For this season’s Inhouse Newsletter, I wanted to share with you one of our company’s core values and a personal favorite of mine: Embracing continuous improvement.

What would our world look like if growth never occurred? It would be quite a sight. Babies as far as the eye could see, and no one to help them grow into the person they were destined to become. But what if we carried that same thought past the physicality of growing and viewed the process of growth that occurs in the mind? This growth has a much greater impact in that it can shape both the present and, most importantly, the future. In my opinion, the most powerful concept that any person will ever adopt is the concept of continuous improvement. This concept is not merely an idea, but should be thought of as a universal business principle that can positively impact every aspect of our lives.

A universal principle should be seen as a controlling factor in any outcome, and the more it is known and understood, the more it can be used to our benefit.

Consider gravity. When I’m thinking about gravity and when I’m not, it’s holding my feet to the ground every second. If I don’t know about, or choose not to believe in, gravity, it is still holding my feet firmly to the ground. Several principles and laws will allow me to counteract the effects of gravity. Knowing and understanding these principles and laws will enable me to utilize these forces to my advantage, rather than allowing them to become a hindrance or impediment in my life.

I love the comment from author Jim Rohn, who said that we are the average of the 5 people that we spend the most time with. Let’s carry that further with the idea that you are the average of not just the 5 people, but of the 5 sources that you learn from. That leads us to the introduction of another universal business principle that can have a dramatic impact on your life. This is a principle that I’d like you to connect with.

If I told you that you could accomplish things you never thought you could, would you believe me? Why is it that many people feel that they are relegated to being average? Why do we end up feeling like just another person in this world going through the motions of everyday life?

Perhaps one of the greatest obstructions to surpassing the ordinary and attempting to achieve the extraordinary is the common belief that possibly, we already know everything we need to know. But imagine for a moment that this belief was erased from your mind. Picture waking up in the morning with the feeling that you did not know what you needed to know to survive the day. What would you do? How would your day, week, year, and life change? The problem lies in the fact that if you believe you know everything, then you also believe you don’t need to learn anything.

I challenge you to learn just a little bit more every day. Think about it, leaders are learners in that they never stop looking for ways to improve their businesses. If you walked into the home of the most successful people in the world, I imagine that you would see a stack of books on their nightstand or desk. That’s because they are forever learning – a belief that they need to know more than they do today.

The problems that have been created in our lives cannot be solved with the same thinking under which those problems began. Introducing new knowledge and information is necessary to resolve these problems and move forward.

People tend to look at problems in life and business from one of two perspectives. The first is to throw our hands up in the air and complain about the miserable hand that we’ve been dealt, and to give in to depression.

The second is to understand that practically every issue that we face can be solved if we go on a mission to find the knowledge and information that will lead us to the solution.

I love the quote by Richard DeVoss that says,

The only thing that stands between a person and what they want from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.”

Now I ask you, are you willing to believe in yourself and willing to try to do what it takes to steer your life where you want to go? Most of us understand what wisdom is, but are we willing to choose to set aside the time necessary to attain it?

Wisdom is defined as ‘the body of knowledge and principles that develops within a specified society or period’. If I asked you if you wanted people to consider you to be wise, of course, the answer would be yes. So, what is the path to attaining wisdom? That is entirely up to you.

My dad used to say, “CAN’T never could, because it never had a chance”. If you believe you CAN’T, you are right. If you believe you CAN, you are also right.” My Dad’s words marked the last time in my life that I ever believed I couldn’t do something. My thought process became more positive. I came to believe that in every situation, I may not currently know the solution to my problem, but all I need is new knowledge and information. If I am willing to pick up a book, then I can attain that knowledge and move forward instead of remaining stuck in the same place for years. I made a promise to myself that I hope you will embrace, too, that I would read more to seek out knowledge and wisdom. The subjects can come from things that are currently impacting my daily life, such as family relationships, business, psychology, marketing, spirituality, and leadership.

The capacity for your life is limitless when you decide to take control and choose what you will commit to and when you will do it. I truly believe you will grow and attain the life that you want by choosing to expose yourself to.

When I decided to start learning to be the person that I desired to become, I developed a new desire for reading and surrounding myself with the people who could help me achieve what I wanted in life. One of the first books I read was Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, which primed my mind to start thinking differently.

I then moved on to an author who is now one of my favorites – Andy Stanley. In his book Visioneering, he details the idea of preparing for the success you would like to achieve even before any opportunity has presented itself. One of my favorite quotes from Andy is, “Direction, Not Intention, Determines your Destination. You cannot get to California from the Midwest by going east unless you want to fly around the world.” All of the best intentions will never get you to where you want to go in life. This is why many of us end up fighting what we feel is an uphill battle to achieve success and never fully find what we are looking for.

How many people can you name who are highly successful in doing what you want to achieve? How many of those people do you consistently hang around to learn from?

Although frequently credited to a Navy Seal Commander, we can originally attribute this quote to the Greek lyrical poet, Archilochus.

We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”

Do you have any inspirational quotes on the walls of your office?

How do you keep your mind focused on the right things?

Who are the five people that you are spending the most time with and learning from?

What are the five sources that you choose to draw from as the foundation for your future?

Why not start working right now on making your future successful? Grab a pen and start writing. Put on paper the plan for your future by changing your current surroundings and situation. This is the only way to break the cycle that you have been stuck in for most of your life.

How does the cycle of change begin? It starts with changing your mindset. Commit to learning everything you can, so you can be the best at what you do. Internalize what Jim Collins said: “Good Is the Enemy of Great.” This belief will help change intention into action.

Next, make a plan. Set your schedule daily to include time for personal growth. Morning or evening doesn’t matter. Just choose the time that you are most alert and ready to absorb something new.

Finally, find people who are ahead of you on the path that you want and join them.

Remember, continuous improvement is not a fad or a passing trend. It is a way of life that you live every day in order to achieve the success you want. I encourage you to make the decision to start your journey today. I’m confident that you will love the results.