Here’s something that's been nagging at me to post about: the misconception that business growth = self worth.
Everywhere we turn, it’s “Go big or go home!” What if going “big” keeps us from actually going “home” to what matters?
I’m living my best life. A comfortable place to call home, awesome friends and family around, good food, and some flexibility to jet off whenever I want. Sounds dreamy, right? But two months ago I also had a 24/7 hustle, a constant ping of emails, and those unending thoughts about my month’s revenue, profit and loss statement, payroll, the bank account, etc etc. Why? Because I set a business growth standard for myself. It defined me. And it worked. Year over year my agency grew.
Then bam. I hit the “De-growth” button.
It's not about slamming the brakes on my ambition or turning my back on my success. It’s more like asking, “Hey, what if I tweaked my focus a bit? What if I made some room for, you know, nothingness?”
Because here's the reality: if all our worth gets tied up in profit charts, where does that leave our passions, our curiosities, our late-night “what if” musings? On a catch-all to-do list? (Mine was called ‘Rainy Day Self-Rendezvous’ )
Have you ever considered setting a De-growth goal for yourself? I mean, where do you draw the line between growing your empire and just... living? When do you decide that it’s time to balance work with whimsy, business with passion? Or are you planning to ride the growth train until, well, forever?
Dreaming big is all kinds of awesome. But being stuck in the "always-on" mode can seriously fry our circuits. It’s a bit like being on a never-ending roller coaster. Thrilling? Heck, yeah! Sustainable? Eh, not so much.
Maybe it's time we shake up the narrative a bit. Instead of just “going big”, how about we also think about “going deep”? Diving into passions, chasing weird and wonderful curiosities, savoring early morning creativity, like this moment right now that I’m writing to you, about this.
So, as you map out your next business move, maybe consider this: Life isn't just about reaching the final destination. It's about the journey, the roadside diners, the spontaneous detours, the unexpected sunrises, and those other random life moments. Just as the best road trips are made of unplanned stops and chance encounters, maybe our lives deserve a little off-the-beaten-path exploration too.
Let’s measure success by the laughs we share, the memories we make, and the questions we chase... instead of just the money milestones we hit.
Isn’t a curious life the best kind of life? I hope so, because that’s the main message I’ve ingrained into my daughters brains. Always be curious.