Why Mindset Matters More Than Skillset (04/07/26)

April 07, 2026

Do Hard Things with People You Love

At a conference a few weeks ago, I heard journalist and founder of Tangle News, Isaac Saul, say that his goal for work is to do hard things with people you love.

There is so much to love about this idea, not the least of which is that many people will bristle at either “hard things” or “people you love” or both.

If you want to coast or get by, Isaac’s idea won’t appeal to you. If you want to leave your heart at home and only bring your mind to work, you’ll want to debate his point. (But if you want data to show the value of love at work, listen to my conversation with Marcus Buckingham about his brand new book, Design Love In).

But even if you aren’t 100% sure about his vision for work, think about it for a second. . .

Wouldn’t you like to do meaningful work that stretches you – and perhaps delights and surprises you when you succeed?

And given the chance, wouldn’t you like do those things with people you care about (even if you can’t get all the way to “love”)?

I know what I am betting.

Here are some questions to think about based on Isaac’s stated goal:

  • How close are you to that being true for you?

  • How would you experience work differently if that were true for you?

  • How would your productivity, job satisfaction and mental health change if that were true for you?

And…

What could you do today to make this truer for you?

Why Mindset Matters More Than Skillset

According to Training Magazine’s Training Industry Report, total training expenditures in the U.S. from 2024-2025 were $102.8 billion.

Translation?

We invest a lot of time and money into teaching people new skills. And we want a return on those investments. Of all the factors that impact the effectiveness of that skill-transfer, perhaps the biggest gap isn’t what we talk about or try to fix at all. It’s not better technology, training or tools; it’s focusing on what comes before teaching the skills.

The missing link is mindset.

Thanks for reading. Please reply at any time with questions or feedback for our team.

When you’re ready, here are a few ways we can help:

  1. Work with me 1:1: Book a coaching or strategy session to help you achieve your goals for 2025 and beyond!

  2. Book me for your next keynote or event: Not just “another keynote”, this is a message that inspires, engages and accelerates you, your team and organization to success!

  3. Courses & workshops: check out our wide-array of learning opportunities - live & interactive workshops, micro and on-demand solutions and so much more.