After that first bite, inevitably there is another, and another. It’s no wonder they now make king size. We just cannot get enough. It takes willpower to control ourselves to stop.
Growth has the same effect. As people or organizations, growth always feels good. We get some and we want more. It is uplifting, encouraging, and provides us with a sense of worth and achievement. But it needs to be managed deliberately and methodically.
Like chocolate, too much growth too fast, can create issues. If growth is pursued with reckless abandon, inevitably problems do arise. With organizations product quality diminishes, customer service and satisfaction declines, supply chains fracture, employees become overwhelmed and disenfranchised, and in time, much of the good we created that led to the growth, begins to unravel. As individuals we tend to fall into the same trap. We become impressed with our own success and sense of achievement, that we want to continue to replicate the triumph. We take on more functions or new responsibilities, and will dive into the opportunity with gusto and commitment. What are we giving up or replacing to take on these new endeavors?
Eating chocolate is enjoyable and we look forward to it. If we are intentional about the frequency, amount, and timing of our indulgence, we can avoid the nastiness of excess. Similarly, our desire for constant growth can be managed to ensure it remains an ongoing source of contentment, instead of indigestion and unhealthy eventualities.
