How to Develop a Growth Mindset and Love Work

Every founder's journey is filled with challenges, uncertainties, and pivotal moments that shape the business and the leader. At the heart of this journey is one essential factor: developing a growth mindset. The ability to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and continuously evolve separates successful founders. But it’s more than just surviving tough times—learning to love the work, find joy, and thrive through the highs and lows.

In my experience as a CEO, I’ve discovered that one of the most transformative stages in a founder’s journey is the “Meeting the Mentor” phase. This is when the guidance of others—whether through direct mentorship, books, or life experiences—helps unlock the tools and insights needed to cultivate a growth mindset and thrive in the face of adversity.

Developing this mindset empowers you to lead with resilience and helps you find fulfillment in the work itself, no matter how difficult the path may seem.

Mentorship Is the Shortcut to Wisdom

As a CEO, one of the first things I realized was that my challenges weren’t unique. Many of the problems we deal with—whether scaling a company, managing teams, or figuring out strategy—have already been faced by others. The key is finding the right mentor to guide you through those moments.

When I began my journey at Tribal DDB in Amsterdam and London, I had to lead the company’s transformation. It was an overwhelming responsibility. I felt the weight of the person expected to chart a new course; I wasn’t sure how to approach it. Then, someone introduced me to Jim Collins’ book Good to Great. One idea from that book struck me like lightning: “getting the right people on the bus.”

Collins’ concept emphasizes that having the right team is far more critical than having the perfect strategy. This was my lightbulb moment. Instead of obsessing over the immediate direction we needed to take, I focused on building the right team first. I realized that if you have the right people, everything else—the strategy, the innovation, the execution—would naturally come together. That advice changed how I approached leadership and was the foundation of the company’s transformation. At that moment, my mentor wasn’t just a person—it was a book that gave me the clarity to act.

“Every founder has to realize the solutions to most of our challenges already exist. The key is to seek out the mentor or resource that unlocks that 'aha!' moment.”

Six Key Concepts of Meeting the Mentor for Founders and CEOs

As I reflected on my journey and the idea of meeting the mentor, I realized there are some critical insights that every founder should understand about mentorship. Here are six key lessons I’ve learned:

1. The Role of Mentorship in Leadership Development

The “Meeting the Mentor” stage is about more than simply seeking advice—it’s about aligning with someone who offers wisdom, experience, and foresight. For founders and CEOs, a mentor is often someone who has already walked your path and understands the complexities of leading a company. Mentors provide a steady hand, guiding you as you transition from a startup founder to a seasoned leader.

In my experience, Wim Slootweg’s mentorship helped me transform Tribal DDB. He provided insights into leadership—especially during periods of transformation—which was essential for success. A mentor gives you confidence in your vision and reinforces your ability to lead others through change.

“Mentors don’t just hand you solutions. They help you see the bigger picture, guiding you to make the decisions only you can make.”

2. The Power of Shared Experience and Expertise

The best mentors don’t just provide theoretical advice; they share their experiences, triumphs, and failures. This shared knowledge helps founders avoid common pitfalls. When a mentor opens up about their mistakes, it’s a gift that saves you time, energy, and, in some cases, significant financial resources.

3. Emotional Support and Psychological Resilience

Founding and leading a company can be an incredibly isolating experience. The pressures of leadership often leave you feeling like you’re carrying the world’s weight on your shoulders. A mentor becomes more than a guide—they become someone who can help you manage the emotional and psychological burden that comes with being in charge.

4. A Bridge to Networks and Resources

One of the most practical advantages of having a mentor is gaining access to their network. Mentors often act as gatekeepers, connecting you to investors, partners, and other key players in the industry. These connections can be game-changers for a growing business.

5. Challenge and Growth Beyond Comfort Zones:

A good mentor won’t just tell you what you want to hear. They’ll challenge you to think bigger, aim higher, and move beyond your comfort zone. They push you to embrace risk, innovate, and continuously grow as a leader. Tim Ferriss, in his book Tribe of Mentors, shares lessons from over 100 leaders across different industries, and a recurring theme is embracing risk and learning from failure.

One thing that stood out to me from Ferriss’s work was how these leaders establish robust daily routines that help them focus, minimize decision fatigue, and create consistency in their leadership. For founders, this kind of structure can be transformative. With guidance from my mentors, I, too, learned how crucial it is to establish daily habits that foster success and growth.

“If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing. Mentors push you into that space of discomfort because that’s where the magic happens.”

6. Mentorship as a Continuous Relationship

Mentorship isn’t a one-time interaction—it’s an ongoing relationship that evolves as you grow. Much like in the hero’s journey, where the mentor reappears at key moments, the relationship with a mentor can last through various phases of your trip. They can offer guidance as you scale your company, navigate personal growth, or even transition into new industries.

Personal Insights on Embracing Challenges and Growth

Another significant insight I gained from my journey was embracing challenges rather than running from them. Earlier in my career, I would shy away from adversity, thinking it was something to be avoided. I believed that if I hit roadblocks, it meant I wasn’t doing something right. But over time, I realized that it’s in those challenging moments that real growth happens.

Leading a company forces you to face challenges head-on. There’s no way around it. The transformation I led at Tribal DDB taught me that every problematic situation presented an opportunity to improve and get better. I began to adopt a growth mindset, which allowed me to shift my perspective on adversity. Instead of seeing it as something to fear, I started to view it as a necessary part of success.

“Challenge isn’t an obstacle to avoid—it’s the proving ground where leaders are made.”

It’s a lot like working out. If it hurts, you’re growing the muscle. That same principle applies to running a business. If it’s uncomfortable and you’re pushing yourself through tough decisions, you’re probably doing the right thing. Whether addressing company culture, implementing new processes, or making difficult personnel decisions, every challenge strengthened me and the company.

Case Study: Mark Zuckerberg and the Power of Mentorship and Growth Mindset

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook (now Meta), offers a remarkable example of how mentorship and a growth mindset can transform a company and its leader. When Zuckerberg first launched Facebook, he was young and navigating uncharted waters. However, many people don’t realize how instrumental mentorship and continuous learning shaped his journey as a CEO.

Mentorship with Steve Jobs

One of Zuckerberg’s most well-known mentors was Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple. Jobs’ mentorship played a critical role in Zuckerberg’s leadership development. According to Zuckerberg, Jobs gave him valuable advice on how to build a team with the right cultural fit—essentially a real-life embodiment of the advice found in Tim Ferriss’s Tribe of Mentors, where assembling the right team is a cornerstone for success.

Jobs also inspired Zuckerberg to focus on Facebook’s long-term vision and mission rather than just the short-term gains. This echoes the lessons from Tribe of Mentors about embracing risk and prioritizing meaningful work rather than being driven by immediate rewards. With Jobs’ guidance, Zuckerberg learned to make decisions prioritizing Facebook’s culture and growth, transforming it into a global social media giant.

Learning from Failure and Growth Mindset

In addition to mentorship, Zuckerberg’s story is a powerful testament to Carol Dweck’s Mindset and the philosophy of embracing failure as an opportunity for growth. Early on, Zuckerberg faced countless challenges, from legal battles to privacy scandals. However, instead of retreating in the face of adversity, he adopted a growth mindset that sees challenges as chances to innovate and improve.

Zuckerberg’s belief in continuous learning, a key theme in Mindset, has helped Facebook evolve. He’s been known to publicly acknowledge his mistakes, demonstrating humility and the willingness to learn from failure. This mindset allowed him to adapt Facebook’s platform to users’ needs and reshape himself as a leader capable of guiding Meta through turbulent times.

Embracing Continuous Learning

Like many leaders profiled in Tribe of Mentors, Zuckerberg prioritizes continuous learning. He is famously known for his “Year of Books” challenge, in which he committed to reading a new book every two weeks to broaden his understanding of global issues, technology, and leadership. This approach mirrors the principles in Tribe of Mentors, where leaders emphasize the importance of constant self-education and exploration of new ideas.

Whether learning from mentors like Jobs, embracing failure as part of the growth process, or committing to lifelong learning, Zuckerberg’s journey illustrates the transformative power of the lessons in Mindset and Tribe of Mentors.

How to Embrace Your Work Through Mentorship and Mindset

Reflecting on my journey and the lessons learned from mentors, one thing has become clear: success is not just about winning or hitting milestones; it’s about developing the mindset to love the work, no matter how hard it gets. A growth mindset allows you to see every challenge as an opportunity, and mentorship is the guiding hand that helps you navigate those challenges with wisdom.

When you find that balance—embracing the process, loving the work, and growing through each obstacle—you unlock a sense of fulfillment beyond financial success. It becomes about building something meaningful, something you can pour your energy and passion into, knowing that every hurdle you overcome is part of a more extensive, rewarding journey.

“When you stop fearing the work and start embracing the process, you truly begin to lead. It’s not just about growing a business—it’s about growing yourself.”

Recommended Reading for Founders

In entrepreneurship, learning from the experiences and wisdom of others can be a significant advantage. The right books can serve as valuable mentors, helping founders navigate their journey with greater insight, skill, and resilience. Here are two books that have been particularly impactful for me, and they are essential for any founder looking to develop a growth mindset and love their work.

1. Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss

Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss is more than just a book—it’s a masterclass in success from over 100 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, and artists. Ferriss asks them one simple question: "What advice would you give to your younger self?" The result is a treasure trove of actionable insights that can help founders get results faster and make smarter decisions.

Some key themes in Tribe of Mentors that are especially valuable for founders include:

• Establishing Robust Daily Routines: Many leaders in the book emphasize the importance of building consistent, productive habits. As a founder, establishing a daily routine that allows for deep work, reflection, and creativity can transform your productivity and mental clarity.
• Learning from Failure: Nearly every mentor in the book highlights how failure has been a critical part of their success. Founders often face setbacks, but how you learn from those failures determines your long-term success. Tribe of Mentors teaches that failure isn’t final—it’s a stepping stone toward growth.
• Prioritizing Continuous Learning: The mentors featured in the book stress the importance of lifelong learning. For founders, staying curious and constantly updating knowledge—whether through books, courses, or mentorship—is critical to staying competitive in the fast-changing business landscape.
• Embracing Risk: Entrepreneurship requires taking risks, and Tribe of Mentors showcases how successful people across all fields embrace uncertainty as an opportunity for innovation and growth. Founders can learn how to manage risk effectively and use it as a catalyst for progress.

By diving into Tribe of Mentors, founders can benefit from the diverse experiences of leaders across industries, fast-tracking their personal growth and development. It’s like having 100 mentors at your fingertips, each offering a unique perspective on navigating the complexities of leadership and entrepreneurship.

Why founders should read it: This book gives actionable, digestible advice from people who have already walked the difficult path of leadership. For a founder looking for diverse viewpoints and practical strategies to handle the ups and downs of business, Tribe of Mentors is an invaluable resource.

2. Mindset by Carol Dweck

Carol Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success is a groundbreaking exploration of how our beliefs about our abilities can limit or propel us. Dweck introduces the concept of a “growth mindset”—the idea that talent and intelligence are not fixed traits but can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. This mindset is critical for founders and CEOs who are constantly facing new challenges.

Critical lessons for founders from Mindset include:

• Effort Drives Achievement: Dweck emphasizes that effort, not just natural ability, drives success. This is a crucial concept for founders, especially those who feel pressure to have all the answers from the start. Understanding that growth comes from continuous effort helps founders stay resilient in facing challenges.
• Reframing Failure as Growth: One of the core lessons in Mindset is that failure isn’t a reflection of your limitations—it’s an opportunity to grow. This shift in thinking is crucial for founders, as the entrepreneurial journey is filled with failures. With a growth mindset, founders can view these failures as learning experiences that help refine their approach and ultimately lead to success.
• The Power of “Yet”: Dweck teaches the importance of adding "yet" to your self-assessment. Instead of saying, "I’m not good at this," say, "I’m not good at this yet." For founders constantly tackling new challenges, this perspective can help them stay motivated and persistent, even when things aren’t going perfectly.
• Adopting a Learning-Oriented Culture: Founders can use the principles from Mindset to foster a culture within their organizations where growth and learning are valued. A company that prioritizes continuous improvement learning from mistakes, and embracing challenges will be more innovative and adaptable. It encourages employees to experiment, take risks, and think creatively, all critical to long-term success.

Mindset has been particularly influential in my journey, reminding me that effort, perseverance, and a willingness to learn from each experience are the keys to surviving as a founder and thriving. The book teaches founders to embrace challenges enthusiastically, as each represents an opportunity to get better, stronger, and more capable.

Why founders should read it: The growth mindset is essential for any leader who wants to continue evolving, improving, and leading their company through the business’s inevitable ups and downs. Founders who adopt a growth mindset will be more resilient, innovative, and likely to succeed in the long term.

The Call to Action: Seek Your Mentors and Love the Work.

If there’s one takeaway from my experience, it’s that success as a founder comes not only from hard work and innovation but also from developing a growth mindset that allows you to love the work. The challenges, the failures, the unexpected twists—they’re all part of the process. With the right mentorship and mindset, you can learn to embrace each of these moments and find joy in the journey.

Don’t try to go it alone. Seek mentors who can guide, challenge, and help you grow. And as you grow, learn to love the process—because that’s where the accurate fulfillment lies.