Growth Is a Marathon Not a Sprint - Unless You Hit a Growth Spurt!
Mandy Napier BSC
?? Helping Entrepreneurs, Professionals & Athletes Achieve Extraordinary Results & Peak Performance ?? Executive Coach ?? High-Performance Mindset Coach ?? Breakthrough Results Coach ?? Speaker Educator ??Author
Growth is a universal principle. Everything in nature grows or it stagnates. Consider the transformation of a butterfly. It begins as a tiny egg, develops into a caterpillar, and then endures the struggle of breaking free from its chrysalis. That struggle isn’t optional; it’s necessary. If someone were to consider helping, and cut the chrysalis open, the butterfly wouldn’t develop the strength needed to fly. The effort of emerging forces fluid into its wings, making them strong enough for flight. Without that challenge, the butterfly remains weak and unable to survive.?
Growth Is Usually Uncomfortable
A great reminder of how uncomfortable growth can be, yet the end result can be incredible.
Many high performers focus on growth in their business as if it were a sprint - fast, intense, and a desire for results now. But real growth??It’s more like a marathon. It takes time, consistency and dedication. That said, sometimes we do experience unexpected bursts of rapid progress - growth spurts. These moments happen when preparation meets opportunity, just like in childhood when we suddenly shoot up in height, or when the finish line is in sight!
However, the key is to keep building strong habits so that when a growth spurt happens, you’re ready to maximise it. A marathon isn’t won in the first mile. It’s about sticking to a plan, endurance, discipline, consistency and mindset. The same applies to personal and business growth.
Sustainable Growth Needs Systems and Habits
Growth is aided by plans, systems, incremental improvements, and a focus on creating habits, as habits are the foundation of all success (and non-success.)?
If you are already successful in your business, then you might like to heed the advice from Andrew Hoy, the Olympic equestrian, who has competed in eight Olympic Games, making him Australia's most experienced Olympian. He puts it perfectly:
?"At this stage of my success, it’s about focusing on changing ten things by one percent, not one thing by ten percent." Small, consistent improvements compound over time, leading to great things.
Systemising your actions and behaviours are also key. As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says:
"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."
Growth is about building habits and systems that keep you moving forward, especially when motivation fades. We fall back into autopilot when we are stressed or tired, so when you have good habits and systems, you will naturally default into patterns that serve not sabotage your success.?
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How to Grow with Ease (and Stay the Course)
1. Pace Yourself
Entrepreneurs often start strong, chasing growth with relentless energy. But burnout is real. Instead of pushing at full speed, create a sustainable rhythm. Push and recovery are key words. We are energy beings, not machines, and it's important to manage our energy as well as our time. Breaks and moments of recovery with small, consistent steps lead to long-term success.
2. Lean Into Discomfort
Growth happens outside your comfort zone. The best marathon runners embrace the pain; they know it’s part of the process. In business, challenges aren’t roadblocks—they’re proof you’re expanding beyond old limits. Know that discomfort happens before growth. Think of the journey of the butterfly.
3. Focus on Small Wins
High achievers often focus on how far they have to go, overlooking their progress. This creates an internal anxiety or stress that creates a relentless drive to keep achieving. A former client, David, was super hard on himself, and lived with a constant inner drive to keep going. He was constantly 'on' and stressed.
When I suggested he paused and took a moment to write down three small wins each day, which helped him appreciate how far he had come - it was a game changer. Instead of focusing on what he hadn’t done, he focused on what he had achieved. His stress levels dropped and he said he felt like he was achieving more. Take time to reflect on your wins—big or small. It may well increase your progress. At the very least, it will reduce your stress, help you be present and improve your mental health.
4. Build Self-Belief
Every great entrepreneur faces setbacks. The ones who succeed are those who refuse to quit. When things get tough, remind yourself: you’re stronger than you think. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, as action builds self-belief. When you acknowledge your successes and tick off your small wins, you also build self-belief, a vital ingredient of all great performances and outcomes.
Final Thought
The finish line, or the big goal, isn’t reached overnight. Growth is about persistence, habits, and resilience. Furthermore, it’s about focusing on small shifts, appreciating the journey so far, and most of all, showing yourself a bit of kindness along the way. If you are sprinting and burning out, slow down. Build systems and the mindset to go the distance and create long term sustainable success.?
Keep moving forward, be ready for a spurt, and wait for the best to unfold!
About the Author | Mandy Napier