GROWTH-Make The most out of 2017.

BEFORE YOU READ THE BLOG, PLEASE READ THIS. Before I get to the actual article, I would really just like to share something to whoever is reading this. I have had my blog for months and for a very long I was looking for the “Correctness” of blogging. This would mainly be stuff like, grammar, punctuation, structure and all the technical aspects about Blogging that make the best bloggers the best. I was too focused on these technical things that I did not even end up sharing a single blog, even though I had a ton of articles burning in my heart. I realised that I don’t have 1 million followers, I don’t even own a blog yet, because of this I figured that I don’t really have to pretend like I have 1 million followers. This really became my motivation to share this first article with people. It might not be a million people but I guess that it will have an Impact on whoever will read it. Want I want to say to many people is that, as important as timing is, don’t be like me and only post a blog 3 Years later after having the idea. Just go for it. It’s not always about the achievement, but the journey you go through, makes the achievement meaningful. Enjoy the article.

GROWTH-  Making the most out of 2017

I’m not sharing new/raw content, I’m going to be sharing my thoughts and great points from the Book I’m currently reading. The book is titled, ‘The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth’. The book was written by a man I well respect when it comes to the subject of the Leadership, John C Maxwell.

Chapter 1 of this book is titled, “The Law of Intentionality: Growth does not just happen.”  After reading the first line, I asked myself, “Don’t we just grow because we have been doing it for a while.” The answer to my question was answered in the First line of this chapter:

 

 

 “Do you have a plan for your personal growth?” Curt Kampmeier, the man who asked me the question, waited patiently for my response. It was a question that would change my life.

 

Right after reading this Line I picked a notebook and pen. I told myself that I need to make notes because this book will most probably have lessons I can apply for the next 50 Years and I was right. “We often say that we want to grow as individuals, but the question is, where is the plan for growing?” While reading this question, it felt so personal, because I had a desire to grow but I did not have the plan to grow.

James Allen said, “People are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves, they therefore remain bound.”

When I read this specific quote I thought about my High School life where I constantly had a desire to improve my academic performace, but I never realised that I would have had a different outcome had I improved myself as a learner. I believe that there are many people who have a circumstance they want changed and they can really get a different result if they improve themselves while trying to see the circumstance change.

John Maxwell shared ‘8 gaps’ that hinder many people (hindered me as well) from growing.

1.  The Assumption Gap– “ I Assume that I will automatically grow”

“We don’t improve by being in ‘it’ longer, we improve by being intentional about it.”

This statement answered the question of whether or we get better because we have been doing it for a while.

2. The Knowledge Gap– “I do not know how to grow”

Loretta Staples says, “If you are clear with what you want, the world responds with clarity.”

It’s much better to plan your growth intentionally. You decide where youneed or want to grow, you choose what you will learn, and you follow through with discipline going at the pace you set. As an individual, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Knowing how to grow not only helped me, but it empowered me to encourage others around me to grow in the areas they desired to grow.

3. The Timing Gap– “It’s not the right time to begin”

The law of diminishing intent says, “The longer you wait on something that you should do now, the greater the odds of you actually doing it.”

You will never get much done unless you do it before you are ready. I think I was programmed to desire the ideal situation to start with something I have always wanted to do, but like this blog, sometimes we delay because we are waiting for the perfect time.

4. The Mistake Gap-“I’m Afraid of Making Mistakes.”

The question is simple, “How many things would you attempt if you knew that you won’t fail?” I would have published like 20 Bestselling Books at age 19, but I feared making mistakes I would maybe not be able to turn back from. What do you think, you would have done?

5. The Perfection Gap-“I Have to Find the Best Way Before I Start”

“Sometimes we just have to start to find the best way.” This is the rule I am applying now as I write this blog. I breaking the mindset of, “The perfect start.”

6. The Inspiration Gap—“I Don’t Feel Like Doing It” Inspiration. This I what I grew up wanting every day of my life, I wanted someone who would give me a reason to do what I love every day.

Jerome Bruner observed, “You’re likely to act yourself into felling than to feel yourself into action.”

This quote got me reading for about 3 Hours a day, for weeks, even though every time I started reading, I didn’t feel like it, but I enjoyed the reading because the feeling came later. “When you start reaping the benefits of growing, you will have enough reasons to stay in the growth process.”

7. The Comparison Gap-“Others Are Better Than I Am” This is what I have always feared when it comes to blogging. I personally did not like the fact that many people can impact people far quicker than I can. I learned that, “There will always be people better than me. I have to get used to being uncomfortable.”

8.  The Expectation Gap-“I Thought It Would Be Easier Than This” Jim Rohn said, “You cannot change your destination overnight but you can change your direction overnight.” As a starting blogger there is a place I would like to be but I need to choose the direction that might get me there.

I believe many can relate to some of the gaps shared above, we all face different challenges every day, the question then becomes how do we approach this dilemma of growth?

1. Ask Big Questions in 2017

Try and change the question from, “How long will this growth thing go?” to, “How far can I actually I actually go with growing intentionally?” If you have a desire to improve in a specific thing or maybe you just want to start something new, ask yourself, “What are the different gaps stopping from getting on the Journey to where I want to be.”

2. Do it now in 2017 

Make it your mission this year to learn how to develop urgency. “Later is a dream killer.” Not many people will have magic moments that will give them the ultimate start, so push yourself to do all that you desire now.

3. Face the fear factor 2017

“Face the fear factor by feeding your faith and starving your fears.” The Unknown World is great, it takes great confidence to take it on without being slowed down.

4. Go from accidental to Intentional in 2017 

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.”

I learned that, “We must constantly go out of your way to seize growth opportunity.”

BE INTENTIONAL.

I hope what I shared challenges you the same way it challenged me. May your 2017 be a year of great EXPLOSION