This post is an excerpt from my free eBook. You can get the rest of the book by clicking here.
I have three little kids (my oldest is 8) and they are growing up too fast. It is almost a daily occurrence that one of them needs new pants or a new coat and of course new shoes. They grow so quickly and grow out of the clothes often, that I started buying clothes a size big to give the kids a chance to grow into them.
Similarly, I have been playing ice hockey for many years. I am a decent player; I have fun and can control the puck but am not an all-star. A few years back I played for a team full of beginners and I was clearly the strongest skater on the team. I had fun and made some friends; we won a few games and lost a few. More recently I joined a team with some very skilled players. I had to up my game and skate extra hard to keep up and contribute. By the end of the season I was skating with this team and scoring a lot of goals. My skill significantly improved. I realized during my time with the beginning team my skills atrophied. I needed to step into a higher, more demanding league to improve my game.
Life and success are the same way. When you put yourself out there and set the bar just a little higher, push yourself a little bit more, success will come. Thinking small benefits no one, especially you. Stretch your dream, even a little beyond your comfort zone, play harder and get better.