Growth

Growth (Definition)

Growth is the process by which an actor (a person or a group) experiences an increase in desirable outcomes or a reduction in undesirable ones, leading to an improvement in their overall well-being.

Thus, growth involves either of two things:

  1. Getting more of what you like as in more happiness, better relationships, becoming better at your job, more peace-of-mind, and so forth.

  2. Moving away from things you dislike as in reducing stress, reducing sleep problems, reducing the impacts of heath issues, and so on.

Growth can involves an individual or any group: family, team, company, government, and so on.

Growth for company can involve desirable outcomes: better culture, more customers, better employees, better profitability, high stock price, and so on. Or, it can involve reducing undesirable outcomes: fewer complaints, lower costs, fewer returns, fewer negative reviews, less waste and such.

Growth is subjective because what matters the most will vary with the actor (person or group) who desires growth.

A synonym for growth is improvement.

Summary: Growth (improvement) is when an actor gets more of what they want.

Analysis (What Can Be Improved)

Here are some things that can be improved.

  1. Performance: An actor can become better at a worthwhile activity.

  2. Knowledge. An actor can improve their knowledge.

  3. Product. Products can be improved. A product is a good or a service, typically provided by a for-profit or a non-profit organization.

    1. Good: A good is something that can be owned.
    2. Service: A service is something that one actor does for another.

  4. Method/Process: A method is a set of actions that lead to a set of desirable outcomes. Methods can be improved.

  5. Dimension: Growth can focus on multiple areas of human performance:

    1. Emotional:
    2. Physical:
    3. Cognitive:
    4. Social:

Growth (Rationale)

Here are some reasons why growth is worthwhile.

  1. Growth gives an actor (person or group) more of what they most want. You increase your well being.

  2. Satisfaction.

  3. Growth promotes optimism. You know you can always improve.

  4. Better results. Less drawbacks. More rewards.

  5. Challenging and enjoyable to figure out how to grow; it is intellectually stimulating.

  6. Drives up collaboration.

Growth (When and Where)

Anyone, whether an individual or a group, can pursue growth at any time and in any context. That is, the possibility of growth applies in general to all individuals and all groups.

Challenges

Growth is uncommon so it is hard to find examples of people and groups who are good at growth.

Most cultures do not engage in purposeful growth. So if you do, you will not fit in with most groups. You may get a great deal of opposition, disrespect, and push-back.

Growth is slow (small steps) on a day to day basis. Thus, it is hard to see the benefits. What I do is look back at my writing and I can see the benefits.

How to Grow

Here is a summary.

  1. Beliefs: Believe that people can figure out how to improve. Recognize that there are not upper limits to things that can be grown. Overall, believe in human potential.

  2. Goal State: Describe the best conditions than can exist in the future given your context (surrounding circumstances).

  3. Effective Learning and Doing and Living: To reach the goal state, figure out what you need to learn and do. Break both down into small subgoals. Progressively reach subgoals. Take time to enjoy life, to rest, and to keep yourself healthy.

  4. Reflective Practice (RP): RP is the catalyst of growth; it is super useful. RP involves identifying strengths, improvements, and insights. Write the following things down.

    1. Strengths: Identify 2 to 3 actions or features that promote desirable outcomes. Write these down. As you move forward, continue to emphasize these items.

    2. Improvements: Figure out 1 to 2 useful concerns to address and how to effectively address them. Write these down. As you move forward, act in ways that address your concerns.

    3. Insights: Figure out 0 to 3 facts that align with growth. Write these down.

  5. Values: Effectively align learning with living and doing. Make such that the rewards of learning far exceed the drawbacks (time, effort, costs, …). Relentlessly get things done. Take time to recharge, attend to your health, foster social connections, and such.