1.1.11.7. Advanced Reading

These readings are optional but highly recommended for learners who want to move beyond foundational understanding and build strategic depth in how they think about identity, leadership, and entrepreneurial behavior. Each text reinforces the central themes of this lesson — especially the relationship between mindset, identity, and long-term performance.

The Innovator’s Dilemma — Clayton Christensen
Recommended Chapter: Chapter 4 — "What Goes Up Can’t Go Down".
This chapter illustrates how organizational identity anchored in past success can limit adaptation and increase vulnerability to disruption. As you read, consider how both companies and individuals can become constrained by outdated definitions of who they are and what they do.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance — Angela Duckworth
Recommended Chapter: Chapter 7 — "Practice".
This chapter deepens the connection between identity, discipline, and long-term achievement. It reinforces the idea that capability is built through repetition and deliberate effort rather than natural talent alone — a core principle for entrepreneurial identity development.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — Carol Dweck
Recommended Chapter: Chapter 2 — “Inside the Mindset” (Bonus Reading).
This chapter revisits the fixed vs. growth mindset distinction with richer examples from business and leadership. It supports the Identity Shift Model by showing how belief structures shape risk tolerance, feedback receptivity, and the willingness to reinvent oneself.

After completing one or more of these readings, identify one belief about identity, leadership, or capability that you are ready to update — and one strategic behavior you will adopt to embody that updated belief in your entrepreneurial practice.