When we take the time to really dig into "failure" we discover that it really isn't failure at all--if anything, it's a key to unlock greater learning and exponential impact. The best tool to do this is a failure audit. In this podcast, I walk through the three primary components of a failure audit to bring about the biggest impact in our lives and those around us.

Key takeaways include the four questions for a failure audit:
1. What happened?
2. Why did it happen?
3. What did you learn?
4. What will you do differently next time?

Failure audits begin with examining a failure we have experienced ourselves, and then move to key interviews with other people, before resulting in patterns and insights.

Redefining failure is one of the key steps in increasing our entrepreneurial mindset.

In this episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset for Transformative Education podcast, Stephen Carter discusses the transformative power of redefining failure and its essential role in growth and education. He emphasizes that failure should not be viewed negatively, but rather as a necessary component of learning and improvement. By adopting a growth mindset and embracing the concept of continuous improvement, individuals can foster resilience and progress. Carter also explores practical strategies for rethinking assessments and feedback in educational settings, ultimately advocating for a shift in mindset that prioritizes action and reflection over perfection.

Key Takeaways

• Failure has been identified as something bad, something to avoid.
• Failure is an element necessary for growth.
• Comfort and growth can't coexist.
• True failure is if we never tried in the first place.
• The entrepreneurial mindset can be taught.
• Failure is necessary for learning and growing.
• Continuous improvement means we're never going to fully arrive.
• Redefining failure means moving away from perfection as the goal.
• Wisdom comes from evaluated experience, not just experience.
• Using growth mindset language creates a culture for redefining failure.

In this episode, I include the full audio from my breakout session at the CESA Symposium where I discuss how the entrepreneurial mindset offers a transformative approach to education that takes students from "surviving" to "thriving" in face of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This talk focuses on how schools can engage in meaningful entrepreneurial education on their K-12 campuses in order to truly engage students.

When we come to value principles, we can create unstoppable momentum in our lives. This begins when we accept that we must balance our production with our production capacity, what Stephen Covey calls the P/PC balance and this requires taking stock of where we are in key areas of our life: spiritual, intellectual, financial, relational, vocational, physical. When we determine where we are in these areas and contrast it to where we want to be, it will lead to a clear plan that we can them implement alongside these three principles:
1) comfort and growth cannot co-exist
2) vision is essential
3) sharpen the saw (another Covey principle)

Entrepreneurship is often seen as a solo endeavor, but true success often hinges on collaboration. In this episode, we explore why teamwork and synergy are essential entrepreneurial skills, challenging the myth of the "lone wolf" entrepreneur. Drawing from Stephen Covey’s sixth habit, we highlight how embracing diversity and leveraging strengths creates innovative solutions far greater than individual efforts. We also connect these lessons to schools, showcasing practical ways educators can teach collaboration through project-based learning, student-run businesses, and more. Listen in to discover how fostering synergy in education prepares students for entrepreneurial success in a connected world. Transformative schools start with collaborative classrooms!

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Mindset for Transformative Education, I'm joined by Erik Ellefsen from Baylor University's Center for School Leadership for an unstructured yet insightful conversation on innovation in education. We explore the power of dreaming bigger, the importance of trust in leadership, and why educators need to shift from being subject matter experts to becoming expert guides. Through this, we dig into stories of risk-taking, the value of a growth mindset, and how to design meaningful learning journeys for students. Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, or lifelong learner, this episode is packed with inspiration to ignite your passion for education.

Tune in and discover how saying "yes" to opportunities can transform the way we teach and lead.

The time to teach the transformative power of the entrepreneurial mindset is now--and the age is as soon as we start learning. The entrepreneurial mindset will transform an entire school culture in four distinct ways: first is through its Biblical principle found in Romans 12:2. Second is through the ripple effect of transformation and how it spreads from person to person. Third is through the process of renewal that happens when we embrace a mindset opposite of conformity. And finally, an entrepreneurial mindset causes us to stretch and dream bigger than we ever though possible. Through this, we can come to live the transformed life.

John Wooden famously said, "When opportunity comes, it's too late." If we're going to be the kind of people who think like entrepreneurs, we have to be ready to seek and chase opportunity when it shows up--that is not the time to plan and prepare. This requires having a readiness mindset, developing our skills, creating systems and habits, and preparing both financially and emotionally. Once this plan is in place, we are ready whenever opportunity shows up.