Personal Growth: Why It Matters and Why It Must Be Intentional
In a world defined by constant change, the most important investment you can make is in yourself. Careers evolve, industries shift, and technology disrupts – but the one constant in all of this is you. And whether you flourish or falter often depends on one crucial factor: your commitment to personal growth.
Leadership expert John C. Maxwell captured this truth in his first and perhaps most fundamental principle in The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth:
"Growth doesn’t just happen. Growth is intentional."
Let’s unpack what that means – and why it’s a game-changer for anyone committed to becoming the best version of themselves.
The Illusion of Automatic Growth
When we’re children, growth feels automatic. We grow taller, learn to speak, and develop new skills without much planning. But once formal education ends and adult life begins, many people fall into a passive mindset – assuming they’ll grow simply by aging, working, or showing up every day.
But as Maxwell argues, “We don’t improve by simply living. We have to be intentional about it.”
Waiting for growth to happen is like waiting at the airport for a train – you’re in the wrong place, following the wrong plan.
Why Intentional Growth Matters
You Expand Your Capacity
Growth unlocks your potential. You discover that you are capable of more than you thought – not because circumstances changed, but because you did. Skills improve. Confidence increases. Impact multiplies.You Stay Relevant
Whether you're an entrepreneur, manager, teacher, or student, intentional growth helps you stay ahead of the curve. In fast-changing environments, learning agility is more valuable than static knowledge.You Build Resilience
Personal growth strengthens your mindset. It equips you to handle setbacks, process feedback, and lead yourself through uncertainty. It doesn’t eliminate problems – it builds you into the kind of person who can overcome them.You Inspire Others
The people around you take cues from how you grow. When you pursue growth with consistency and intention, you model possibility. You show that change is not just something that happens — it's something we create.
The First Law: Growth is Intentional
John Maxwell’s Law #1 serves as the cornerstone of personal development:
“You must be intentional about your growth. Nobody improves by accident.”
This law requires us to shift from hoping to planning, from wishing to working.
Being intentional means:
Setting clear goals for who you want to become
Creating daily habits that support learning and reflection
Surrounding yourself with people who challenge and stretch you
Investing time, energy, and even money into your development
Most importantly, it means taking ownership of your growth journey — not outsourcing it to your employer, circumstances, or luck.
How to Practice Intentional Growth
Create a Growth Plan
What area of your life do you want to grow in — leadership, communication, health, or emotional intelligence? Identify it, and then schedule specific activities (such as reading, coaching, or practice) that target that area.Start with Just 1% a Day
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. As James Clear says in Atomic Habits, small improvements compound. If you improve by 1% each day, you’ll be 37 times better by the end of the year.Track Your Progress
Growth isn’t always visible in the moment. Journaling, mentorship conversations, or quarterly reflections help you notice patterns, celebrate wins, and course-correct where needed.Stay Humble and Curious
The moment you think you’ve arrived is the moment you stop growing. Cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning — not because you’re inadequate, but because you value who you can become.
Growth is a Choice
Personal growth isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity for anyone who wants to live with purpose, lead with clarity, and leave a meaningful legacy.
Whether you’re a business leader, parent, or student, the Law of Intentionality applies to you: If you want to grow, you must choose it.
So the question is simple: Are you hoping to grow — or planning to?
