The Growth Compass

About a year ago, I had a conversation with a colleague who had just returned from a 3-month sabbatical. As someone who aspired to follow in his footsteps some day, I was intently trying to extract as many precious insights out of him as possible.

One piece of advice really struck me.

He mentioned this was the advice he received that helped him the most.

While it’s a simple message (and seemingly obvious), it was also profound… and he found himself asking that question multiple times and getting different answers.

A year later, that message keeps coming back to me, and I’m realizing it should inform so much more…

• The books I read

• What media I consume

• How I spend my free time

• Which habits I track / try to build

• The projects I take on

• The work I pursue

As someone with a tendency to overanalyze things, I recognize I need to be careful not to try and “optimize” for what I need most now.

BUT I couldn’t help myself

… so I created a simple framework I call the Growth Compass to help me think through the different dimensions I might need more of at different times.

Introducing the Growth Compass:

While this framework appears simple and obvious, I’ve found it helpful to increase my self awareness.

I can’t tell you how many times I find myself over-indexing in one of the directions and realize I need the opposite.

• Am I stuck in the weeds, and need to zoom out?

• Am I lost in the clouds, and need to focus on the details?

• Am I dwelling on the past, and need to look forward?

• Am I obsessed with the future, and need to look back?

• Am I off balance, and need to be more centered?

The reality is we are all human, and things don’t always go according to plan. Because of this, I’ve found it’s important to stay as flexible and self aware as possible so that we can adjust to what we—or our business or customers—need most at that time.

Let’s break down each dimension…

Zoom Out:

Question: Are you stuck in the weeds or getting lost in the details?

Zoom out to simplify your thinking and see the forest for the trees.

It’s hard to see the big picture.
It’s challenging to connect the dots.
It’s painful to simplify our communication.
It’s difficult to cut through the clutter and noise.

But we must in order to level up our thinking.

We must see the situation as a part of the whole.
We must discern the essence of our ideas.
We must communicate clearly.

This is a reminder that simplicity lives on the other side of complexity. Zoom out for perspective.

Guiding principles when I need to Zoom Out:

• See the big picture and connect the dots

• Identify what matters most and summarize key points

• Simplify your thinking and build from first principles

What else would you add to the list?

Focus:

Question: Are you lost in the clouds and detached from reality?

Focus your attention on what matters most.

Our attention is the most valuable commodity we have.

But in a world with so many distractions and endless possibilities, it’s easy to lose focus on what’s most important right now.

This is a reminder to focus on building your foundation:

• Better habits.

• Less distractions.

• Repeatable systems.

• More structured thinking.

• A high quality information diet.

Guiding principles when I need to Focus:

• Structure your thinking with proven frameworks

• Concentrate on priorities and obsess over the details

• Build a solid foundation with repeatable systems and good habits

What else would you add to the list?

Look Forward:

Question: Are you dwelling on the past or worried about what lies ahead?

Look forward to envision and build the future you want to live in.

The future is uncertain, and uncertainty can cause tremendous anxiety. This is only amplified by the accelerating rate of change we’re all experiencing.

There is no doubt that we face challenges… for humanity, our businesses, our communities, and ourselves. But we also have more capabilities than ever before, and many reasons to be optimistic. Our future is up to us.

This is a reminder to take responsibility and get to work. Together we can build a better future.

Guiding principles when I need to Look Forward:

• Find inspiration and reasons to be optimistic

• Spot shifts and signals to help navigate uncertainty

• Envision a better future and plan your next step

What else would you add to the list?

Look Back:

Question: Are you too obsessed with building the future? Do you find yourself “re-creating the wheel?”

Look back to reflect on the past. Perspective and learnings are fuel for growth.

We cannot change the past, and dwelling on it without generating solutions is at best unproductive. It can also lead to negative emotions or be a symptom of depression.

But studying the past, not ruminating on it, is a cheat code for life and business.

Humans’ ability to learn from each other and past generations is what has unlocked exponential progress.

This is a reminder that sometimes the best path forward is to look back.

Guiding principles when I need to Look Back:

• Study history and “stand on the shoulders of giants”

• Learn from experiences, failures, and successes

• Be grateful, accept reality, and let go of resentment

What else would you add to the list?

Be Centered:

Question: Are you off balance, burnt out, or find yourself over-indexing in any direction?

Be centered in everything you do. Know your values and stay true to them.

Human beings and companies are full of contradictions. We often say one thing, but then do another. The Say-Do Gap is real.

This is a reminder to make sure your priorities, thoughts and actions are aligned.

• What do you value?

• What is important to you?

• Why do you do what you do?

Consistent representation of your self is the linchpin of success and happiness. Grow in all directions, but don’t lose sight of your core.

Guiding principles when I need to Be Centered:

• Choose to be authentic

• Strive to keep a consistent representation of self through any environment or situation

• See things as they are — do not be delusional or entitled

• Don’t view everything as good or bad — it just is

• Steelman your arguments

What else would you add to the list?

Thanks for reading!

The Growth Compass framework and my guiding principles above are a work in progress, but I hope it helps you on your journey.

It’s what inspired the Growth Meditations logo, and I will continue to experiment with it as a way to structure my thinking as I curate and create thoughtful content in future issues.

I’d love to hear what resonates the most, as well as how you’d improve it. So don’t hesitate to share any ideas or builds!

Until next week, keep growing

Scott​

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