Introduction
Several years ago, Dr. Jennifer Hall and her colleagues at Eckerd College were searching for tool to assess entrepreneurial mindset. Unable to find a satisfactory example, and in a beautifully entrepreneurial fashion, they decided to develop their own. Through a multi-year process, the Entrepreneurial Dimensions Profile was born. The online tool measures 14 traits, motivations and skills associated with and predictive of entrepreneurship. Following the release of EDP, and Dr. Hall's own self-assessment, she struck out on her own to found Mindset Coaching. Dr. Hall is an unusual and exciting triad - a scientist, practitioner, and entrepreneur in one - coaching some of St. Pete's most influential leaders.
Years in St. Pete
24 years.
Organizations involved in
I am the past chair of Leadership St. Pete and was on the planning committee for many years. I’ve been involved charitably with another of different organizations episodically. I was a guardian ad litem for a while, and I’m always involved in my kid’s school. So right now I’m vice president of the PTA.
What gets you out of bed every day?
The dog, the two cats, the kids, and the unwavering certainty that after about an hour, all of the chaos and noise in my house will go away and I’ll get to sit down and start working.
Why St. Pete?
St. Pete is amazing. I was here before the transformation to the vibrant city is now – the arts and restaurants, all of the businesses and the entrepreneurial scene and the murals. There’s just no other place like it. I moved out of St. Pete temporarily to Largo to be close ot the school I wanted my kids to go to. But as soon as they’re done my plan is to move back to St. Pete.
What is one habit that you keep?
My 10 year old son would tell you that I’m not as consistent about it as he would like me to be – but from the time they were little, a friend gave me a book called the Mommy Journal. It’s just an empty journal where you write about your kids and I used to do it every day so I’d remember all of those adorable things they do as babies and toddlers that you immediately forget. Now they’re 10 and 12 and I do it about once a year.
Who are some people that influence you?
People who are thought leaders in my field – very broadly psychology, coaching, leadership. I can point to a number of professors who I’ve thanked individually. One of my favorite professors was Dr. Julian Roder. He wrote a theory called Social Learning Theory and he coined the term Locus of Control, which now is very widely used. He was a huge support to me when I was in grad school and helped me believe that I could do some cool things. I love reading books by Malcolm Gladwell.
What is one piece of insight - a book, methodology, practice - that you would share with our readers?
The Center for Creative Leadership – largely considered the #1 provider of leadership training and research in the world. They have a lot of very good books that are called Insight to Action guidebooks. There is one that outlines a very simple methodology for feedback. The name of the little book is called “Feedback That Works” and it’s a great way for people that are struggling to learn how to give each other actionable, objective feedback to do that.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your work 3 years ago?
I think three years ago is when I went out on my own and that was only after helping to develop the Entrepreneurial Mindset profile. And I took it myself not because I thought the results would have any validity but because we were all trying to figure out what the bugs were so we could fix them. Nonetheless, I answered the questions honestly and I got my results and I found out I was much more entrepreneurial than I ever knew.
What’s next?
I hope more of the same. I just can’t believe how lucky I am that I get paid to do this work. I get to ask bright, talented, successful people what motivates them, what’s meaningful to them, where they want to go and what they want to do, what are their secrets to success, what are their vulnerabilities. And they tell me and they pay me – I just can’t believe I’m so lucky and hopefully creating more products that help me collect data and operate as a scientist/practitioner.
