“It’s much easier to become a growing person if you’re in a positive growth environment.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell from his book,  Leadershift (p. 53). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

The right growth environment can have a positive impact on you.

John says, “I realized this when I was in my twenties, and it inspired me to write out a description of a growth environment. I observed that such environments have ten characteristics. Recently I was looking at this list and I realized that five of the ten involve other people. (I italicized them for emphasis.)

1.    Others are ahead of me.

2.    ​I am continually challenged.

3.    My focus is forward.

4.    The atmosphere is affirming.

5.    I am often out of my comfort zone.

6.    I wake up excited.

7.    ​Failure is not my enemy.

8.    Others are growing.

9.    People desire change.

10. Growth is modeled and expected.”

He goes on, “Much of my personal growth has come as a direct result of having the opportunity to spend time with growing people… Elmer Towns… is one of the growing people who was an early mentor in the formative years of my life. One of the things he taught me was what he called the hot poker principle. He used to say that if you keep the poker near the fire it remains hot. Remove it and over time it becomes cold. He likened growing people to fire and would often remind me, ‘John, stay close to the fire.’

“That is exactly what I have tried to do. Stay close to the ‘fire’ of growing people. Few things in life are better than conversation with people who are growing. Those conversations have been a great catalyst for my growth. I’m indebted to so many who have walked the growth journey with me and from whom I’ve learned so much.”

That is so true, isn’t it? 

Yes, yes!