In 2013, I quit my job as a big law securities lawyer in New York to move home to Boston and open a juice and smoothie bar. In 2018, I joined a media company as an in-house lawyer, with no media law or in-house experience.

I knew that I wouldn’t be substantively excellent at running a juice bar, or practicing media law in-house, on day 1. But I also knew I could change that.

For as long as I can remember, I have been taking on projects, roles, and jobs that I know I will not be substantively excellent at on day one.   

I know this because I’ve never done them before.  Sometimes, I’ve never done anything similar before.

And it’s the best thing I’ve done for my career.  

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My career and life have been fuller, richer, and a whole lot more interesting, for all the things I’ve done that some people probably thought I had no business doing.

It’s been possible for two main reasons.  

First, in the 20 years since college (and probably even starting before that), I have developed strong, transferable skills - both hard and soft - that are universally valuable in any role I might take on.  I am aware of them, and I know how to leverage them. I have an excellent work ethic.  I am kind but firm.  I am comfortable disagreeing with people, and am able to do so respectfully.  I am willing to have hard conversations. I am a strong writer and comfortable with public speaking.

I’ve accumulated these skills with work, though for the most part without a whole lot of intentional effort, over decades.  

But the second and equally important reason why I’ve been able to keep making these jumps is my growth mindset.  This is one I’ve worked on intentionally and has been invaluable. I’ve been working at it since before I ever read Angela Duckworth’s work on the subject.

It’s a mindset that I’d encourage anyone to develop, even if you don’t want to quit your big law job to start a juice bar.

In essence, a growth mindset (the term was coined by Carol Dweck) is a belief that wherever you are now as to any particular skill or attribute is changeable and can be improved.  You are not bad at math, you simply haven’t mastered it yet.  You are not an inherently weak public speaker, you just need more practice. 

Apply that belief broadly enough, and most of what you've written off as "not for me" turns out to be "haven't started yet."

The only question becomes whether you are willing to do the work necessary to improve your weaknesses sufficiently to excel in any particular role or at any project. 

With effort, anyone can develop and benefit from a growth mindset.