A Bulletproof Mindset: BTS’ Blood, Sweat, and Tears to Success
“The Billboard Music Award goes to BTS!” But wait, who even is BTS? Who even are those asian guys that beat out Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande? Unless you have been living under a rock, BTS has taken the world by storm. BTS is a South Korean pop group also called the Bangtan Boys, meaning “Bulletproof Boy Scouts.” The septet was formed in Seoul, South Korea, under the entertainment label Big Hit Entertainment in 2013. With success in the music industry being so unstable but rewarding, many try a hand at making it big but seem to fall short. Thus giving the notion that success is hit or miss, however with enough connections, the hard work of getting your name out there can be avoided. Well, BTS did not have that luxury. Just as many of the examples Carol Dweck uses in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, BTS faced the fixed mindset, whether it be already present or something forced onto them, but changed that mindset to help grow into the global phenomenon they are today. After learning about these perspectives, it becomes apparent that ones mindset has the capability to develop over time, BTS being an exemplary example of such.
Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, introduces the idea of two mindsets. This is the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Dweck brings up the idea that these mindsets can have an extreme impact as it’s “… a belief that your qualities are carved in stone leads to a host of thoughts and actions, and how a belief that your qualities can be cultivated leads to a host of different thoughts and actions.” The fixed mindset focuses on the idea that from day one, the abilities you have can never be changed. Emphasizing the belief that there is no reason to try if one can not change what they know and what they can achieve because one’s qualities are “carved in stone.” This mindset shys away from challenge and sees “failure is about having a setback.” In the eyes of someone who thinks this way, achievement and a favorable outcome must be immediate in order for that person to be successful. Anything other than the result they want means they are not good enough and will never be. Thus leading to this mindset to stray away from challenges in fear of being perceived as unintelligent or lacking. Growth mindset narrates that your abilities can be changed and instead of avoiding challenge, they thrive off of it. The growth mindset sees failure as “…not fulfilling your potential.” In other words, this mindset does not see lack of success in a negative connotation, instead this is an opportunity to better themselves and learn from their mistakes. Dweck argues that the growth mindset is a key to success and that a fixed mindset can and must be changed to a growth mindset. Highlighting the idea that learning from failures and conquering obstacles is why the growth mindset is extremely valuable. Without all of the hurdles and barriers BTS had to face to develop their mindsets, they most certainly would not have become the worldwide sensation they are today.
While BTS debuted in 2013, the group formation began in 2010, with the final lineup being the seven members still together today: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jeongguk. The Korean music industry’s structure and ideals are a completely different world compared to what we see in America. Individuals audition for entertainment companies or are scouted off the streets to become trainees, hoping to become part of the next debuting group. Entertainment companies then take trainees and teach them to dance, sing, and or rap. Different individuals have differing amounts of time as a trainee that could range from a few months to a few years. In other words, entertainment labels are basically incubators of talented trainees that the company can pick and choose from regardless of how long you have been at the company. Entertainment companies also play a large role in the success of an idol. The larger and more well known your company is, the easier it is to have immediate exposure, success, and a growing fanbase. However, BTS did not have this luxury as their entertainment label Big Hit was small and on the verge of bankruptcy. This meant that marketing and getting BTS to even be on broadcasts was a struggle in itself.
The concept of the septet was hip-hop focused music that addressed social issues, while still having the label as idols. However, this was a confusing concept to many as rappers accused BTS of potentially choosing to be idols instead of fully committing to hip-hop despite members RM and Suga having a background in underground rapping. Alluding to the idea that they only care about success and fame that comes easier compared to being rapper. The boys continued to face criticism for their concept, often getting the short end of the stick such as being cut from television appearances and being told that their concept would not sell as their debut album only sold a couple thousand. Although BTS in this situation do not necessarily have a fixed mindset, it can be seen in the society around them enforcing the idea that success with never be in their future.
An example Dweck uses in the book that parallels BTS’ experience was Joseph P. Kennedy telling Morton Downey Jr. that he does not “stand out in a way that people will ever admire you.” Instead of being told that there was room to grow, Downey was told he would never be successful in anyone’s eyes. In BTS’s and Downey’s situation, both are an example of how there was the potential of the fixed mindset being forced upon them as they were both told they would never make it as they are. “The fixed mindset says yes. You can simply measure the fixed ability right now and project it into the future,” an idea deeply evident in those who did not believe in BTS’ possible budding career. Had BTS or Downey choose to listen to these people, they would have not made it as big and as far into their career as they have.
Another example that parallels BTS’s early career is artist Paul Cezanne. Cezanne was known for being an amazing artist but Dweck found that his early paintings were not up to par with his more recent work. She observed that they were “amateurishly painted.” Yet Cezanne still became a well known artist which brings up Dweck’s point that “it takes time for potential to flower.” In other words, Dweck is pointing out that judgement can not be made from the very beginning because they have possibly yet to reach their full potential. Comparing BTS’ album sales from 2013 to 2019, it can be seen that the difference is substantial. Their debut album 2 Cool 4 Skool sold only a couple thousand while their most recent, Map of the Soul: Persona sold over three million copies. Just as Cezanne, their early work was not as successful but over time, their work evolved and helped them become what they are known for today. BTS marked many firsts in the Korean music industry over the course of six years, such as a Grammy nomination, a stadium tour, and albums that top the Billboard charts. It is clear that avoiding the fixed mindset of those around them and having the growth mindset about their potential to continue, contributed to their success. For that reason, BTS is a prime example of why mindsets can and must be changed.
On top of that, being an idol group meant that BTS was subject to scrutiny over their appearance. The idea of being a korean idol comes with the idea of fitting a certain beauty standard. With plastic surgery being commonplace in Korea, it is no secret that beauty plays an important role in their society. Idols are especially held to that standard and are often judged for it if they are not. Wanting to be part of hip-hop and not quite fitting the image of an idol, BTS did not know where they fit into the industry. With BTS’ early career focusing on hip-hop, they did not necessarily look like an idol. Loading up on three dollar chains, black clothing, and dark eyeliner, the boys were often criticized for their physical appearance and were even ranked by attractiveness. Dweck talks about the negatives of labeling and how “…Stereotypes do damage by making people feel that they don’t belong.” In other words, she highlights the point of how labeling can have detrimental effects on those being put into categories. With the idea that physical attractiveness came before actual singing, rapping, or dancing ability, this took a toll on some of the boys, creating a struggle for self acceptance.
While the septet went through pains of dieting and constant exercising, members such as J-Hope, RM, and Jimin were heavily criticized for being unattractive. Specifically, Jimin had dealt with an eating disorder to try and lose weight to try and become more attractive to others. He thought that no matter what he did, he would still remain unattractive. RM also truly struggled to learn to accept himself. In this situation, the idea that idols should be perfectly sculpted attractive human beings group them into a stereotype that not everyone can meet and can give people, such as Jimin, the idea that he was inferior to his fellow members. Jimin in many ways showed a fixed mindset towards his self perception and the negatives that come with labeling. BTS took negatives toward their appearance and turned it into a positive by using the theme “Love Yourself” in their album trilogy and in their campaign with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called “Love Myself” to end violence towards teens and children all around the world. Encouraging others to love and accept themselves, BTS also had to learn too. With RM giving a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he stated “I have many faults and I have many fears, but I am going to embrace myself as hard as I can, and I’m starting to love myself, little by little.”
Since the growth mindset can be applied to many perspectives, this situation shows us how BTS was able to not only learn self-acceptance even though they did not originally fit the idol image, but to teach others the growth mindset as well. This development brings up Dweck’s argument that “When people are in the growth mindset, the stereotype doesn’t disrupt their performance. The growth mindset takes the teeth out of stereotypes and makes people better able to fight back.” Simply put, Dweck is expressing that people with the growth mindset take negativity and use it against people, which is exactly what BTS did. Even with disapproval left and right, BTS was still able to take negative criticism and turn that into something positive that they advocate for.
Another huge label placed on idols is their abilities as an idol; singing, dancing, and rapping. The boys also received much criticism towards their abilities since they came from different experience levels. Jin had absolutely no experience in singing or dancing since he was scouted off the street, compared to J-Hope who was formerly in a dance group. Illustrating a similar experience was Patricia Miranda. Miranda was a “chubby, unathletic high school kid who wanted to wrestle” who was told she was not good at wrestling after losing badly. After the death of her mother, she realized that she had never done anything challenging in her life but was now ready to give wrestling another try. Miranda then made it onto the olympic team and took home a bronze medal.
In many ways this situation is similar to BTS’ because their early skills were seen as subpar, especially members such as Jin and RM who had absolutely no background in dancing and were not seen as being on the same skill level as the other members. But the members never gave up and continued to practice dancing no matter what people had to say about their skills. Both Miranda and BTS were told that they were unsatisfactory but knew that their skills would get better over time, the basic belief of the growth mindset. Yet, even with all the criticism, the boys have become known for their difficult choreography and exceptional stage performance. These two examples demonstrate how a fixed mindset can lead to avoiding challenge, negative self-perception, and how one can change their mindset if they put in the effort to. Thus further emphasizing Dweck’s argument that the fixed mindset should be changed to a growth mindset. Just as BTS shows, hard work and dedication can help change your perspective of not only yourself, but others as well.
With all this talk of mindsets and which one people are, some may question whether or not you can be both, identify as both, or even want to change your mindset. Although Dweck’s explanations in the book split the two down the middle and explains them as more either or, she does acknowledge people can have different mindsets at the same time, or in different areas. Dweck stated “I might think my artistic skills are fixed but that my intelligence can be developed,” bringing attention to the idea that mindsets can be interchangeable for different people and their priorities. This can also be seen in BTS themselves. While they do have a growth mindset in terms of their upward battle to success, members still fear failure, which was noted as a fixed mindset trait. However, the boys still continue doing what they love and are constantly trying to better themselves and their music which is a growth mindset trait. People are complicated in a way that can not be defined by just two mindsets and which person has which mindset. Everyone has different qualities but that does not mean they are all people with fixed mindsets or growth mindsets. While Dweck does give the fixed mindset a more negative connotation, no individual is the same in the sense that two people with a fixed mindset can still think and act differently; the same can be said for a growth mindset. Whether or not one wants to change their mindset is completely up to them, Dweck just wants to emphasize the realities that these mindsets can create. She acknowledges the comfort one can feel with the fixed mindset but wants the reader to know the disadvantages of having one such as “undermining your talent” when it comes to challenges, but states that the growth mindset is just a boost to help evolve your skills.
The concept of a mindset that changes one’s perspectives and thoughts to help overcome barriers and hardships is definitely one many should adopt as Carol Dweck argues. With a growth mindset, BTS were able to take their hardships and turn it into something that fueled their motivation in their uphill battle to success. Without their hardships, trials, and tribulations, I do not think they would be the same people they are today. They are paving the way for many other Korean artists for global expansion and promoting their own culture as well. Spreading awareness and bringing together people with the music, the septet have grown and developed into the group fans know, love, and support. While BTS have the numbers to show, the real success comes from the genuine and sincere connection with their supporters. Whether you hate them or love them, thanks to the growth mindset, BTS is making their mark on the world and are here to stay.
