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Everyone wants to grow?until they see the cost.


That?s the truth behind John Maxwell?s Law of Trade-Offs: You have to give up to grow up.


Every step toward growth asks you to trade something?comfort, time, pride, or certainty. But remember, the power is in your hands. The question is never ?Will it cost me?? The question is ?Am I willing to pay??


Every Choice Costs Something


In 7 Life Lessons from the Trailer Park, I wrote that you can?t have it all. You can?t grow without letting go. Every decision costs something?comfort, time, pride, or opportunity.


When I was younger, I thought saying ?yes? to everything meant I was ambitious. What I learned is that it just made me scattered. Growth doesn?t come from doing more?it comes from doing the right things and being willing to release the rest.


Trade-offs aren?t punishments; they?re proof that you?re moving forward.


The Marine Lesson


The Marines taught me early that comfort and growth don?t mix. You can?t stay comfortable and expect to get stronger. Every promotion, every advancement, came with a trade-off: less sleep, tougher responsibility, higher expectations.


That?s true in leadership, too. If you want greater influence, you have to give up convenience. If you want trust, you have to give up control. If you want lasting growth, you have to give up excuses.


The trade-offs never stop?but neither does the reward.


Good Trade-Offs vs. Bad Ones


Not every trade-off leads to growth. Some drain you; others build you. The key is learning to spot the difference. It's a journey of self-discovery and growth.


Here?s how I see it:


Growth demands that you give up what?s good for what?s best.


Every ?yes? you say automatically says ?no? to something else. Make sure your trade-offs align with the future you actually want. Always stay focused on your goals and make intentional choices.


My Trade-Off Moment


There came a season when I had to choose between staying busy and staying effective. I was saying yes to every opportunity?mentoring, speaking, volunteering?and calling it service. In reality, I was burning out.


That season forced a hard look in the mirror. If I wanted to lead well, I had to let go of what looked good so I could focus on what truly mattered.


Letting go isn?t quitting. It?s choosing growth over ego. This means prioritizing what will help you grow and develop, even if it means letting go of things that make you feel good or important in the short term. It's about understanding that true growth often requires sacrifice and humility.


Make It Count


Personal growth always comes with a price tag. The cost might be time, comfort, or approval?but the payoff is clarity, focus, and peace.


So, what are you holding onto that?s holding you back?


You can?t grow and stay the same. You can?t climb higher while gripping the ground.


Trade the easy path for the meaningful one. Because growth isn?t free?but it?s always worth the price.


? Next week: Law #12 ? The Law of Curiosity: Growth Is Stimulated by Asking Why.