Growth is Life: The Death of Stagnation

I recently sat down for a one-year review with a teammate and found myself saying something that’s been rattling around in my mind ever since: Growth doesn’t cease due to age—personally or professionally. The moment it does, we’re dead. Whether we’re six feet under or still walking around, stagnation is a slow death.

There’s a false narrative out there that at a certain point in life or career, we "arrive" at a fixed state—whether it’s expertise in an industry, a defined role, or even a mindset about who we are and what we’re capable of. That belief is the true killer. It’s not the failures, the missed opportunities, or the mistakes that hold us back; it’s the belief that this is just the way things are now—that change is out of reach.

Personal Growth: The Death Sentence of "This is Just Who I Am"

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve fallen into this trap myself. There were times when I thought, This is just how I operate. This is my personality. This is my style. But then, something would shake me—maybe feedback from a peer, a moment of self-reflection, or just sheer frustration with repeating the same patterns. And in those moments, I realized: Growth isn’t about flipping a switch and becoming a different person overnight. It’s about recognizing that who we are today is just one version of ourselves, and we always have the ability to improve.

Think about fitness. If I told myself, I’ll never get back in shape because I’ve always been this way, I’d be accepting stagnation. Instead, I’ve been taking control of my health, testing what works for me, and making adjustments. Is it easy? No. But is it better than accepting a slow decline? Absolutely.

Professional Growth: The Death Sentence of "This Is Just How Things Are"

In business, this mindset is even more dangerous. The moment we accept this is just how the industry works or this is the way we’ve always done it, we’re dead. The market doesn’t care about our comfort zones. Clients don’t care about our excuses. Innovation doesn’t pause for those unwilling to adapt.

I see this in the benefits and healthcare space all the time. The industry thrives on complexity and obfuscation. The easy thing to do is accept it: This is just how the system works, and there’s nothing we can do about it. But that’s a death sentence. Real change comes from challenging assumptions, demanding better, and continuously learning. It comes from refusing to accept that “the way things are” is the way they must remain.

Moving Beyond Stagnation

So how do we avoid this slow death?

1. Stay Curious. Never assume you know everything. Read, listen, ask questions—always.
2. Embrace Discomfort. Growth happens outside the comfort zone. If you feel like you’re coasting, that’s a warning sign.
3. Challenge Yourself. Whether it’s personally or professionally, set goals that push your limits.
4. Surround Yourself with People Who Push You. The right people won’t let you stagnate—they’ll challenge you, inspire you, and hold you accountable.

At the end of the day, growth is a choice. We either keep moving, learning, adapting—or we accept our current state as our final form. And to me, that’s just another way of saying we’ve given up.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not interested in dying before my time. - JL

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