A growth mindset believes dedication and hard work can develop your abilities or business. It's the idea that intelligence and talent are not fixed but things you can build on over time. Another way to say it is that you and your business can always outachieve previous success. Too often, we concede by telling ourselves that someone else is more gifted, well-funded, more intelligent, well-established, etc., and never gets in the race.

People with a growth mindset believe they can get smarter, stronger, or better if they work at it. They believe in incremental improvement rather than sudden change; they don't think of themselves as naturally gifted at something—they desire to do better. So it’s a matter of mapping out growth skills, defining the experience needed, and then doing the work.

When looking for ways to grow, it's essential to identify the right opportunities. “Measure twice, cut once.” Take the time to develop a realistic plan for your business or self. It is equally easy to throw money at a problem and hope it solves itself through training or some other incremental effort. Plan the steps and know how you will measure the outcomes.

Here are some strategies for creating growth opportunities:

• First, set SMART (Specific Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) goals. Then, take action on those goals. If something isn't working out as planned or something new comes up along the way (and it will), adjust accordingly. Finally, take time to review and celebrate the wins.
• Have a support system in place. Align the team, advisors, clients, and others who will cheerlead for you when needed; mentors can offer advice on approaching new opportunities and remind us why we're doing this.
• Have team alignment. If things get tough, if they're on board, it will be easier for them (and, therefore, for you). Ensure that you have communicated everything that is needed for them to have meaningful participation. 

Consider what happens when you grow. Do you have the support and surrounding resources to take care of new business? 

Growth makes everyone feel better and more confident. But there’s always room for growth.