Several of our friends keep koi fish in their outdoor ponds. One friend has a pond surrounding his patio. Because they recognize our friend as the one who feeds them, the koi swim towards him whenever he comes onto his patio.

The fascinating thing about koi is they grow to fit the size of their environment. Keep them in a bowl and they will grow to 3 inches. Place them in a small pond and they will grow to 1.5 feet. In a large lake, they can grow up to 3 feet.

Like koi, our growth potential can be small or large. But unlike Koi, our environment is not forced upon us. We create our environment by the choices we make. When we choose familiarity over challenges, we place ourselves in a small pond.

When we embrace the unknown and open ourselves to challenges, we place ourselves in a large lake.

There was a time when I placed myself in a small pond. In an effort to remain comfortable, I limited my choices. Then I recognized what was happening and let go of that limiting reality. Today, I choose to pursue all that I am capable of becoming.

Over the years, my Personal Growth Plan has guided me in this pursuit. Often it has carried me as far as I could see, only to help me realize I could go farther.

As my growth has continued, I’ve learned the secret to successful growth is the following simple, yet powerful, formula:

VISION + Read + Listen + Observe + Repeat = Growth Success

As you develop your own Personal Growth Plan, include your Vision and actionable strategies:

1. Vision. It begins with your personal Vision for the future. Imagine where you want to be and who you would like to become. As Fred Pryor wrote, “Vision is a process that allows you to think ahead of where you want to be and what you want to be doing, and create a workable plan to lead you there.”
   
   
2. Read. Set a target of how many books you will read each week, month or year. Choose books that help you define your personal Vision.
   
   
3. Listen. Plan how you will surround yourself with successful people and take full advantage of each opportunity. Ask questions and listen to the answers. Seek out coaches. In addition to face-to-face encounters, you may find information in webinars and books on tape.
   
   
4. Observe. Watch how successful people behave and try their strategies in your own life. One way of doing this is to attend strategic seminars and workshops.
   
   
5. Repeat daily. Remember that your growth journey never ends. Keep working on all of the growth areas. As coach John Wooden says, “Success comes from knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

Action Plan:

1. Write down your personal Vision. Questions such as these will be helpful:

• What are my passions?
• At the end of my life, what would I like to have been known for?
• What 3 to 5 things would I like others to say I do well?

2. Based on your Vision, develop 4 to 6 growth strategies for each of the following:

• Read
• Listen
• Observe
• Repeat the process (How often and to whom will you be accountable?)

It starts with you. You've got this!

Your friends,
UpCloseTeam