Which One Will You Choose: Skillset or Mindset
My answer will surprise you.
I asked a number of my friends this question: If you were to start a new venture—say, becoming a stock trader, an investor, a painter, or a cartoonist—what would you work on first, building the mindset or building the skillset?
Without hesitation, everyone said, mindset.
They argued that without the right mindset, you are just setting yourself up for failure.
For years, I believed this too. I worked diligently on my mindset to become a writer. I wanted to think like a writer, act like a writer, and live the life of a prolific writer. I even meditated on it.
I consumed books on the writer’s mindset, practiced visualization, and filled my environment with motivational quotes about writing.
But do you know what finally made me feel like a writer?
Developing the skills to write.
The trap of focusing only on mindset.
We often make the mistake of working on the mind first, believing that if we think the right way, success will naturally follow. But the mind is a tricky thing. The more you try to control it, the more it resists.
Try telling yourself not to think about elephants. What happens? You immediately think about elephants. But if I ask you to describe an elephant’s features, your mind might suddenly shift its focus to a giraffe instead. The mind loves distractions and resists forced focus.
The only way to beat the mind’s resistance is through action.
Once it has something to do, it becomes fully engaged. When I started writing daily, that’s when I truly became a writer.
When I started drawing regularly, that’s when I became a sketcher. It wasn’t my mindset that turned me into a writer or an artist—it was the act of doing.
What is mindset?
Mindset is your set of beliefs and attitudes that shape how you approach life, challenges, and goals.
A growth mindset, as Carol Dweck describes in her research, helps you embrace challenges and see failures as learning opportunities.
A fixed mindset, on the other hand, makes you believe that talent is innate and that you either have what it takes or you don’t.
But here’s the catch: Mindset alone won’t get you far without skillset.
You can have the most positive, determined mindset, but if you lack the skills, you will still struggle.
What is skillset?
Skillset refers to the abilities and expertise you acquire through practice, education, and experience.
Unlike mindset, which is intangible, skillset is measurable. You can track progress, improve through repetition, and see tangible results.
When I wanted to become a writer having the mindset was not enough, I had to learn how to write articles effectively, structure stories, and refine my style.
Once I built my skillset, my confidence grew, and my mindset naturally followed.
Learn the skills first, the mindset will follow
Many successful writers learned the skills first and then developed the mindset.
Here are some examples:
Stephen King: He didn’t start with the mindset of a bestselling author. He wrote daily, submitted his stories relentlessly, and refined his craft over time.
J.K. Rowling: She didn’t sit around developing a writer’s mindset—she wrote, revised, and improved her craft until she mastered storytelling.
Agatha Christie: She struggled with writing at first, but by consistently working on her storytelling techniques, she became one of the most successful authors in history.
These people didn’t wait to feel ready before they started taking action.
They developed their skills, and their mindset adjusted along the way.
How mindset follows the skillset.
If someone told me to develop the mindset of a scientist, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. But if I started learning the scientific method, conducting small experiments, and analyzing data, I would slowly start thinking like a scientist.
Similarly, I didn’t become a doctor—not because I lacked the mindset of a doctor but because I didn’t have the study skills required. If I had learned effective mind-mapping techniques and structured studying habits, I might have been able to prepare better for medical exams.
The same applies to writing notes on Substack.
Having the mindset of writing notes every day won’t cut it—you need to develop the skillset. In January this year, I decided I wanted to learn how to write notes consistently. So, I challenged myself to write a note a day for 30 days. When I achieved that challenge, I extended it to 60 days. That’s when I truly developed the skills of writing notes effortlessly.
If you want to write notes, don’t just think about it—build the skill to write notes. Start small, practice every day, and improve your ability to craft short, engaging pieces. The more you write, the more natural it will become, and eventually, your mindset will follow.
The takeaway?
Don’t focus on mindset first.
Learn the skill, practice it, and your mindset will align with your abilities.
Skillset over mindset: the practical approach
Next time you want to learn something new, resist the urge to work on your mindset first. Instead:
Identify the core skills you need to succeed in that area.
Start practicing those skills daily—even if you feel unprepared.
Allow your mindset to adjust naturally as you gain competence and confidence.
Mindset is important, but it’s a byproduct of skill development. Skills comes first, and mindset follows.
So, which one will you choose?
My answer might have surprised you, but I hope it also encouraged you to take action.
Don’t wait to feel ready—just start learning and doing, and the right mindset will follow.
I’ve been thinking about starting a section to share some great posts I’ve read recently. I figured the best way to do it is at the end of my Monday posts, just before the sign-off.
So, here are some interesting posts I’ve come across in the past few days.
Magnetic Notes: 10 examples of Notes that grow your audience (with stats) by
Would you write for just one reader? by
How to NOT Name Your Substack (Unless You Want to Stay Invisible Forever) by
That’s all from me today.
As always, thanks for reading.
