January 2026 Book Recommendation
Do you think you have what it takes to succeed this year?
The story you tell yourself about your abilities may be the greatest indicator of whether you succeed or not.
If you think intelligence is fixed. Talent is something you’re born with. And that if you’re not naturally good at something, why bother trying, then my book recommendation for January is meant for you.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
You are capable of more than you think—and the beliefs you hold about your own abilities shape every action you do or don’t take.
If you’ve ever said I’m just not good at that; If you’ve avoided challenges because you might fail. If you’ve felt threatened by other people’s success. Or if you’ve given up on something after one setback…please give this book a try.
Here’s a quote to get you started:
Why waste time proving over and over how great you are, when you could be getting better?
Why hide deficiencies instead of overcoming them? Why look for friends or partners who will just shore up your self-esteem instead of ones who will also challenge you to grow? And why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you?
You need to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset—from believing your abilities are carved in stone to understanding they can be developed through effort and learning.
What does this look like in practice? Here are few examples:
If you face a Challenge at Work
A Fixed mindset says: “I’m terrible at public speaking. I should avoid presenting at the meeting.”
A Growth mindset says: “I’m not confident at public speaking yet, but I can improve with practice. This presentation is a chance to get better. I’ll prepare thoroughly and ask for feedback afterward.”
If you’re Learning a New Skill
A Fixed mindset says: “I tried learning guitar for two weeks and I still sound awful. I’m just not musical.”
A Growth mindset says: “Two weeks is just the beginning. Everyone sounds rough at first. What can I do differently in my practice? Maybe I need to break it down into smaller steps or find a different learning approach.”
If you’ve recently Received Criticism
A Fixed mindset says: “My editor pointed out mistakes in my novel/essay. This proves I’m not cut out for writing.”
A Growth mindset says: “My editor’s feedback shows me exactly where I can improve. These are specific areas I can work on. What can I learn from this to make my next work stronger?”
See the difference?
A growth mindset unlocks possibilities. People with this mindset see that you can develop abilities through effort, strategy, and learning from setbacks. They use words like “yet,” “how can I,” and “what can I learn.”
On the other hand, those with a fixed mindset close the door with statements such as “I can’t” or “I’m just not good at this.”
Don’t let 2026 be another year of avoiding challenges and playing it safe.
You can grow.
Believing that is one of the most powerful shifts of all.
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