The growth mindset sees mistakes and failures as opportunities for learning, and criticism as constructive feedback, not personal attacks. People with a growth mindset embrace imperfection and feel it’s fine to be flawed and altogether average. For them, engaging in the process is more important than the outcome. For them, being knee-deep in an undertaking is the whole point. They do not have to rush or be the first to finish. Instead, they take their time and are okay with their slow but steady progress. My father was a good example of someone with a healthy growth mindset. In his youth, he discovered he was good at studying and test-taking. When various wealthy families in the neighborhood heard about this, they ordered him to take exams for their sons. Dad agreed to do this to avoid a broken nose and being beaten up. At the root of Dad’s success: Curiosity. He taught himself to do many things. He learned, through reading, how to ride a horse, shoot a gun, play the harmonica, and swim. Meanwhile, …

Tom’s neighbor is a member of a group called Extreme Desert Gardeners. The group tries to grow things that shouldn’t grow well in the desert. His neighbor’s yard is a rotating experiment. Some experiments work, and some don’t, but his neighbor never seems to get discouraged. She just tries again. That unfazed quality is central to an experimenter’s mindset. Once you develop it, it spreads to other areas of your life, becomes a source of resilience, and helps keep you mentally agile. Try these tips if you’d like to improve your own experimenter’s mindset. 1. Engage With a Community of Experimenters Most people don’t operate with an experimenter’s mindset. To learn from others’ thinking patterns and receive encouragement, join an experimentation-oriented community that interests you. For example, you might familiarize yourself with the “beer money” subreddit, which is devoted to low-effort side gigs that bring in a little extra cash (it has nothing to do with beer!). Or, you might participate in a community of people using AI for automation or to create AI-driven businesses. …