Growth: Reach For the Sky

When it comes to growth and personal development John Maxwell is one of my favorite authors.  Much of what is in this blog post about growth comes from his teachings.

As a personal growth coach I have observed how a client’s focus and commitment to personal growth can take his business to higher levels.  One of the big challenges for the self-employed business owner, entrepreneur, solo professional or an individual is to experience continued growth.

How Large Is Your Growth Environment?

Just as the growth of tropical fish is limited by the size of the aquarium in which they live, you are affected by your environment.  That’s why it’s crucial to create an environment of growth around you.  Here are some thoughts on what that environment should look like.

Growth Environment Attributes

1. When you surround yourself with people from whom you can learn, you are more likely to grow.
2. You are still challenged:  Complacency kills growth
3. Your focus is forward:  If you’re thinking more about the past than the future, your growth has probably stopped.
4. The atmosphere is affirming:  Industrialist Charles Schwab said, “I have yet to find the man…who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.”

Let me add something here.  In running a small business or starting your own business an affirming atmosphere is critical.  Too often the self-employed business owner can allow themselves to become consumed by challenges and forget to affirm others.  When that happens, others lose the motivation to lift him and his business up to greater success.

Some More Growth Environment Attributes

1. You are out of your comfort zone:  Growth requires risk.  Ronal E. Osborne stated, “Unless you do something beyond what you’ve already mastered, you will never grow.”
2. Others are growing:  When it comes to growth, it’s better to swim in a school than to try to do everything on your own.
3. There is a willingness to change:  Clayton G. Orcutt declared, “Change itself is not progress, but change is the price that we pay for progress.”
4. Growth is modeled and expected:  In the best possible environment, growth is not only allowed, but leaders model it and expect it from everyone.  And when that happens, everyone’s potential is off the charts.

Probably one of the biggest challenges for the self-employed business owner is to continue to model growth.  Growth builds anticipation, excitement and a positive track to run on for not only the owner but his employees and customers.

If you are truly interested in improvement then you must be committed to growth.  Remember that whether you are seeking greater happiness, satisfaction, a larger business, more money or better relationships that the level you have these at will seldom exceed your personal growth.