29 Dec 2016 · 5 min
Brent Kelly argues that hoping for improvement won't work without an actual strategy. He breaks down growth gaps in character, communication, sales, and leadership, then walks through how to identify and close them using John Maxwell's framework.
You know, I really hope this next year brings me prosperity. I really hope that I grow my business. I really hope that I build some great relationships this year. In today's biz growl, I'm going to talk about although why hope is great for your mental state. It's not a strategy. Hi there, this is Brent Kelly of Biz Griz. You know, one of my favorite quotes is from James Allen in As a Man Thinketh. He says people are anxious to improve their circumstances but unwilling to change themselves. Therefore, they remain bound. Well, it's hard to believe that a brand new year is only a couple days away. Now, whether you had a great 2016 or you can't wait to wave it goodbye, 2017 is staring you right in the face. Now, a new year is often filled with hope. It's like, you know, someone taking a messy canvas, right? Whether you like what's on the canvas or not, it's messy, right? It's been a lot of things have happened in the last year and you get to exchange it with a brand new, fresh, clean canvas. So the question I ask you is what will you do with this brand new canvas? Now, as I said in the open is having high hopes. It's essential for a mental state, but it is definitely not a business or life strategy. So how are you going to make this year better than you had in 2016? What are you going to do to become better yourself? How will you improve and where do you even start? Over the past several years, I've started to focus on myself. Less on just the goals and more on growth. Now I've realized that goals are important. I love goals, but goals don't guarantee your ongoing growth and development. However, I have realized that by focusing on my growth, I would continue to improve. And I've almost always hit my goals when I focus on growth in that process. So this year I challenge and urge you to focus on on the goal of growth. Growth is the process of taking you from where you are to where you wish to be. Now, growth can occur in many areas of your life and only you can define where you need to grow in your life and in your business to get the results that you want. The goal of growth can often seem frustrating though, because the goal of growth, this isn't a one time event. You don't just show up, you don't pay some money, you collect your growth certificate. Growth is a lifelong pursuit. And in today's microwave world, growth is like a crock pot. The goal of growth will challenge you. But let me be clear. It will also change you. Let me say that again. The goal of growth. It will challenge you, but it will also change you. So where do you need to grow this year and beyond and what is standing in your way? Do you need to grow in character, communications, sales skills, leadership, or something else? Only you can decide your true growth needs, but just hoping things will change will only cause you disappointment. You need to be intentional. Now, I know in my life I often desire change, but I've been sometimes unwilling to do the hard work necessary to find the specific changes and then take action on those changes. I've been guilty many times myself of shoulda, woulda, coulda, right? However, I've realized that when I become intentional, very intentional about identifying and focusing on my growth gaps right where I've got that gap between where I am and where I want to be, real progress has occurred. My personal growth mentor, John Maxwell, he says it really well. He says this. He's if you want to reach your potential and become the person you were created to be, you must do much more than just experience life and hope that you learn what you need along the way. You must go out of your way to seize growth opportunities as if your future depended on it. Why? Well, because it does. Growth doesn't just happen. Not for me, not for you, not for anybody. You got to go after it. So here's my question to you. What are you willing to really go after in terms of growth in this next year? Thanks for taking some time to listen to today's biz growl. You can find all of my biz growls in written in audio form at my website, brentmkelly.com now remember, go out and face your grizzly.
