Growth: An Important Priority

As we are just a few weeks away from the end of the first quarter of 2026, I have several things that are top of mind for me. However, one word has been resonating with me for weeks, and I cannot seem to let it go. The word I am referring to is growth. While we live in a society that likes to discuss growth, the reality is that most people have not really dedicated their lives to growth. If 2026 is going to be the greatest year of your life, it will not be because of hope, ambition, or even mantras. This year will only be different if you make growth a priority in your life. I hope these insights will help you make adjustments to your life and maximize your potential.

1. You cannot afford to see growth as optional. As someone who consults and advises leaders around the world, the reality is that very few people are really interested in growth. They talk growth, and they may even aspire to growth. However, you will be amazed at the number of people who never pursue growth in their lives. They do not pursue growth in their lives because they do not really value it. Some people have had the same goals for decades, and they have not made any progress. Why is that? They have made growth optional. When you make growth optional, you increase the distance between you and the life you have been born to live. More importantly, when you make growth optional, you send a strong signal that you do not take it seriously. You value your comfort more than you value changing your life. Regardless of the excuse, when you make growth optional, you engineer cycles of regret in your life. When you make growth optional, it proves that you are not committed to your development, and you do not honor your potential. Growth is only optional to the person who has chosen to settle.

2. The opposite of growth is not neutrality. If you are anything like me, then you grew up in an era where people celebrated that they were no longer living in the past. At the same time, they celebrated the fact that they were not yet where they wanted to be. While it sounded good, the reality is that they were going nowhere and they were not making any progress in their lives. While I may seem harsh, I want you to understand that the opposite of growth is not neutrality. No, the opposite of growth is stagnation. Many of you reading this can relate to what I just said. You feel like you have been on a treadmill for years, going nowhere. Instead of making adjustments, you have continued on the same trajectory, and it has produced a life of frustration. Stagnation includes a lack of passion, a lack of persistence, and a lack of progress. It's a life with no vision, no action, and no manifestation. I am not saying that we do not encounter challenges and contradictions in life. However, I am saying that many people are content with a lack of results and lack of progress in their lives. Stagnation cripples your progress and will ultimately cost you your potential. It is too expensive to settle for a life with no expansion, no development, and no depth.

3. Growth must be prioritized. We just established that the opposite of growth is stagnation. Therefore, it is vitally important that you prioritize growth in your life. When I advise clients and develop leaders around the world, one of the things that I constantly remind them of is that nobody else is responsible for their growth. Ultimately, you have to put a higher premium on your growth and development than on your comfort and convenience. If you are unsettled by the idea of being uncomfortable, then you will never upgrade your life. To prioritize your growth, you must be intentional about eliminating distractions, strengthening your focus, stretching your capacity, challenging your assumptions, and pushing the boundaries of your potential. It is only when we prioritize our growth that we propel our lives to new heights. When growth is prioritized, transformation becomes inevitable.

4. Growth requires a plan. For years, I have had leaders from all walks of life seek me out for mentorship and guidance in their personal and professional lives. Many people are interested in learning the keys and principles that have shaped my success. When I do give select individuals access, I am intrigued by how many people do not understand the value of access. More importantly, I have learned that so few people are truly committed to success. One of the questions I often ask my mentees and proteges is: What is your growth plan? Just like many of you reading this, they look at me with a look of confusion and bewilderment. While most people have no clue what I am talking about, I explain to them how I have had a growth plan for decades. Most people have a plan for their health. Others may have a plan for their nutrition. Moreover, some people have a plan for their finances. Some people even have a plan for their business. However, I have met very few people with a growth plan. A growth plan is more than just being excited about your growth or even having some ideas about your growth. A growth plan has clear strategies, well-defined tactics, and proven systems that yield consistent results in your life. In other words, it is having a clear blueprint and playbook to build you for the life that you have been born for. If you do not have a plan for your growth, then I will say that you are not truly growing. A growth plan is a transformational tool that empowers you to evolve and become the greatest expression of who you were created to be. I would not be the person that I am today or doing the things that I am doing without having a growth plan.