The start of a new year often brings with it new goals, fresh dreams, and renewed intentions. We tell ourselves, this year will be different. This year, I’m going to exercise more. This year, I’m going to save more. This year, I’m going to earn more… and the list goes on.
Recently, I attended Conversations with Coronation – Kick-Off 2026, where Coronation reflected on a decade of outstanding performance, outperforming across asset classes and geographies. In 2025, they delivered strong alpha from their global fund range, alongside excellent performance in South African equity funds—marking seven consecutive years of positive absolute returns. It was a reminder that consistency, discipline, and adaptability matter over time.
Two books were recommended at the event, one of which I’ve already started reading: Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential by Carol Dweck, PhD. Dweck suggests that people generally fall into one of two categories: those with a fixed mindset and those with a growth mindset. These mindsets are not linked to ability or IQ, but rather to how we perceive challenges and respond to failure.
People with a growth mindset believe they can improve. They see failure as a learning opportunity, remain curious, and are willing to grow. Those with a fixed mindset, on the other hand, view success and failure as a reflection of their self-worth. They tend to avoid challenges, dislike difficult circumstances, and prefer life to feel easy and predictable.
As humans, we crave stability. We want predictability. We want to turn on the news and know what to expect—not to see another trade war unfolding or another conflict erupting. Yet we are constantly confronted with geopolitical uncertainty, socioeconomic shifts, and extreme weather events such as fires and floods. The world we live in is changing daily, and without openness to change and growth, we risk stagnation.
When we stop growing, we can become overly attached to our own opinions, mistaking them for absolute truth. We hold onto these views with a fixed mindset, no longer listening to or considering alternative perspectives. This rigidity can lead to poor decisions and avoidable mistakes.
To adapt and remain relevant, we need to stay humble, curious, and willing to learn—especially from our missteps. Staying curious reminds me of a memorable scene from Ted Lasso, where Ted beats Rupert in a game of darts. Rupert underestimates Ted, assuming he has already figured him out. But as Ted plays, he shares a quote often attributed to Walt Whitman: “Be curious, not judgmental.” Ted explains that those who belittled him never asked questions—they assumed. Had Rupert been curious, he would have known that Ted grew up playing darts with his father. Ted goes on to win the game.
So instead of simply saying, this year I’m going to save more or exercise more, perhaps the better question is: How can I grow more?
In investing and financial decision-making, our mindset often matters more than our technical knowledge. A fixed mindset can lead us to react emotionally—panic during market volatility, chase performance after strong returns, or abandon a well-thought-out plan when discomfort sets in. We may see short-term losses as failure, rather than as part of the natural journey of long-term investing.
A growth mindset, by contrast, allows us to stay disciplined. It encourages us to learn from past decisions, remain patient during periods of uncertainty, and trust the process rather than the noise. It helps us understand that volatility is not a signal to act impulsively, but an inevitable feature of investing that rewards those who stay invested and aligned with their goals.
Because real change doesn’t start with a new year.
It starts with a new way of thinking—one that values curiosity over certainty, progress over perfection, and long-term outcomes over short-term emotions.
Written by Sigrid
