Have you ever listened to a speaker and felt chills because their words resonate so deeply with your life? That happened to me this morning. My husband and I were listening to a sermon titled “The Danger of Not Moving Forward” while preparing for the day, and I realized the speaker was explaining exactly why my husband was about to hand in his resignation after 14 years at his job. We’re leaving Tampa, Florida, and heading to Detroit—right in time for winter!
The speaker explained that when people stop moving forward, they become stagnant, critical, and bitter. It hit me that we wrote about this very concept in Chapter Nine of “Don’t Be a Yes Chick!”:
The Danger of Not Moving Forward in Leadership
Nurturing and growing your team is an ongoing process. If it stops, you’re in trouble. A stagnant team doesn’t stay still; it starts to deteriorate. When people aren’t motivated by growth, they turn to negative behaviors—gossip, blame, and complaining. As a leader, you either guide your team toward growth or spend your time reprimanding them. The choice is yours.
This morning, the message became clear: The danger of not moving forward is that it leads to stagnation, making it impossible to recognize new opportunities or growth. While moving forward doesn’t always mean physically relocating, it always means committing to personal and professional growth. When you align with your purpose, doors open—often when you’re most comfortable.
My Journey of Moving Forward
Two and a half years ago, I left my 12-year job to start my own business. Since then, I’ve focused on building meaningful, supportive relationships that allow everyone involved to grow. Some relationships thrived, while others didn’t survive the transition. But every day, I moved forward, sometimes with excitement and other times with fear.
In just a short period, I became engaged, returned to Cambodia to volunteer with orphans, launched “Don’t Be a Yes Chick!”, got married, and grew my business beyond previous years’ revenues—all because I remained committed to moving forward.
Why Leaders Must Embrace Growth
Chapter Nine of “Don’t Be a Yes Chick!”, titled “Growing Chick”, emphasizes the importance of leadership. As a leader, it’s critical to provide the guidance and support your team needs to grow. Two years after writing that chapter, I have my own team in the Don’t Be a Yes Chick! Virtual Book Club and I realize how important it is for me to continue sharing these insights with them. Growth is essential, both personally and professionally, and I know my role as a leader is key in fostering it.
The Danger of Not Moving Forward
Why am I moving from sunny Florida to cold Detroit? Because I understand the danger of not moving forward and the endless possibilities waiting for those who are willing to turn the corner.
To explore more about embracing change and growth, check out Chapter Nine of “Don’t Be a Yes Chick!” and continue your journey toward success.
Explore our free resources at fire.h50.us/~hrgnmpwr/dev2/ for more insights and tips.
