When Tosh Lupoi speaks about something he believes in, his words ooze with passion and inspiration, and Cal's first-year Travers Family Head Football Coach is quite convincing.

You won't see the self-described man of action coming up with a bunch of different slogans to plaster on T-shirts and posters, but Lupoi believes deeply in the words and phrases he does associate with.

Of course, there are the three main pillars that Lupoi has brought to the Cal football program - Relentless Effort, Ball Excellence and Power of Unit. Those non-negotiables were painted on the wall outside the main entrance to the Cal football offices within a few days of Lupoi's arrival last December and are prevalent throughout the team's facilities. Lupoi can elaborate in depth on each pillar without the assistance of notes or a PowerPoint presentation because "they are entrenched in my soul."

Another phrase you will hear often from Lupoi is "growth mindset."

"It really is a lifestyle," Lupoi said. "The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset, where you already have your opinion established, no matter what is right. But with a growth mindset, you are constantly asking questions and looking for answers. It's about approaching every day with the intent to improve and learn. It's something I try to live my life by and demand out of everybody in the organization."

Indeed, Lupoi sets the example for his colleagues with his own growth mindset. Despite an impressive resume that includes the development of 18 first-round NFL Draft picks and being a part of coaching staffs that have won two national championships and five conference titles, Lupoi believes he can always get better.

"I don't approach things like I've arrived or that I know everything because I certainly don't," Lupoi explained. "That is something truly exciting about this profession. It is a profession you can get better at every day of your life if you try. There is always more to learn. You can always strengthen what you know and be curious about what you don't."

Cal players have certainly embraced Lupoi's approach and are applying it to their own lives.

"Growth mindset is being willing to push past your comfort zone," senior wide receiver Jordan King said. "In order to get better at something, you have to be willing to go through failures, trials and tribulations. People will judge you, and there will be days when quitting seems like the rational choice, but sticking to the process and taking things day by day will allow you to embrace the failures and gradually start to improve yourself in whatever way you desire."

"The growth mindset is about never staying the same and always wanting to improve," added sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. "I have applied it specifically to the film room, where I am always looking for things to work on."

For Lupoi, there are other applications for the growth mindset beyond football.

"I don't only apply it to football," the husband and father of three said. "I also apply it to being an improved husband and a better father, or even in areas such as financial literacy. When you approach everything with a growth mindset, you improve in all of those areas and you are going to better your life."