Mindset isn’t a narrative problem, it’s a math problem. In this 3 part series we begin to unpack the math problem that leads to developing an Operational Mindset.
There are distinct areas you can improve that will enable you to perform at the level you want to perform. Here’s the full equation:

What is C3? It’s a composition of three critical aspects that give you the best opportunity possible to navigate whatever life throws at you. C3 is made up of COMFORT, CONFIDENCE and CREATIVITY.
COMFORT: The willingness and comfort being uncomfortable. The understanding that things aren’t as they “should be.” It’s being ok when things are not ok.
CONFIDENCE: Meaning “with-faith” and it’s the ability to have faith in yourself that you can and will work the problem in front of you. It’s not arrogance, it’s not knowledge, it’s not even training. It’s the confidence to figure it out.
CREATIVITY: This is such a critical attribute because no two situations will EVER be the same. Your ability to be creative in the face of uncertainty, in the moments when you don’t know what to do, is the thing that will enable you to produce the result you are looking to produce.
We begin with a look at our Foundation. Foundation is the make up of our knowledge (K), skills (S), and our abilities (A). It’s basically what we’ve know, what we can do and what we’ve been evaluated on. We must always look to grow and expand our foundation, after all, it is foundation.
In the equation E is our experience. It is a combination of our whole life, not just what we have experienced in our jobs.
In an isolated form, which is where most of us operate, F+E becomes a one for one exchange. We learn something, we experience something. That’s it. This leaves us stuck with a set of biases, a fixed mindset, a fixed way of being and a ton of expectations.
QUICK EXERCISE – START FILLING IN YOUR NUMBERS:
Rate your FOUNDATION: On a scale of 1 – 5 how would you rate your knowledge, skills and abilities? Do you feel you have gotten the most out of your training to this point and do you have all the training you need at this stage of your career?
Rate your EXPERIENCE: On a scale of 1 – 5 how would you rate your level of experience and the experience of your experiences? Have you extracted everything you can out of each one?
DISCUSSION POINTS – START SHARING:
Where are you gaps? How can you gain more out of each course, each experience, each conversation?