EP179 - Fixed vs Growth Mindset and The Results in Leadership with Jake Thompson

In this special episode recorded live at The Impact Driven Leader Annual Summit, Tyler Dickerhoof sits down with Jake Thompson, a leading speaker, author, and the founder of Compete Every Day, where he helps individuals and teams develop mental toughness, embrace challenges, and pursue their goals with determination. 

The conversation highlights the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset. Jake explains that a fixed mindset sees abilities as unchangeable, avoids challenges, and rejects feedback. In contrast, a growth mindset embraces feedback, sees challenges as opportunities, and believes skills can grow with effort.

He also shares research on childhood praise, showing that praising effort builds resilience while praising results creates fragile confidence. Jake emphasizes the importance of focusing on personal growth ("running your race"), taking small, consistent steps toward big goals, and relying on core values and strong relationships to navigate leadership challenges.

Meet Jake Thompson

Jake Thompson is a keynote speaker, author, and the Chief Encouragement Officer at Compete Every Day, a brand he started in 2011 by first selling t-shirts out of the trunk of his car.

Jake works with organizations all over the world on teaching how they can develop stronger mindsets, habits, and cultures in order to achieve more in their careers and in their life. It’s through his entrepreneurial sales experience and research that he’s discovered how people who harness a competitive mindset against their own previous best can reach their goals, commit to action over motivation, and create the impact they desire. Clients include Titleist Golf, Michigan Realtors Association, Diamonds Direct, HILTI, and others.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

00:00 Introduction 

01:38 Having The Right Mindset

03:08 How Our Childhood Background Influences Us

04:28 Run Your Race

10:42 Simple Steps Create Grand Journeys

15:45 Core Values Keep Us Grounded

20:05 Leadership is lonely; relationships sustain

Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Jake:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakethompsonspeaks

https://jakeathompson.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JakeThompsonSpeaks

https://youtube.com/@competeeveryday

https://www.instagram.com/jakethompsonspeaks

https://www.tiktok.com/@jakethompsonspeaks

Impact Driven Leader:

Impact Driven Leader Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader 

https://www.instagram.com/impactdrivenleader/ 

Subscribe to the newsletter:

https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/

Tyler is on:

https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 

https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b 


About the Impact Driven Leader Podcast

The Impact Driven Leader Podcast, hosted by Tyler Dickerhoof, is for Xillennial leaders who have felt alone and ill-equipped to lead in today's world. Through inspiring interviews with authors from around the world, Tyler uncovers how unique leadership strengths can empower others to achieve so much more, with real impact.

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EP180 - From Crisis to Clarity: Graham Cochrane’s Secrets to Authentic Leadership

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EP178 - John Maxwell on the Secrets of Building Trust