“Personal growth” gets tossed around so often that it’s easy to miss what it means. But here’s the core idea: personal growth is how I level up in life and work. It’s not a trendy hack or a one-time project. It’s a system. A way of living that moves with my purpose.

Think of it like upgrading your internal operating system while purposefully learning and growing your way.

Why Personal Growth Matters

As a software developer, I’ve seen how quickly technology changes. What worked yesterday might be obsolete tomorrow. That’s why personal growth isn’t optional—it’s survival. I must stay sharp, learn, and grow to stay relevant in a constantly evolving field.

Here’s what keeps me motivated:

  1. Learning – Staying current with technology and best practices while loving every minute of it
  2. Earning – Creating value and building a sustainable career that amply provides for my wife and daughter
  3. Growing – Developing as a leader and helping others learn, earn, and grow

Ask yourself why it matters to you.

What Is Personal Growth?

Personal growth is the slow, steady stacking of small, intentional changes that eventually shift who I am and how I show up. As someone with ADHD, taking small steps makes me effective.

It’s nearly impossible to notice progress day by day, like watching grass grow. But the changes are measurable when I look back a year later.

Growth shows up in three main areas:

  1. Skills and Knowledge – The things I know and can do
  2. Character and Mindset – How I think and respond
  3. Relationships and Impact – How I connect and contribute

Your idea of personal growth is well, personal. Experiment with what makes you kick. 🥋

How I Measure Growth

Growth doesn’t come with a progress bar or dashboard. But I’ve found ways to track it by paying attention to the right signals. I combine my productivity systems with learning methods to keep myself accountable.

Here’s my system:

  • Document Skills —I regularly update my resume with meaningful skills I’ve gained or improved.
  • Projects Completed — I track challenging projects to completion.
  • Feedback — I seek input from people I trust and respect.
  • Reading + Learning — I listen to audiobooks during my commute and workout, then write book reviews to cement what I learned.
  • Review Hang Ups — I document and intentionally manage my hang-ups.
    • e.g., I do too many things.

It’s not about being perfect—it’s about spotting patterns. I follow the principles of effective learning to ensure that my growth is sustainable and meaningful.

Final Thoughts

Personal growth is a process, not a finish line. I won’t always feel it happening. But if I stay consistent, curious, and connected to my why, I’ll realize I’ve come a long way. As I’ve learned from my career journey, the key is to keep learning, earning, and growing.

Resources

These tools and ideas shape my growth system:

Other Learning