A fixed pie mindset is toxic. People who believe that life is a zero sum game are prone to cut others down believing its in their own best interest. This is why students sabotage other’s experiments and give them wrong answers on tests. If Johnny gets a C and I get an A, then I look better.
It’s easy to see how this can go south quickly.
On the other hand, people who believe they can expand the pie make the world a better place. One can only expand the pie by making the situation better for everyone. This requires creativity and generosity. Instead of sabotaging someone’s experiment, you could walk around and assist struggling students. When everyone gets better, the pie gets bigger.
So which mindset do you believe in? Do you need to make someone lose in order to feel like you’ve won? Or are you happy with creating a rising tide to lift all the boats?