The Road Not Taken<\/em><\/a> is my favorite poem. As a junior in high school, I learned to love poetry. When I first read this poem it was an assignment – I read it and handed in my paper. My teacher called me after class. She asked me to take my answer further. I didn’t know what she meant. She said: “Question every word – what was Frost thinking, feeling? Imagine him standing in the woods – what did he see? What do the words mean?” I had no clue what she meant.<\/p>\nThat day, I went home and asked myself the questions as I read the words and started annotating the poem. Slowly, my perspective changed. I started seeing new meaning in Frost’s words. Every word carefully chosen. All these years later, when I read this poem I think to myself: What if I had stayed on the corporate ladder? What if I didn’t start Growth Street? How has taking the road less traveled by made a difference to me? To my life? My family? My clients? My legacy?\u00a0I’m still figuring it out!<\/p>\n
Reflecting on this milestone, I’m thinking about the experiences, challenges, highs and lows that have shaped the journey. Join me in reflecting on 11 and…enjoy the adventure!<\/p>\n
1\ufe0f\u20e3 Change is opportunity:<\/h5>\n Embrace it! When you’re evolving and adapting, you’re moving forward. Look for ways to reframe change as a positive. Pivot position is the power position!<\/p>\n
2\ufe0f\u20e3 Take the road less traveled:<\/h5>\n It makes all the difference!<\/p>\n
3\ufe0f\u20e3 Experiment fast:<\/h5>\n Sprint and test, fast. Time-box, state your hypothesis, align the team and…GO! Sprinting gets to data and learnings faster.<\/p>\n
4\ufe0f\u20e3 Do you:<\/h5>\n Don’t get caught up in what works for everyone else. It’s gotta work for you and your life (5am workouts and ice baths do NOT work for me!)<\/p>\n
5\ufe0f\u20e3 Keep good company:<\/h5>\n Surround yourself with mentors, advisors, friends, colleagues who are invested in you and where you are invested in them. Don’t let people drag you down or hold you back!<\/p>\n
6\ufe0f\u20e3 Trust your gut:<\/h5>\n It’s usually right.<\/p>\n
7\ufe0f\u20e3 Avoid the echo chamber:<\/h5>\n Get out of your own head. Talk to customers, get outside perspective, ask for feedback. Internal consensus without external validation = an echo.<\/p>\n
8\ufe0f\u20e3 Simplify simplify simplify:<\/h5>\n Take it to it’s simplest unit. Clarity creates simplicity and makes it easier to get everyone rowing in the same direction.<\/p>\n
9\ufe0f\u20e3 Celebrate wins big and small:<\/h5>\n Recognize even the small milestones and achievements to inspire people and keep the relentless optimism going!<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udd1f Walk the talk:<\/h5>\n It’s not enough to write your mission or core values on a piece of paper – bring it to life, set the example and walk the talk!<\/p>\n
1\ufe0f\u20e31\ufe0f\u20e3 Giddy up!<\/h5>\n Growing a business is full of twists and turns – one minute you’re up, the next you’re down. Don’t let the lows get you down – keep going! Keep learning. Share your vision and let it inspire and drive you and your team through the highs and lows.<\/p>\n
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey. Here’s to many more years of innovation, growth, and success!<\/p>\n
And, as always…GIDDY UP! \ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n
Michelle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\ud83c\udf89 Celebrating 11 Years of Growth Street \ud83d\ude80 by Michelle Heath Two roads diverged in a wood,\u00a0and I took the one less traveled by,\u00a0and that has made all the difference. \u2013 Robert Frost The Road Not Taken is my favorite poem. As a junior in high school, I learned to love poetry. When I first…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[201,32],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Exceeding Expectations: Eleven Years of Growth Street | Growth Street<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n