Learn to Grow Shorts: Take Yourself On as a Project

Welcome to another episode of Learn to Grow shorts, where I reflect on a topic of particular interest from our most recent episode. Last time, I chatted with Ruth Gotian, who’s hard at work on her latest book after the wonderful “Success Factor” made such a splash a couple of years back.

In our conversation we discussed Ruth’s article on Olympian Inbar Lanir who, after being cut from the National Judo team decided to “take herself on as a project”. I found this idea really powerful and inspiring – a pragmatic approach to growth that struck me as an effective response to a setback – I found it admirable that Inbar took the steps to evaluate, to plan, and to commit to getting better, to growing, as an athlete and as a person. Especially at a time when success would have felt like anything but guaranteed.

Most of us are really good at managing projects at work. We make plans, set milestones, get feedback, iterate. But how often do we apply that same level of attention, structure, and curiosity… to ourselves?

This matters—a lot—because the world of work is changing faster than ever. New roles are popping up, old ones are shifting or disappearing, and job descriptions you saw last year might already feel outdated today. If we’re not intentionally reflecting, growing, and repositioning ourselves, we risk getting left behind—or worse, stuck in someone else’s idea of who we’re supposed to be.

So what does it mean to take yourself on as a project?

I think, most importantly, it starts with reflection. An honest appraisal.

Where are you right now—professionally, creatively, personally? What’s working? What’s not?

And believe me, there’s bravery in this kind of honest appraisal – but it’s where real change and growth begins.

Once you’ve taken stock of where you are - then ask: where do you want to be?

What gets you fired up? What excites you—or scares you in the right way just enough to make you curious?

This isn’t about having a 10-year plan. Imagine you had a five year plan at the start of 2020, prior to the pandemic.

It’s about identifying a direction that feels meaningful. Figuring out something you want to move towards. A future version of you that feels more aligned, more awake, more you.

And finally: what steps can you take to bridge that gap?

Maybe it’s learning a new skill, or discarding old habits that no longer serve you. Maybe it’s networking differently, or blocking time each week to build a new creative practice. Whatever it is, you don’t have to overhaul your life in a weekend.

You just have to start.

Here’s the thing – and I think this is important – no one is going to do this for you. You’re the project manager and the project. Which means you get to make the rules. But there is a responsibility involved in that. You have to lead the charge.

So if you’ve been feeling stuck or uncertain—or even just a little restless—consider this your invitation. Take yourself on as a project and start building the next version of you with intention.