Harnessing growth mindset to design a spider killer

The past two weeks, I’ve felt heavy hearted about the state of our nation: racial tensions, protests, and looting, all in the backdrop of a pandemic and economic recession. It felt reminiscent of the Rodney King riots that occurred nearly thirty years ago when I was a child, and I was discouraged to think about how little had changed. I went through the initial stages of feeling overwhelmed and defeated. I wanted to do something, but I was scared that I’d do or say the wrong thing.

Then, a chance encounter with a spider helped me remember that as a product person, I believe in experimentation and having a growth mindset. It’s ok to not feel certain that you have the right answer. Try different solutions, test them out and learn from it. Taking action moves you closer to the right answer, whereas standing still leaves you right where you were when you started. Whether it’s building a new enrollment flow or fighting for equality, take action, even if it means you might fail sometimes.