Change The Way You See Everything- Parts 1 and 2

Lillie Michael
Connector

Deficit-Based Thinking:
Connection:​ First learning how to ride a bike
Quotes:​ “I can’t, I’ll never get this done, That’s impossible” (17)
How nervous do you feel when you first ride a bike? Whenever we learn something new
there are moments when we feel deficit-based thinking. I myself know when I first learned how
to ride my bike a ton of different thoughts were going through my head: “I can’t do it, I am not
coordinated enough, I feel overwhelmed”, etc...which led to me feeling lots of anxiety!! But once
you learn how to ride a bike and you feel confident in doing it that’s when your mind starts to
turn from deficit-based thinking to asset-based thinking. Once you have learned how to ride a
bike you have the mentality that you can do it!

Deficit-Based Thinking:
Connection: ​People & Covid-19
Quote:​ “Even though DBT protects us from dire circumstances” (15)
People have now put up a guard when it comes to Covid-19. Some indiviudals won't
leave their homes, some wear lots of PPE equipment when going out in public, and others will
try to avoid people at all costs. People view Covid-19 from a very negative angle (can you
blame them?) “Change The Way You See Everything'' could not have said it better, DBT puts us
“on guard, fostering an anxiety that robs us of confidence.” This is exactly what Covid-19 is
doing to people. We do not want to be affected by the virus so we put up guards and have very
little confidence that it’s safe to be around people…

Asset-Based Thinking
Connection:​ Bill Gates
Quote: ​“Asset-Based Thinking provides you with a view of yourself that allows you to clearly
see your strengths, skills, talents, and virtues” (44)
Bill Gates as we know created Microsoft. He is a clear example of an asset-based
thinker. Even at a young age Gates was so passionate about computers he was excused from
math class to go try and design video games. As he grew older he continued to use his passion
to guide him. He clearly saw his “strengths, skills, talents, and virtues” to push him to create
something incredible. .

Asset-Based Thinking
Connection:​ Walt Disney
Walt Disney is another example of an asset-based thinker. From a young age he had a
passion for animation drawing. He sold his first drawing of a neighbor’s horse at a young age.
He let his passion guide him to create one of the largest entertainment industries in the world.
Asset-Based Thinking
Connection:​ Oprah Winfrey
Quote: ​“Oprah Winfrey devotes her time and talent to spotlighting people who live lives inspired
by purpose and passion, dispelling the myth that drama of dysfunction is the only thing that
sells” (20)

Sources:
1. Bill Murphy Jr. “11 Inspiring People Who Followed Their Passions and Found Amazing

Success.” ​Inc.Com​, Inc., 2 Apr. 2015,

www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/here-s-how-to-turn-your-passion-into-a-fortune.html.

2. You Rock! With Asset-Based Thinking: Kathy Cramer at TEDxYouth@Indianapolis By

TEDxYouth Container: YouTube Year: 2013 URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTtK_09CrjQ