Moments for growth

No one starts great. We grow into it. And the prerequisite for each moment of growth is acknowledging that you need to change. Thus the greatest among us are the ones who least need to be seen as right.
 
One of my favorite examples of this is the story of the founder of Judo (the martial art), Kano Jigoro. He was a black belt in multiple other disciplines, created his own discipline, and was world-famous in the martial arts community. However, when he was dying, he asked to be buried in a white belt, which is for the total novice, to signal that most of all he had the learner mindset of a beginner.

Where are you trying to prove that you are already good--whether to others or yourself? Is there a role or skill that is a part of your identity? If so, there's a decent chance you are making it harder for yourself to grow in that area because you need to be fully open to change.

For me, it's leadership and company strategy; I make my living teaching others how to improve these. So, I sometimes find myself wanting to dismiss the latest book on leadership or blow off a conference about strategy, thinking, "I already know this stuff." When I catch myself doing this, I buy the book and lean into what the speaker is saying extra intensely. Much of what I hear is familiar, but there is almost always one good nugget of unique insight. It also helps me avoid the greatest danger to my career, getting stuck in one particular way of understanding and treating every situation the same.

Don't get so stuck in proving your skill that you stop learning. Put on your white belt today.