A few random thoughts on growth, prompted by some observations of myself, friends, and coaching clients.
Boredom is good. It means that you’ve reached a new level. Staying bored is really bad, because it means that you aren’t moving on to the next thing. So enjoy it for a moment, and then make sure you don’t feel it for a while.
People generally grow in one area at once. If you’re trying to make too much progress in too many areas, you’re risking none of them succeeding. If you focus on one thing, track it, and course-correct, it will probably work eventually . You can maintain or slowly improve others.
Results don’t always come at the same time as process. So sometimes you work on all the right things, see metrics improving, but the results still aren’t there. That’s okay, it’s still growth. Sometimes the opposite happens and results all come at once, thanks to work you’ve put in in the past.
For example, if you’re working on storytelling, empathy, hitting the gym, and getting out there and talking to girls, it may still take a long time before you actually meet someone and find a great girlfriend. Or if you’re improving your work habits it may take a while for you to find the right application.
The point of growth isn’t that you’re not good enough, it’s that growth is the process of engaging with life. There’s no conflict between being happy with who you are and enjoying the moment and trying to become even better.
If you aren’t trying to grow, then you’ve either lost your ambition or you’re arrogant enough to think you can’t get better.
Growth on its own is good because you learn about yourself and your process for self-improvement. Growth applied towards something you actually care about is a whole lot better. Make sure you’re choosing your targets, not society or someone else.
Coasting is very easy, as is doing what your peers do. Surround yourself with other people who focus on growth. As time passes you won’t look with envy upon those who didn’t focus on it. With the right group of friends, growth becomes almost automatic because it’s hard to stagnate when no one else you know is.
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Photo is some nice tea I bought here in Chengdu, China. I’m traveling here with my girlfriend for another few days. Cool city!
Sorry this one is a little short. The other posts I have in mind are long and ambitious and I’ve had a lot of work to fit in while traveling.
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