Be Like a Rubber Band

Various authors have shared how stretching yourself, similar to a rubber band, can lead to growth and development.

Professional growth often feels like it’s moving at a snail’s pace. It can be hard to see the progress and impact of your effort, but that does not mean that you are not growing. To see professional growth, think of yourself like a rubber band - stretching and flexing as you grow.

Growth is an essential part of any career path, big or small. Whether learning new skills, taking on new projects, or even having difficult conversations with coworkers and bosses, growing professionally requires action. To understand how this works, picture a rubber band stretched out and released back into its original form. Yes, it looks different after being stretched out, but it still has the same basic shape and structure as before. This is how professional growth works – you take risks, stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, and come back close to your starting position, but with newfound knowledge and experiences that help you grow in your career.

Expanding your comfort zone often means taking on extra responsibilities that may initially seem daunting or intimidating. Other times it could be talking to someone who intimidates you or pushing for something outside of what's expected from you in the workplace. Taking these kinds of risks can be frightening at first. Still, they also allow you to learn more about yourself and your abilities while challenging yourself to do things differently than before. As well as allowing you to gain valuable skillsets that will help boost your resume in the long run!

Growing professionally is not just about taking on extra responsibilities; it’s also about developing new skill sets that will help make you stand out from the crowd and drive success for your career path and the organization. So don’t be afraid to stretch yourself like a rubber band – take risks within reason, and challenge yourself continuously while keeping one eye on the finish line so that once everything is said and done, you can look back at everything achieved with pride!  There are no limits to professional growth –remember to stay focused on what matters most: personal satisfaction and advancement in your field!

Written by Steven Schultze