DISCOVERING YOUR ACTION
MINDSET PROFILE

After completing thebrief survey, you may wonder: what does it mean to have a particular Action Mindset Profile? As Scott Petinga lays out in his book No One Ever Drowned in Sweat , there is a certain mindset that drives him to be successful.

Scott Petinga isn’t afraid to fail. “If anything, I shouldn’t be a success story. I’ve failed at everything I’ve ever tried; kicked out of the Marines, flunked out of school, fired from jobs, divorced... you name it, I’ve failed at it. But every success story, I believe, starts from failure. Why? Because that’s where all the learning happens.”

Additionally, Scott has his preferred Action Mindset Profile, but recognizes that we don't all succeed via this same mindset. Our journeys don't all start in the same location.

As Scott often says: To begin making real progress, you need to learn where you’re most comfortable, most skilled and most proficient. Then move on and find a place where you feel most uncomfortable, most uncertain and the most unsure of yourself. That’s the first step. Action Mindset Profiles consist of four distinct dimensions: Risk, Conflict, Decisiveness and Goal Mindsets. You may have already read about the profiles associated with these mindsetshere.




MINDSET VS. PERSONALITY

Before we explain these mindsets, let’s first describe what’s different between a Mindset and a Personality trait. Mindset: An adopted and preferred way of approaching life. Personality: A wired way of acting and behaving based on genes and environment.
The biggest difference: Mindset is a choice. Your CHOICE! Once you understand your preferences, your defaults, and you begin to recognize the strengths and weaknesses associated with those preferences, you can make a change.




ACTION MINDSETS

There are four Action Mindsets that, when combined, define the Action Mindset Profile: Risk, Conflict, Decisiveness, and Goal.
Each of these mindsets is dichotomous, with two divergent preferences. Scott’s Profile is Guts, Resilience, Initiative, Tenacity (GRIT) – what is yours? Let’s review the Action Mindsets:


Risk Mindset

This mindset highlights the boldness with which we pursue our passions versus a preference for what is known:


GUTS


Being brave, courageous, and willing to risk everything for a cause. People may bet against you, but you still pursue your goal and forge new paths along the way.
Highlights: Boldness and Novelty 

SECURITY

Preference for the road that will give you the best chance of achieving comfort and stability.
Highlights: Known and Proven Path  

Conflict Mindset

The second mindset determines our willingness seek welcome versus avoid failure:


RESILIENCE

Knowing you may fail, but forging on. You see failure as a learning opportunity and embrace challenges rather than wallow in pity. You believe everything happens for a reason.
Highlights: Learning and Acceptance 

ASSURANCE

If you know you are likely to fail at something, you will choose to avoid it. You opt for a route that is more likely to be successful and less likely to embrace conflict.
Highlights: Calculation and Avoidance 

Decisiveness Mindset

The next mindset involves our desire for immediate action versus intense planning:


INITIATIVE

Moving forward without hesitation. You see a goal and what needs to be done and you do it. You prefer action over waiting.
Highlights: Action and Movement 

FORECASTING

Preference for planning and strategizing before acting. You might weigh the pros and cons and develop a short, mid, and long-term plan to guide your actions.
Highlights: Planning and Strategy 

Goal Mindset

The final mindset focuses on the tendency to pursue identified goals passionately versus being diverted from goals for other purposes:


TENACITY

Even if your goal is in jeopardy, you are persistent and you keep pushing to see it through. You are determined and will not quit until your goal is reached.
Highlights: Perseverance and Passion 

ELASTICITY

Flexibility in the desire to achieve particular outcomes. You display willingness to modify your goals, pursue the goals of others, or drop your goals altogether if too many obstacles present themselves.
Highlights: Multi-tasking and Flexibility 

Mindset Groups

Now that you understand the mindsets, how do they interact? You may be interested in this page where the different Action Mindset Profiles are grouped into four categories:

Guides : Those who show direction to others for achieving a vision

Supporters : Those who work to ensure visions are achieved

Capitalizers : Those who profit from a given vision.

Visionaries : Those who develop new visions to inspire others




Mindset Group Table

This table shows all possible Action Mindset Profiles with their associated Mindset group and a slogan for the type:


Mindset Group

Action Mindset Profile

Slogan

Guides

Ringmaster (SAIT)

The show must go on!

Planner (SAFT)

Things must go according to plan.

Head Coach (SRFT)

Practice makes perfect!

Sherpa (SRIT)

I’ll show you the way!

Supporters

Tinker (SAIE)

I can help!

Citizen (SAFE)

Do what you should do!

Advisor (SRFE)

I have an idea!

Ninja (SRIE)

You’re welcome!

Capitalizers

Day Trader (GAIE)

Play the odds! Sink or swim!

Pundit (GAFE)

Let’s talk about…

Investor (GRFE)

Change when the situation changes.

Streetfighter (GRIE)

Do whatever works!

Visionaries

Shark (GAIT)

I know what to do to succeed.

Dreamer (GAFT)

Tomorrow will be better.

Mastermind (GRFT)

Change the world!

Trailblazer (GRIT)

Create your own path.




RESEARCH VS. PRACTICE

Scott’s initial identification of Action Mindsets was achieved through deep introspection about his own life experiences and what led him to be successful despite great odds. With this introspective foundation, he set out to confirm his hunches.
After testing different ways of assessing the Action Mindsets, he discovered that the insights he achieved from his personal experiences were shared and validated by hundreds of survey respondents, whose mindset preferences accurately correlated with life outcomes including salary, recovery from tragedy, level of education, entrepreneurial orientation, and likelihood of being an inventor. You can discover more about your Action Mindset Profileby purchasing your premium profile.