Let’s be honest — growth doesn’t happen because you wish for it. It happens because you plan for it. You don’t “accidentally” become the Director of Operations who drives results or the COO who owns profitability. You grow into that version of yourself — intentionally, step by step. That’s where a Growth Plan comes in.
What’s a Growth Plan (and Why Does It Matter)?
A Growth Plan isn’t just a to-do list or a stack of goals. It’s your personal strategy for becoming the next-level version of you.
It’s the roadmap that helps you stretch your thinking, sharpen your skills, and strengthen your character — so you can dream bigger, achieve bigger, and impact lives more deeply.
Because let’s be real: If your vision is growing, you have to grow to match it.
You can’t lead a multi–million-dollar operation with hundred dollar habits.
Step 1: Identify What Needs to Grow
Before you plan, pause. Ask yourself: “Who do I need to be to go where I want to go?”
That one question changes everything.
- Maybe you’re ready to move from Executive Assistant to Director of Operations and need to understand financials.
- Maybe you’re hiring leverage for the first time and need leadership skills that don’t just come from your title.
- Or maybe your body, boundaries, and mindset need to catch up with your ambition.
Growth starts where honesty meets hunger.
Step 2: Build Your Plan with LEAP
At Ops Boss® Coaching, we use a simple framework to get you started: LEAP — because growth always requires one.
L: LISTEN & LEARN
Curate what fills your brain. Every podcast, book, and blog post you consume either sharpens your edge or dulls it — so choose intentionally.
- Read: Pick books and publications that stretch your leadership, systems, or mindset. (Harvard Business Review is a fave!)
- Listen: Try podcasts that fuel both your head and your heart — The One Thing and Mel Robbins are great places to start.
- Follow: Smart blogs (like this one!) and thought leaders who inspire you to grow forward.
Pro Tip: Ask your rainmaker what they’re reading. When you speak the same “learning language,” alignment and communication get stronger.
E: EXPERIENCE
Growth doesn’t live in theory — it lives in motion.
- Want courage? Volunteer for something that scares you.
- Want leadership chops? Lead a committee instead of just joining one.
- Want stamina? Commit to that 10K.
- Want perspective? Travel somewhere that doesn’t speak your language.
When you stretch yourself in one area, you strengthen yourself in every area.
Think beyond business. Volunteering, competing, and traveling all shape who you become.
A: ATTEND
Show up where growth is happening. Take the class. Buy the ticket. Sit in the front row.
- Office trainings that sharpen your systems or contracts game
- Ops Boss® On Demand classes — “10 Secrets of a Mega EA,” “Coach Them Up or Coach Them Out,” and “User Manuals for People” (coming soon!)
- Industry events like eXpCon, KW Family Reunion, or Inman Connect
- Outside-the-industry events like Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery or Disney’s Customer Service training
When you invest in experiences, you’re not just buying a seat — you’re igniting a shift.
P: PEOPLE
Your circle determines your ceiling. Ask yourself: Who do I need around me to grow?
Maybe it’s:
- A coach who keeps you accountable (ahem… schedule a call 😉)
- A mentor who’s already walked your path
- A mastermind group that challenges your comfort zone
- Or a counselor, trainer, or spiritual director who helps you grow in peace, not just productivity
Surround yourself with people who won’t let you play small.
Step 3: Put It in Motion
A Growth Plan only works if it moves from paper to practice.
So schedule the class. Buy the book. Send the email. Commit to the thing.
Because clarity without action is just procrastination with lipstick. 💄
Step 4: Check In & Celebrate
Add your Growth Plan goals to your annual list of goals and check your Growth Plan quarterly.
Ask yourself: What’s changed? What’s shifted? What’s next?
Then celebrate — every single win, no matter how small.
Growth isn’t about perfection. It’s about becoming.
The Bottom Line
If you want to go somewhere new, you have to grow into someone new.
And that, my friend, is what being an Ops Boss® is all about — becoming the kind of leader who can handle the dream you’ve been given.
So go on — build your Growth Plan. Take the LEAP. And remember: growth isn’t luck… it’s self-leadership.
Cheers to your next-level self. That’s BOSSY. 💥