Episode #172 Building Math Confidence for Better Career Options with Ben Orlin

Flourish Coaching

Apr 29, 2025

In this episode, Lisa and Ben discuss:

The impact of math confidence and mindset on educational and career paths
How math anxiety can steer students away from valuable opportunities
The importance of data literacy and real-world applications of math
Strategies for building confidence and persistence in learning math

Key Takeaways:

Developing math confidence hinges more on persistence, curiosity, and the ability to ask questions than on natural speed or accuracy, enabling students to thrive across diverse fields beyond traditional STEM.
Concepts like calculus, though often abstract in the classroom, are deeply tied to real-world thinking in areas like economics and business, where understanding small changes leads to big insights.
Recognizing the range of math intensity required across different careers—from basic data literacy to complex statistical modeling—helps students avoid limiting their options due to unnecessary fear or avoidance.
Students who shift their mindset from avoiding difficulty to embracing challenge build essential problem-solving and resilience skills that serve not only in academics but throughout their careers and lives.

“To be able to look at something that you’re struggling with and say, ‘I am struggling with this, and I know that, and I’m not going to stop until I get it.’ It can be a hard mindset switch to make, but it’s sort of an all-powerful one.” – Ben Orlin

About Ben Orlin:

Ben Orlin loves math and cannot draw. He is the author of four badly drawn books, including Math with Bad Drawings, which has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. He has taught middle school, high school, and college math. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, their two daughters, and his lifelong fervor for desserts.

Episode References:

#119 How to Change Your College Major Successfully with Kaci Kortis: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/119
#027 Differences between Engineering & Engineering Technology Majors & Jobs: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/027
Download a Sample Birkman Report: https://flourishcoachingco.com/birkman
Change Is the Only Constant: https://www.amazon.com/Change-Only-Constant-Wisdom-Calculus/dp/0316509086
Math for English Majors: https://www.amazon.com/Math-English-Majors-Universal-Language/dp/0762499818

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career…(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

flourishcoachingco.com/video