Gap vs. Gain Mindset

The end of the competitive season presents an incredible opportunity to introduce our athletes to the concept of Gap vs. Gain mindsets, which are detailed in the book “Gap vs. Gain” by Dan Sullivan. Our athletes have accomplished so much over the course of the competitive season. They have succeeded, struggled, cried, laughed, fallen, stuck landings and learned so much along the way. Oftentimes, we hear from our athletes about the things they still need to achieve, the places they want to be or the things they haven’t quite mastered yet. They are slow to give themselves credit for their resilience, their strength and their endurance.  Teaching them about Gap vs. Gain offers an opportunity to evaluate their current mindset. Are they living in the Gap, or the Gain?

Gap mindset is the idea that you should be further along than you are. It is the mindset that looks at where you want to be vs. where you currently are. It strictly measures the distance in between with no acknowledgement of the progress already made. There is a lot of scarcity in this mindset, and a common cue that an athlete is in the mindset is their repetition of phrases like “I should” or “not enough”. This mindset does not give athletes credit for the progress they have made nor does it set them up for a path going forward to get what they want. We use the analogy of being stuck in a big hole in the ground. You can see where it is you want to be, but the challenge of climbing out seems so great that it is hard to take action.

Gain mindset measures backwards, and it gives the athlete credit for how much they have accomplished while acknowledging where they want to end up. This mindset provides evidence that the athlete is both capable and has a proven track record of progress. The analogy we use for this is climbing a mountain. You can look back and see the distance you traveled. Because you see that distance, you can be confident that you have good odds of getting to the top of the mountain. Athletes who are able to stay in the Gain mindset are competing against themselves instead of comparing themselves to others. They are giving themselves credit for their progress and using that as a foundation for believing they are capable of moving forward. 

Teaching our athletes the difference between the two mindsets helps them develop awareness of which mindset they want to be living from. We use questions to help them reflect on how far they have come and the ways they have grown throughout the year. We may ask them, for example, to think back to the day they got their very first kip or cartwheel. By going back to that pivotal  moment in time, they remember the emotion of wanting what is now such a simple skill to them. They get to see a longer view of the path they have traveled. They are reminded that their accomplishments go back years and that they have put in a great deal of effort. Reflecting on that progress provides a renewed perspective on their ability to achieve their goals now. They have proof that they are capable. They have a record of resilience. They can see that they have made great gains. And, when we take a moment to truly honor how far they have come, we remind them how they have grown as competitors and as people. We step together into the Gain mindset because we agree it is a kinder and more effective way to achieve our goals.