In December, we began our discussion on One Word.  A word that you could use to define your actions in everything you do.  Each month we will write about another word that you could pick to help provide a change in your business or personal culture.

When defined the word alone stirs the imagination – The power of minds to be about, to represent, or to stand for, things, properties and states of affairs

Growth and Intentionality

So what is your plan for Personal and Professional Growth?  Can you grow Professionally if you are not growing Personally?  Do you have a plan to be better?  How do you get better at what you do?  How do you gain insight?  overcome obstacles? work harder? work longer or just wait for things to get better.

it all starts with an Assumption.  When we are small children, our bodies grow as does our mind – it is a natural progression, an automatic pilot.  We just expect each year that we will be bigger gain coordination, and grow our knowledge – we simply just get better.  The problem is that we don’t improve just because we grow, we have to be intentional about it.

“A time comes… when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be” – Bruce Springsteen.

Making my own interpretation on Bruce Springsteen’s quote is easy.  No one improves by accident – so personal growth does not insure we are improving till we take full control of our path.  For example at some point we decide what we want to be when we grow up, we choose a vocation and then go to college to improve/grow in that vocation.  Nobody does it for you – you must be intentional with your desired growth!

We decide to go to college because we hit a point in our growth that stunted us which we define as the Knowledge Gap.  This is where you ask for the first time, “Do I have a growth plan”, you start asking everyone you know what they are going to do and if they have a plan.  The result typically is that they are at the same point as you are, so where do you turn other than just good old hard work?  The school of hard knocks?  Difficult experiences certainly allow us to grow but not at the rate we are capable if we put a life plan or business plan together.  So when is the right time to begin?

I heard a riddle and think it is relevant – there are five frogs on a log, four of them jump off.  How many are left?

I bet you answered one!  The answer is five – there is a difference between deciding and doing!

Think of today’s world if people had done what they intended to do.  Most are just not equipped to act as quickly on things for a variety of things.  The find themselves victims of diminishing intent.  The law of diminishing intent says “The longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it.” 

So are you starting to get the hint?  If you don’t plan or find methods to grow with a plan, you will stunt your growth and no longer be intentional.  You have to start somewhere and not be afraid of making mistakes, after all we grow in difficult situations and most likely don’t make the same mistake (or at least as severe as our first encounter).  Don’t fall into the trap of motivation either – it is a trap, just do it!

The next part we find ourselves embroiled in is comparing ourselves to others (personally and professionally).  This is easily cured.  Find leaders that are above your current growth, don’t be intimidated by them as they were once in your shoes.  Learn from them by listening and watching their actions.  The best place to do this is to be part of a Peer Group.

So finally we get to delivering on expectations.  Every year we make a New Years resolution that we know we won’t keep.  Why is that?  Because we don’t have a plan, we are not intentional – so pick one word that can help you define you and move you to grow by inserting it in your everyday walk. re evaluate that word and choose a new one to grow with every year.

“You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can changer your direction overnight” Jim Rohn

It all starts with preparation, add a little attitude, sprinkle a little opportunity, execution and you have INTENTIONALITY!

Ready to make the transition to intentional growth?  If so here are a few steps

1. Ask the big question now

• Where do you want to go in life?
• What direction to you want to go?
• What’s the furthest your imagination will let you go?

2. Do It now!  Yeah there is risk, but learn and grow from it!

3. Face the Fear Ahead

• Failure
• Trading Security for Unknown
• Overextended Financially
• What others will say or think
• Success will alienate peers or friends

Which fear impacts you, personally I have experience each one along my growth path – but failure and risk are great lessons and should be viewed as such.

4. Change from Accidental to Intentional

Accidental	Intentional
Plan to start tomorrow	Start Today
Wait for Growth	Take Responsibility to Grow
Depends on Luck	Relies on Hard Work
Relies on Talent	Relies on Character
Plays it Safe	Takes Risk
Talks Big	Follows Through
Falls into Bad Habits	Fights for Good Habits
Quits Early and Often	Perservers Constantly
Victim	Learner
Stunts Growth	Never Stops Growing

 

If you want to reach your potential, you must do much more than  just experience life and hope you learn along the way.  You must go out of your way and size the opportunity to grow – Your future depends on it.

This thought process of personal growth will help you become a better person, gain wisdom and potentially a good/great leader.

Life is now in session – Be INTENTIONAL