Mindset shift was the biggest lesson we took from David Wood’s Break Through Training. It challenged us to face fear, take responsibility, change our environment and step beyond what felt comfortable.
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This article is not just about a training weekend. It is about the kind of thinking we want our children to grow up around: courage, connection, responsibility, positive reference groups and the belief that who you were does not have to be who you become.
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Mindset Shift: Lessons from David Wood’s Break Through Training
We were spellbound by David Wood’s energy, inspiration and mastery when he presented his Break Through Training Program to us. His message was confronting, exciting and deeply practical:
Everything is possible for anyone, despite circumstance.
But possibility is not enough on its own. David challenged us to step out, go after what we want, and stop allowing fear to pull us back. He taught that we must take 100% responsibility for what we have and what we do not have, without blame, justification or excuse.
That is where the real mindset shift begins.
We are the only ones who can make the shift in thinking and create success for ourselves. No one else can do that inner work for us.
Why a Mindset Shift Matters for Adults and Children
During the three-day program, we gained tremendous insights into ourselves, how we connect with people and how we approach life.
David emphasised the importance of connecting with people. His tip was very simple:
Say “hello” — and do it as often as you can, with energy.
This sounds simple, but it is a powerful lesson. Many adults and children hold themselves back because they are afraid of rejection, embarrassment or not knowing what to say. A small act like saying hello can become a starting point for confidence, connection and courage.
This links closely with what many educators now call a growth mindset: the belief that abilities can develop over time through effort, strategies and learning. Stanford’s growth mindset resources explain that this idea comes from Carol Dweck’s child psychology research. You can read more about growth mindset through Stanford here.
For us, David’s training was a very real, physical version of this lesson. We were not just hearing about growth. We were being pushed to practise it.
A Mindset Shift Around Hearing “No”
One of the things that stood out for us was David’s teaching that “no” does not always mean “no forever”.
David reminded us, in a fun game, how to respond when we hear a “no”. Instead of shrinking, blaming ourselves or deciding we are not good enough, he encouraged us to do the Happy Dance.
And he meant really do it.
Do not let yourself go down the path of:
- I didn’t present well enough.
- I didn’t know my stuff well enough.
- I’m not qualified enough.
- They rejected me, so I should stop trying.
Instead, whenever you hear a no, see it as one step closer to your next yes.
That is a powerful mindset shift for children too. Whether they are selling lolly bags, speaking in front of a class, trying out for a team, making a new friend or asking for help, they need to learn that a “no” is not the end of the road.
Reference Groups and the Mindset Shift We Want for Our Kids
Many of the distinctions and lessons David taught were strongly aligned with what we had been learning through our Money Mastery course with our mentor Paul Counsel. One of those lessons was the importance of a reference group.
“I become the sum of the five people I spend the most time with.”
If we want amazing results in our lives, we need to associate with people who are moving toward those results. One way to do that is to attend events, join mentor groups and build friendships with energetic, motivated and successful people.
We also recognise that this is just as important for our children. That is why we encourage them to mix with positive peer groups and get involved in sporting teams, enterprise projects and real-world learning experiences.
As David put it:
“Environment is stronger than willpower.”
Rather than relying on willpower alone, we can change the environment and reference group. For children, this might mean being around teammates, creative friends, entrepreneurial families, positive mentors and adults who model courage and responsibility.
Mindset Shift Through Getting Uncomfortable
We also learned that success is not convenient. It requires getting out of routine and comfort.
During the training program, David pushed our boundaries so we could practise being uncomfortable. We talked to strangers on the street, missed coffee breaks, hugged each other, held hands with people we did not know, stayed late past the planned program times, spoke publicly, became vulnerable, and danced and danced and danced.
We loved one of his favourite sayings:
“Get so uncomfortable about being uncomfortable that you get comfortable.”
This is something we definitely need to encourage in schools and families. Children need safe opportunities to stretch. They need to try things that feel a little awkward at first. That might be public speaking, selling a product, meeting someone new, performing, joining a team, making a phone call or trying again after failure.
Confidence grows when children do brave things in small steps.
Personal Responsibility Creates a Mindset Shift
David shared a simple exercise that he said could completely change your life:
Do not blame, justify or complain for ninety days.
That is a huge challenge. It asks us to stop handing away responsibility and start noticing what we can change.
David truly believes that no dreamer is ever too small and no dream is ever too big. He says that if you do not know where you are going, every road will get you there. So the first step is to begin. Choose a direction and start walking.
He also reminded us:
“We will miss 100% of the shots we never take.”
So just believe in yourself and have a go.
This is another important lesson for entrepreneurial kids. They do not need to wait until they are perfect. They need to begin, learn, adjust and keep going.
Who You Were Can Completely Change
David pointed out that everyone was once a disaster, including him.
His life certainly did not start out on the right track. His dad left the family when he was seven, and he grew up angry with his mother. He dropped out of school and was in all kinds of trouble as a teenager living on the streets. He spent years travelling around the world, broke and living day to day. He worked as a chimney sweeper, window cleaner and barman.
But David discovered for himself that who you were can completely change. This realisation led to different thinking, which brought him wealth, success and happiness beyond what he had once expected.
His success was a direct result of a change in thinking and attitude.
Paul Counsel also supports the view that we are a product of our thinking. What we think and believe can shape our reality, choices and results.
David points out that our results tell us what is going on in our lives. If we are unhappy, stuck or struggling, then we may need to consider whether what we have been doing up until now is working. If we do not find a new way and make changes, our results may continue to look the same.
His advice was to stop taking advice from broke, unhappy people and seek out successful mentors and friends who can move us in the right direction.
Mindset Shift Lessons from Friends at the Training
Friends who attended the Break Through Training with us shared how deeply the weekend affected them.
“An amazing weekend with David in Perth along with an awesome group of people… all willing to feel the fear and do it anyway! Life is not a dress rehearsal… just do it! Stop justifying, blaming and complaining… Grab happiness with both hands… Thank you so much! If you ever have the opportunity to spend time with David — take it!” — Tracey
“Thanks David for an awesome weekend! If someone had told me I could sit through three massive days of training and never once feel like I was falling asleep, I would have said impossible. The way you share the information and teach is inspirational. So many laughs and take-away lessons — none more so than how to connect and change the warmth in a room. Inspired to say hello more often.” — Melissa
“David, this weekend in Perth has left a permanent imprint in my heart and mind. I will take 100% responsibility for what I have and what I do not have! Your seminar was so well presented and motivational that I have already started applying the strategies to every aspect of my life and have been dancing my no boogie quite regularly!” — Denise
David Wood, The Kickass Life and Managing Your Thoughts
One of our favourite podcast episodes from David Wood’s The Kickass Life series was his interview with Andrea Owen. She talked about becoming your own biggest fan and becoming a legend in your own mind.
We loved that idea. Get rid of disempowering thoughts. And if the thoughts will not go away, learn to manage them. Take the power away from the gremlins inside your head.
Why This Mindset Shift Matters for Entrepreneurial Kids
David Wood gave excellent teachings about daily life, relationships and business, especially around referral businesses and the power of connecting with people.
In this day and age, referrals are still a powerful way that businesses keep loyal customers. Young people are growing up in a world where networking, connection and communication are part of everyday life through sport, school, community and multimedia.
But the bigger lesson is not only about business. It is about helping children become brave enough to take responsibility, connect with people, try new things, dream big and recover from rejection.
That is the mindset shift we want for our children.
Key Takeaway: A Mindset Shift Begins With Responsibility
Key takeaway: A real mindset shift begins when we stop blaming, step outside our comfort zone, choose positive reference groups and take responsibility for our results. These are powerful lessons for adults, children and entrepreneurial families.
Where to Next?
- Read the follow-up article on the network marketing business model
- Read how Kit and Chayse built self efficacy through enterprise
- Read about positive self image and entrepreneurial kids
- Visit Raise Entrepreneurial Kids
Have you ever experienced a mindset shift that changed the way you handled fear, responsibility or discomfort? We would love to hear your story in the comments.
