The Business Mindset Transformation Until the turn of the Millenium, most businesses had a fixed mindset. It was rooted in tradition and past practice, relying on proven models, standard operating procedure, and industry best practices to reduce risk and promote consistency. Adaptation usually took a back seat to stability in a world where change occurred more gradually, the speed of business (and life) was considerably slower, and technology had not yet created what author/journalist Tom Friedman described as a flat world. As Lou Reed noted in a different context, 'those were different times.' The last quarter century has exposed the limitations of a fixed mindset in a rapidly changing world and marketplace. Business has confronted a constant, escalating array of interconnected challenges. A sampling includes: rapid technological advances industry disruptors and asymmetrical competition transitioning from an analog to a digital world (digital transformation) globalization- then its collision with nationalism 9/11 the global economic crisis Covid-19 social media state-sponsored armed conflicts, terrorist attacks, domestic terrorism, etc cyber breaches geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts polarization (social, economic, and political) climate change mass migration data explosion artificial intelligence (its challenges and opportunities). Business recognized these interconnected challenges posed an existential threat, one that could not be extinguished-- much less turned into opportunity--by a fixed mindset and strict adherence to what had worked in the past. This spelled the end to 'business as usual.' Mindset and cultural shifts do not come quickly or easily, nor can they be effected by fiat. The journey begins with leadership providing a clearly articulated strategy that explains the 'why' of transformation. It is systematically reinforced until there is widespread buy-in across the enterprise. Transformation is a team sport, one that requires shared purpose, goals, and an ethos that 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' The transition to a more humane mindset and culture requires tough human decisions; not everyone in the workforce can or will adapt, even when afforded the opportunity and tools to do starts with human adaptation, not with technology. The latter creates opportunities to change and seize opportunity by creating new business structures, economic models, and ways to elevate customer outcomes and experience. The workforce—and that includes the business's supply chain and strategic partners-- determines the success of the adaptation journey by its willingness and ability to adapt. Only then can technology be creatively, responsibly, and usefully applied to internal reorganization that produces better customer outcomes and experience. Fostering a growth mindset is key to individual and collective success. Top performing businesses recognized early on that investment in the workforce—upskilling, purpose, collaboration, etc.—is an essential component of successful transformation. Reimagining talent in a rapidly changing environment is critical, and so too is investment in upskilling and cultural reformation. Google, for example, launched Project Aristotle, a research initiative focused on what makes teams effective. The study analyzed data from hundreds of teams over several years. It concluded that psychological safety was the crucial element of team success. This underscores the importance of humanity in the transformation journey. Microsoft provides another example how mindset and culture can drive success. When Satya Nadella became the tech giant's CEO in 2014, the company was in a trough. Nadella championed a growth mindset and cultural shift focused on learning, collaboration, and cloud-first innovation. This gradually replaced the siloed, internally combative culture that Nadella inherited. The mindset and cultural shift paid off; it produced a dramatic turnaround in Microsoft's market value and brand, a trajectory that continues more than a decade later. Mindset and culture are closely connected. Culture is forged by aligned mindsets that share, reinforce, and institutionalize their values, practices, and goals across the group. Culture is an amalgam of how a group identifies itself and what it stands for. Social cohesion and progress are largely determined by how widely a unified mindset is achieved. Leadership's ability to forge a culture of shared understanding, purpose, teamwork, and goals is critical. This--like other human elements of transformation-- is especially true during periods of rapid, interconnected change. A growth mindset supports a holistic, proactive approach to risk management and uncertainty. Risk can be managed, because, to channel Peter Drucker, it can be measured. Uncertainty, however, cannot be measured, and--like risk-- there is a great deal of it in the current business environment. Top performing companies have embraced and invested in foresight to anticipate and prepare for uncertainty. Foresight includes identifying signals that portend change, scenarios planning, and critical thinking applied to 'connecting the dots,' among other types of horizon scanning. Scenarios planning is not new; Shell pioneered it back in the 1970's. The foresight tools that can now be applied--predictive analytics, scenario AI-driven forecasting, and the like have become more powerful, enabling businesses that use them effectively not only to anticipate change but also to turn it into strategic advantage. Those tools are also available to competitors; mindsets and cultures are key factors in what separates leaders from laggards. Data supports the marked divergence of enterprise mindset and culture separating companies that fail from those that succeed. WatchMyCompetitor, an AI-powered competitive intelligence platform, conducted research on why companies decline. It reported more than half (52%) of the companies in the Fortune 500 list in 2003 no longer exist today, and 72% of the original 1984 FTSE 100 companies are now gone. The takeaway is clear: in today's world, business must adapt or confront obsolescence. The study identified six common reasons for corporate decline: All six failure elements relate to mindset and culture. Technology accelerates and enables change. Human adaptation—a growth mindset, forward thinking culture, and aligned, agile, fluid, team-oriented, integrated, and creatively curious workforce seizes opportunity from change. Law's Retrospective Mindset and Culture The legal profession/industry has a deeply rooted, fixed mindset. It is embodied by stare decisis, a legal principle of judicial adherence to past decisions. The rationale is to promote stability, consistency, and fairness. Law's mindset, culture, criteria for guild admission, pedagogy, hierarchical organizational structure, pyramidal economic model, pedagogy, and linear career trajectory evidence its adherence to the past. Legal language (a/k/a 'legalese') is abstruse and chock full of Latin terms, evocative of its strong ancestral ties. The legal guild constructed a language designed for itself, thereby separating lawyers from 'non-lawyers. This purposeful distancing from clients and society-at-large is emblematic of the myth of legal exceptionalism as well as the reality of legal insularity and separatism. Law's anachronistic rituals-- court proceedings where judges sit on elevated platforms, gowns, wigs, and other symbols of pomp and ceremony, are not intended to be inviting or to put 'outsiders' at ease. Law is a people and persuasion business, but everything about it creates the opposite effect for non-guild members. Legal culture has rewarded cultural compliance, risk-aversion, and an artisanal approach to problem solving-- no matter its correlation to client value. The legal profession has offered lip service to 'partnering with clients,' 'cutting edge technology,' and 'investing in our most important asset, our people.' This is belied by high turnover (especially law firms), client dissatisfaction, the migration of work from law firms to in-house corporate teams, and law's ambivalent embrace and negligible investment in technology and training. Law schools, likewise, retain a fixed mindset. Their doctrinal emphasis, siloed study of core subjects (rather than an integrated approach that reflects the realities of practice), elevation of issue identification over problem solving, and faculties thin on practice experience and/or marketplace awareness are out-of-synch with the evolving role and purpose of the legal function in a rapidly changing marketplace. Legal education is about rote learning and spotting issues, not understanding concepts, drawing connections, and creatively applying them to problem solving. Customer/client relationship building, the service component of legal delivery, and a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving are also lacking in law schools. The traditional law firm partnership structure and hierarchical, labor-intensive economic model have survived and thrived for generations. Firms have prospered as business has consolidated, grown, and transformed. Regulation and compliance has become more onerous and complex, litigation (particularly in the US) has continued its upward spend trajectory, business has faced new risks and greater uncertainty, and technology has spun off new practice areas. The global legal services market was $300B in 2000; it is currently estimated at $1T. Partner profits, especially among twenty or so 'elite' firms that handle the lion's share of high value M&A and litigation work, are at an all-time high. So too are firm rates, margins, and partner profits far outpacing the broader economy. Their corporate clients have transformed, but law firms have been under little pressure to do the same. Why, then, are so many legal leaders so concerned about the future? Spoiler alert: business has already quietly begun to transform the legal function from within, focusing on reimaging the in-house legal function. Concurrently, AI is poised to accelerate that process and deliver the coup de gras to the law firm partnership model. That will transform the legacy delivery paradigm by eliminating the economic friction between corporate legal teams and firms. It will also accelerate the creation of new AI-first corporate provider sources that can 'productize'—and customize— faster, better, cheaper' legal products and services at scale. Those products and services will extend beyond the narrow parameters of 'legal' issues and include risk management, regulatory and compliance, IP, cybersecurity, corporate governance, etc. Business has been conducting a skunk-works transformation of its in-house legal teams for years. It is changing the corporate legal team's role, remit, metrics, composition, and talent mix. The goals are not only to save on outside legal spend, but also to extract the latent potential of legal to create value for the enterprise and enhance customer outcomes and experience. The author has dubbed in-house teams 'law's astronauts.' They operate within a corporate environment, are increasingly aligned with business purpose, goals, metrics, and customer-centricity, and are increasingly operating cross-functionally and proactively. In-house portfolios are expanding and more complex, even as their budgets and headcounts are shrinking. A response to this squeeze necessitates doing things differently and developing a growth mindset. Business has not directly shaped or managed this process, but it has created an environment where CLO's and GC's must do things differently. In-house teams have become (albeit to varying degrees) proactive, strategic, tech-enabled, data-backed, value-oriented, and results-driven. Most importantly, the in-house legal function is becoming integrated with the business and its customers. To effect this transformation has necessitated in-house teams to adapt to the speed, complexity, risk, uncertainty, and competing stakeholder expectations of business. That has, in turn, required a change in the in-house mindset, culture, and perception of legal's purpose and role in digital/AI-era business and society. In-house legal teams' alignment with corporate objectives and collaboration with various business units demonstrates that legal can operate in a corporate environment without ceding its professional independence. The expansion of the in-house team's enterprise role has been accompanied by a shift in market share allocation. In 2000, companies typically sourced 70-80% of legal work to law firms. Corporate teams now account for 54% of all legal spend. The remaining balance goes to law firms, ALSP's, consultancies, and an array of other niche providers. The gradual shift in market share is about to become sudden. AI will drive a spike through the law firm economic model, hollowing out the bottom and middle levels of its pyramid. This will be accompanied by a shift from output (value) as the billing basis, not input (hours). That will open the door to the integration of all legal product and services providers and end the economic, mindset, and cultural divide separating in-house teams and their supply chain. The stage has been set for a true structural paradigm change in legal delivery, one where provider sources are integrated across the supply chain. That is business-driven legal transformation. It does not spell the end of law firms, but it means that they will be very different than they are today. AI is the greatest-- but by no means the only—challenge facing the leadership of traditional law firms. Forrester, a market research group, projects that almost 80 percent of jobs in the legal sector will be significantly reshaped by AI technology. A 2023 Goldman Sachs report on the effects of AI on economic growth, indicates that 44 percent of legal tasks could be automated using AI tools. While the percentages relate to tasks, not jobs, mindset change will be required to adjust to ongoing upskilling as well as to new structures, models, workforces, and ways of delivering legal products and services. The challenge of transition is elevated because it is accompanied by increased workloads, headcount reduction, and elevated business and customer expectations. Firm leaders are also confronting other issues related to their legacy firm structure and model. A partial list includes: the generational divide separating older and younger partners, a dearth of AI-native talent, peripatetic partners, and brand differentiation (apart from a handful of elite firms) It's little wonder why firm leaders have agita. Last year's law firm profits may be up for many large corporate law firms, but so too is uncertainty about the sustainability of their economic model. Another indication of the model's fragility is white-hot PE interest in the long dormant legal industry (a positive and negative development for firms), What will the legal marketplace look like when AI becomes an integral component of strategic planning and delivery? Whether that will happen is no longer in question. When it does is anyone's guess (smart money is betting sooner than you think). One thing is clear: what has passed for 'legal transformation' to date will pale compared with what is about to unfold. Recommendations For Legal Mindset And Cultural Adaptation The following recommendations are a sampling, not an exhaustive list, of issues to be considered. While the focus is on the corporate segment of the legal market, the recommendations apply equally to the retail (people) part. The latter is grossly underserved and presents an enormous opportunity to 'do good and do well.' Conclusion Change no longer occurs over centuries, generations, or decades; it is constant. The time separating present from future has been compressed. That is creating new risks and greater uncertainty, as well as opportunities that precedent, best practices, and fixed mindsets alone can no longer address. Clayton Christensen, the father of disruptive innovation theory, captured the zeitgeist of 21st century business: 'Best practices are a great way to institutionalize what you know. But they're also a great way to institutionalize ignorance if you don't keep revisiting them.' The legal function must balance stare decisis with a growth mindset and culture in synch with digital/AI-era business and society. To do so requires that it reimagine itself and what it delivers—as business has--to meet the needs of end-users of its products and services. It must engage in the same reverse-engineering process that business has embarked on. These are blueprints the legal industry can borrow from and, as Christensen admonishes, 'keep revisiting them.' Curiosity, creativity, constant learning, thoughtful experimentation, foresight, agility, and an empathetic team orientation are key attributes of an AI-era legal function. They must be accompanied by a holistic focus on business, societal, and global developments, particularly macroeconomic, sociopolitical, and other forces that are reshaping life and business. A legal function with this mindset and culture will once again attract 'the best and the brightest' to it from multiple fields. It will reclaim its purpose, elevate its standing, and better serve business and society in real-time, AI-era world.
Forbes
17-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What A True Growth Mindset Looks Like In The Age Of AI
The most effective leaders do not perform control. Instead, they create the conditions for others to ... More think, stretch, and grow. The term 'growth mindset' has become a workplace cliché. It is printed on company posters, folded into onboarding documents and loosely referenced in annual reviews. But for all the noise (including some controversy) many organizations still misunderstand what a true growth mindset looks like, especially in an era defined by Artificial Intelligence. The digital age is not just a shift in tools. It is a shift in thinking. Technologies evolve faster than people do. Machines adapt automatically. Humans have to choose to grow. That choice becomes harder in environments shaped by fear, pressure and control. And when companies preach agility but punish failure, they train people to survive, not expand. In Mind Over Matter and Artificial Intelligence published by Palgrave Macmillan, Vidya Sagar Athota explores this exact tension. The associate professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia argues that firms must build psychological infrastructure to support mental fitness or risk collapsing under the speed of technological change. Mindset, he contends, is the real engine of digital transformation—not just code or hardware. In this new landscape, mindset is not a soft skill. It is an operating system. The organizations that will thrive are those that stop treating growth as a slogan and start treating it as a structural condition. One that needs to be built, protected and practiced every day. When Agility Means Unlearning First For most professionals, growth is framed in terms of skill. Learn more. Get certified. Stay current. But in the age of AI, technical competence is not enough. The real differentiator is unlearning. Automation reshapes roles in real time. New tools disrupt once-stable systems. What made you effective five years ago may now be irrelevant. That reality requires a mindset that can detach from ego. One that can say, 'What got me here will not get me there.' Unlearning is uncomfortable because it feels like loss. It threatens identity. The manager who prided themselves on being the expert must now become a student again. The high performer who once owned their process must let go and co-adapt with machines. This is the psychological risk that Athota identifies in his chapter on fixed versus growth mindsets. He warns that professionals with rigid mental models are most likely to struggle in times of technological upheaval—not due to intelligence, but because of cognitive inflexibility. True agility is not about speed. It is about emotional range. A growth mindset accepts that discomfort is part of growth. It does not panic when things no longer make sense. It becomes curious instead. When Mindset Is a System, Not a Trait One of the core mistakes companies make is treating mindset as an individual issue. Someone either has a growth mindset or they do not. This framing ignores context. In high-pressure environments where mistakes are punished, curiosity shuts down. In meetings where only certain voices are heard, initiative dries up. When goals change weekly, employees stop thinking strategically. Culture shapes cognition. A growth mindset is not simply a personal virtue. It is a collective condition. And it is deeply influenced by leadership signals. If a team sees their manager admit mistakes, they become more likely to own their own. If feedback is normalized rather than weaponized, people learn faster. If experimentation is rewarded instead of tolerated, innovation surfaces sooner. Athota emphasizes that managerial practice—not just individual optimism—determines whether growth can take root. His book challenges leaders to move beyond slogans and create systems that normalize reflection, tolerance for failure and iterative learning. Culture must actively support exploration, not just endure it. A true growth culture is not one where everyone performs. It is one where everyone evolves. When AI Makes Mental Fitness the Core Skill As AI continues to absorb routine tasks, the human value proposition shifts. Insight, judgment, empathy and synthesis become more important. But these are not automatic traits. They require mental fitness. Mental fitness is the ability to regulate stress, remain present, think flexibly and recover quickly from setbacks. In a world of accelerated change, these qualities become essential. Not just for leadership, but for every level of the workforce. Professionals who lack mental fitness struggle to adapt. They become reactive. They chase certainty. They resist change not because they are unwilling, but because they are exhausted. Growth mindset and mental fitness are closely linked. Both require reflection, discipline and self-awareness. Both are trainable. And both are eroded in toxic environments that glorify overwork and punish pause. Athota calls for firms to treat psychological capacity as a strategic asset. In an interview with me, he said 'high performance cannot be separated from emotional sustainability.' Burnout, in his view, is not a personal failing but a structural feedback signal. Organizations that want to thrive alongside AI must invest in rest, recovery and reflection. They must resist the urge to conflate productivity with presence and understand that clarity often requires space. When the Language of Leaders Shapes the Mindset of Teams Mindset is not just what people believe. It is what they hear. Language matters. And leaders shape culture through the words they repeat and the questions they ask. Consider the difference between saying 'We failed' and 'We are still learning.' Or between asking 'What went wrong?' and asking 'What could we try next?' These are not semantic shifts. They are signals. They show teams what kind of thinking is valued and what kind of risk is allowed. In the age of AI, where many employees fear being replaced, a leader's voice becomes more important than ever. People do not just need direction—they need framing. They need to hear that growth is not simply an expectation, but a shared responsibility. As part of this reframing, Athota references what he sees as a timeless ethical standard—treat others the way you want to be treated, a principle he attributes to Jesus. In his view, this mindset supports psychological safety, emotional resilience, and a culture of mutual development. Building on this, Athota argues that leadership language can either restrict or release potential. He encourages leaders to model process over certainty—to think aloud, to reflect openly, and to treat contemplation not as hesitation, but as a vital part of adaptation. Ultimately, the most effective leaders do not perform control. Instead, they create the conditions for others to think, stretch, and grow. When teams receive consistent signals that curiosity is not just permitted but welcomed, real development becomes possible. That is when mindset turns into momentum.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
4 Ways To Stay Prepared For A Sudden Job Change
Kevin Walters is the Founder of Top DEI Consulting Co and The Diversity Chef. Life has a way of challenging us out of nowhere, and our professional lives aren't exempt. Sudden job loss can occur due to economic downturns, massive layoffs, technological disruptions or other unforeseen circumstances. Staying ready for the job search is the most effective approach to ensure professional continuity and resilience in the face of difficult circumstances. It helps build confidence and empowerment, giving you the leverage to pursue opportunities from a position of strength rather than desperation. Being prepared also eases the emotional drain and financial instability that can occur when a career curveball, such as a layoff, catches you off guard. You can learn to anticipate changes by building a foundation of broad skills and relationships that can withstand the blow of unexpected job loss and life challenges. Adopt the following traits so you can be prepared for anything. 1. Develop A Growth Mindset Adopting a growth mindset, where you actively seek opportunities to improve and learn, allows you to maintain total control of your career. Because you're proactive about remaining competitive in the job market, you can mitigate some of the panic that comes with unexpected changes. To maintain a growth mindset, routinely evaluate your hard and soft skills. Ask yourself whether you're in a position that could be eliminated in the future and what in-demand skills will allow you to pivot quickly. For example, the World Economic Forum's "Future of Jobs 2025" report highlights technological and AI literacy, analytical and creative thinking, and talent management as critical skills. Once you're aware of any skills gaps, take action by investing in your development. Consider options like earning a license or certification, taking online courses or participating in relevant volunteer opportunities. 2. Cultivate Authentic Relationships You can maximize networking's potential by building meaningful, authentic relationships. Having authentic relationships, especially during a market downturn, will be valuable when you or a contact are overwhelmed and need help getting back on track. When developing relationships, focus on quality, not quantity. Look for people within your industry who can offer guidance and insights that help elevate your skills and knowledge. Then remember that effective networking is a two-way relationship. So, how can you be of value to someone in your network? Share your own information, offer insights and demonstrate genuine interest in building a mutually beneficial relationship. 3. Be Clear About Your Brand Today's market is incredibly competitive. The field is crowded, confusing and overwhelming. The volume of potentially qualified applicants has increased, and AI tools have made it harder to distinguish on paper who the true leaders are. This means standing out is essential if you want to appeal to employers. To demonstrate that you're the ideal candidate, you must be able to communicate your value, skills, experiences and passion. How can you help this employer reach its goals? If you don't know how to market your value proposition, you can't expect an employer to believe you're the best fit. 4. Be Resilient When you develop resilience, you prioritize staying informed, knowledgeable, adaptable and willing to pivot when faced with unexpected circumstances. Being resilient gives you the confidence to act on opportunities that demand your skills. So, you must learn to embrace challenges, viewing them as opportunities to gain experience and build on your existing capabilities. Being prepared for a job before you need one is a strategic way to thrive in your career. The combination of growth, development, personal branding and resilience is key to ensuring you stay ready for whatever comes. Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify?
