Mindset isn’t just “fixed” or “growth.” It’s a spectrum—and once you see that, you’ll understand yourself, your kids, and your family in a whole new way.

In this episode of The Most Important Thing, we translate insights from Mary C. Murphy’s Cultures of Growth into family life. What starts as a book about organizations becomes a practical guide for leading your home with clarity and calm.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why everyone flips between fixed and growth mindsets depending on context
• The four predictable triggers that shape mindset: evaluation, high effort, critical feedback, and the success of others
• How to recognize a performative state—and why it’s the worst time for feedback
• Reframing high effort as progress, not failure
• How to weigh critical feedback with discernment
• Turning others’ success from a jealousy trigger into an inspiration spark

Takeaway:

Mindset isn’t static—it’s a spectrum we all move along. Seeing it this way unlocks compassion, resilience, and a culture of growth at home.

Resource:

Book: Cultures of Growth: How the New Science of Mindset Can Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations by Mary C. Murphy.
Get the book here.