Have you ever worked really hard to achieve a goal and then actually pulled it off?! It’s a great feeling . . . a sigh of relief, a weight off your shoulders . . . a feeling of accomplishment. So now what? Do you stand on that accomplishment for a while, chest poked out with pride or do you treat it as a step towards whatever is next? Maybe a little of both? Maybe something else altogether? It’s a tough call for sure.
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I used to be in charge of the web systems at a multi-campus university and ran into an interesting phenomenon on a regular basis. Over the years we implemented several system upgrades that allowed more administrative staff and faculty to participate in managing the content on the university’s enormous collection of web sites. I spent a lot of time developing and delivering the training to faculty and staff and noticed that many of the faculty had difficulty . . .
It seemed that, more often than not, the faculty who were PhDs struggled the most to master the simple system used to contribute content to the web site. It was as if many of these individuals had spent enormous amounts of time and energy achieving high educational distinctions and then decided (maybe unconsciously) that they were finished and had learned all that they needed to. They behaved as if the capacity meters on their brains were at full and they couldn’t absorb another drop of information.
Just to be clear, I don’t think all PhDs are incapable of learning or have settled on complacency as a way of being. Some of the most brilliant minds this world has ever seen are PhDs who have contributed greatly to our society and there’s no doubting the importance of education. On the other hand and equally true, some of the most brilliant minds have also been high school drop outs, yet still left their mark on the world. But, I digress.
The pattern that I repeatedly encountered led me to believe that some people (PhDs and otherwise) kinda turn themselves off once they’ve achieved something important to them, as if that’s all they were capable of. They’ve settled into a nice comfortable spot just beyond the finish line and decided that they’re done runnin’.
The opposite of settling into a complacent groove is to carve a new one in growth . . . using that new groove as a foot hold for carving the next. So, how do you stay on a path of growth? How do you get unstuck?
Growth is a journey, not a destination
A great place to start is to raise your awareness of the existence of complacency in your life. We all get complacent at times and frankly, it’s probably pretty normal. I think the real danger comes from habitualizing 
that mindset.
Here are a few things you can think about if you feel like you’re stuck in the complacency rut:
- Master Gardener
Imagine that you’re caring for an indoor plant. STOP!! Wait a second! You might be the type who’s botanically challenged and can kill bamboo! Instead, imagine that you’re a master gardener caring for an indoor plant. Periodically you check on it, trim it, water it, give it a little fertilizer, transfer it to a bigger pot when needed, move it into the sun and even talk to it. You do all of these things because you know that you are facilitating its growth. You also know that if you discontinue this nurturing routine, your plant will wither and die. Now imagine that the plant is you. Do you nurture and support your own growth in multiple ways? Who do you treat better, yourself or the imaginary plant? - Energy Flows
Everything that grows needs fuel . . . from a blade of grass, to your waistline, to the hole in the ozone layer. The question is, what growth are you fueling in your life? If you’re not sure, ask yourself if the most important aspects of your life are growing in the direction you want. If the answer to that question isn’t a resounding “YES”, then remember that energy flows where attention goes. If the things most important to you in life aren’t growing in the direction you want, you may not be focusing adequate attention on them. You may be focused on the things you don’t want instead of the things you do want. That thought pattern presumes that the universe operates on a principle of exclusion . . . that focusing on the things you don’t want will somehow exclude them from your life. Instead, try this experiment: Presume for one month that the universe is based on inclusion and focus on the things and experiences that you do want in your life. This shift in attention will shift your energy and ultimately the most important aspects of your life will grow more and more in the direction you want. - No How
When was the last time that you took on a challenge that you had no earthly idea how to accomplish? Be honest now! Our minds are pretty powerful and can lay out a plan to do most anything in a split second. When you come across an opportunity that your brain can’t wrap its thinking around, you’ll have to strain your own potential and grow to achieve it. I remember when I first started my business in 1997. It began as a computer consulting company, which meant I was basically a freelance tech support guy. Most of my clients needed help setting up their computers, installing hardware upgrades or getting software instruction from a patient person. One day a prospective client asked me if I could build him a web site. My response was an immediate “Sure!”. I had never built a web site before and frankly had no idea how to do it, but dammit, I was sure going to figure it out! I grew from and enjoyed that challenge so much that soon after, I only offered web design related services. Your job is the “what” not the “how”. Focus your attention on “what” you want to accomplish and the “how” will present itself.
Just remember that growth isn’t an exercise to overcome or expel your imperfections, but rather a process of expanding the positivity that already exists within you.
Here’s to your growth journey!
"Each day beckons you to walk on the road of self-transcendence. When we transcend ourselves we do not compete with others, we compete only with our previous achievements. And each time we surpass our achievements, we get joy… Life is nothing but a perpetual possibility."
- Sri Chinmoy
Indian Spiritual Teacher and Philosopher
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Thank you for posting such an interesting article on Complacency. As I read this I started to realize that not only have I and others very close to me have become complacent, not only in business, but in life as well. But one thing I would like to ask. I understand and see where you are coming from in the portion of your article “No How…”, but what I would like from you is to expand more on “…Your job is the “what” not the “how”.” How does one that is dealing with NOT becoming more complacent, business and in life, get to the “what” in business and in life?
Baggar, Thank you for reading this article and for taking the time write such a thoughtful reply. To answer your question, the “what” (in all aspects of your life) is simply what you want your life to be . . . what you want to achieve. That may be a particular goal, specific material possessions, a certain kind of relationship, a specific amount of earnings, improved physical health or any number of things that are important to you. Once you identify those “whats” and throw all of your energy behind them, you’ll be amazed at how things unfold . . . moving you in the direction of achieving those items, even if you don’t know “how” you’re going to achieve them. For many, not knowing how they could possibly accomplish a particular item or life dream means that they never start down the path towards achieving it, they stop believing that it’s even possible for them and ultimately it doesn’t manifest in their lives. Sort of a self fulfilling prophecy. What I suggest in this article is to try an experiment that facilitates a positive self fulfilling prophecy! Great question!