Stop Making Excuses & Just Do IT

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Growth happens when we become intentional in how we approach it. If you wait for growth to come to you, you’ll never see it come. You must go after it like your future depends on it. Because it does.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves.”

I hope you read my earlier post, Don’t Fall Into The Growth Trap where I introduced the first two “Traps” that leaders fall into during growth. Here are the next four:

Trap no. 3- “There is not enough time in my schedule to focus on growth.”

If you want to reach your true potential and become the leader you were created to be, you have to get intentional. You cannot wait for growth to come your way and just happen. You have to go out of your way and search out growth opportunities. Carve out time in your schedule to allow your mind to create, innovate and expand. I’ve heard it said before that the longer you wait to finish something, the greater the chance that it never gets finished. (I have personally experienced this with projects not getting completed around the house).

Trap no. 4- “What if I make a mistake?”

My answer to you is this; “You will.” You will make mistakes, that’s how we learn. Thomas Edison said that he found 10,000 ways to not make a light bulb. Growth is not easy, it’s messy at times. You must admit that you do not know everything, you don’t always have the answers. Sometimes we look foolish as leaders. In order to grow and lead your people towards growth you have to overcome the fears of making mistakes. Welcome mistakes, they happen everyday. When you realize that you’re making mistakes and try to make changes, it’s proof that you’re in the right direction. The goal is not to just learn from mistakes, but also learn before you make mistakes.

Trap no. 5- “My plan for growth must be perfect before I start.”

I’m talking to the perfectionist here. Start somewhere, and start small. Your first plan will not be perfect, you will have to make edits to it; however the fear of having to make edits to your growth plan should not stunt your growth. Your first draft will most likely not be your final draft.

Trap no. 6- “My friends are growing faster than me.”

You cannot compare yourself to others. Everyone grows at different rates and when you compare yourself to them you actually start to stunt your own growth. But I will say this, you have to seek wisdom from others. There are people who are better leaders than you. Talk with them, share ideas with them, ask them questions. When you hang out with people who are smarter and more skilled than you, they start to rub off on you. This might take you out of your comfort zone a little, but growth is never easy.

Stay tuned for the last segment of “Traps leaders fall into during growth.”

I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on this post and let me know what you think. This blog is part of my growth plan so I would appreciate any feedback.