The city of Earle, Arkansas, made history on December 6th, 2022; they elected the youngest
African American mayor in United States history. Jaylen Smith, 18 years old and a recent high
school graduate, walked the talk when he claimed, “You’re never too young to make a
difference in your community.”
As I read these two articles (one linked), Jaylen’s growth mindset is obvious throughout the
story. First, he embraced the challenge of running for mayor in spite of his young age, lack of
experience and fear of disappointment. Those three factors keep many of us stuck in our
comfort zone. Instead of focusing on all the “what ifs” and “what would others think”, he kept his
focus on how he was going to make a difference in his hometown.
Secondly, and what really impressed me, was the last sentence he said on the linked article. He was asked what he would do if he lost the election? He said, “I’m a strategizer. If things
don’t work out, I go another way”. The second component of Effort focuses on right strategy.
Before you change your goal, change your strategy. Jaylen’s primary goal is to make a
difference in his community. He felt becoming mayor was the best way to make that happen.
But if he lost, there is no doubt in my mind, Jaylen would not stop trying until he found another
way to make a difference in his community.