A Life Changing Story About What's Possible

What's possible for you?

I recently heard a story that changed what I believe is possible for me. It also changed what I believe is possible for you.

Trevor Moawad, the author of It Takes What It Takes recalled the life-changing story of a struggling teenager who was failing out of high school.

After taking his SAT test, he received a score of 1480 out of 1600 which is an extremely high score. Completely shocked upon the discovery that he was a lot smarter than he realized, he decided to start applying himself at school so he could reach his full potential.

He went on to graduate from college and became one of the most successful magazine entrepreneurs in the country.

Twelve years after he took the SAT he received a letter in the mail informing him that he was one of thirteen people that had been sent the wrong SAT score by mistake.

His real score was 740.

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The power of belief

What we believe about ourselves matters. The story we tell ourselves matters.

Stanford Psychologist Carol Dweck calls this having a "growth mindset" and studies show that having a growth mindset can change the trajectory of your life.

When the struggling high school student in the story above received the wrong SAT score, it changed what he believed about himself. He went from having a fixed mindset ("I’m just not as smart as other people"), to having a growth mindset ("I am capable of getting better").

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The truth is, no matter what score you made on a test, or what someone may have told you along the way, you are capable of more than you realize. We all are.

“Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.” -Henry Ford

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Onward,
Kevin