Where Do We Grow From Here?

Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.” – Chinese Proverb

Most who know me well know I’m not one who consistently rolls Chinese Proverbs off my tongue, but recently this quote struck me as I was digging into conversations around the concept of “growth.”

April is a time of year when the world comes back to life. The air has that particular scent, an elusive petrichor that alights the senses and reminds us that renewal is possible. This damp, musty scent of our Mother coming to life is fueled by a primordial prism of rain, sun and dark earth that vibrates above our heads and beneath our feet. 

In the last couple of weeks, so many opportunities for growth have hit me from all sides—personally, professionally and emotionally. I am just a few days from transitioning from my full-time job as a Marketing Director to full-time Founder and Chief Everything Officer of TARRA, LLC. With that transition comes a full-time team of incredible humans poised to help me birth this vision to life. 

This creates a host of new challenges and responsibilities. I am no longer flying solo trying to muscle TARRA up a hill. It’s here. It’s real. It brings a new set of responsibilities to my team, partners, colleagues, investors and members to show up 115% daily. It means stumbling, falling, picking back up and doing it all over again the next day. 

April 1, 2022 ushers in a new chapter of growth. 

What is “growth”? 

“Growth” gets batted about by self-help articles, wellness experts, leadership coaches, and personal development books. Our society is hyper-focused on constantly striving and “growing” to be “better”—a better leader, a better lover, a better listener. However, when you step back and take stock of what “growth” is, what does that actually mean?

To me, growth is both a conscious and unconscious decision. When unconscious and uncontrolled, growth can lead you to a place you don’t want to go. However, when it’s conscious and intentional, growth can be a catalyst for exponential change and serious returns. 

I say this with a caveat of caution. Growth isn’t something that happens in big, juicy leaps and bounds without friction. It happens in fits and starts and can be frustratingly slow and incremental. While we have been primed by our Instagram feeds and self-help books to believe that growth is a gorgeous path paved with gold and rainbows to a better life and a better self, the truth is that the quest for “better” is paved with rocks and potholes, setbacks and fallen trees. The key is, as the proverb says, to not let those barriers hold you back. Don’t be afraid of how long it takes to get somewhere. Only be afraid of not trying, of not putting one foot in front of the other. 

Where do we grow from here?

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

What is growth other than waking up and doing the best you can and then when you have a better understanding of yourself, your surroundings and your purpose, taking it up a notch? I love this definition because it takes the weight out of the “leaps and bounds” type of growth we so often hear about. 

In business, we often hear about startups who get a big investment and grow exponentially month over month, blowing up like a piece of bubblegum until they get too big and pop under all of the pressure. Or the friend who is obsessed with wellness and personal growth who becomes so focused on herself that she forgets what it’s like to let loose, have fun and in fact, the obsession becomes the opposite of “well.” 

When we pressurize “growth,” the result is often untenable. We can’t sustain it. When it’s done slowly, organically over time without pressure, it feels more sustainable…more human…more attainable.

What’s Ahead for TARRA?

With the idea of “conscious growth” in mind, I’m setting a few intentional goals for the next year, and invite you to do the same for yourself personally, emotionally and professionally. 

At TARRA in 2022, professional growth (hopefully) looks like an exponential run up the mountain as we open our doors, which feels both exciting and terrifying at the same time. Terrifying, because I know that kind of growth comes with many obstacles and landmines. Exciting because I can’t wait to get this community started and create incredible opportunities for our members. 

For myself, growth is about coming into my own as a leader. I have the tools, but I’ve never been intentional about truly managing and leading a successful team, so the next year for me personally will be creating space to learn and listen. 

Emotionally, growth is going to be creating more calm in my mind. I’ve lived a somewhat anxious existence for most of my life, and I’m excited to have more intention around how I act and react to external situations and stimuli.

What about you? What kind of growth do you want to see in the next year? How will you show up differently at your job, in your business, to yourself and to others? I’d love to hear how we can support you on that journey so please email me at [email protected].

As always, I’m thrilled you are here and we can’t wait to open our doors to meet you!

Onward,

Kate