At a recent admin retreat that I had the pleasure of speaking at, one of the organization’s leaders shared a brief statement that resonated deeply with me.
“Don’t mistake proud for content.”
Five words that say so much.
Of course, we must take pride in our ability to show up, put in the effort, and grow professionally and personally.
But being “content” can often lead to not only a halt in growth but a regression in our development and learning.
I wrote the following in “The Innovator’s Mindset“:
At the time, I only thought about this in my professional growth, but it also applies to my personal life.
Whether it is changing my workout up, thinking about how I feed my body, and how to start my day with visioning and gratitude, when I stop challenging myself is when I tend to regress.
But it doesn’t mean I am not proud of my achievements.
That pride often fuels my way forward.
Success breeds success, and taking moments to celebrate growth can often lead to fueling a path forward.
We also expect this from our students in schools.
We would never say, “Hey kids…Congratulations on getting to grade 5. If you think you are good now, don’t worry, you no longer have to learn.”
We encourage our kids to celebrate the moment they are at while pushing them to have expectations for further growth.
“Don’t mistake proud for content.”
These five words can apply professionally, personally, and both young and old.
Celebrate where you are at, but envision where you still can go.
