3 Benefits of Belonging to a Big Pond

3 Benefits of Belonging to a Big Pond

Think back to your childhood, when adults seemed to have magical powers and could do anything. When taking the training wheels off seemed like a sure way to end up with two skinned knees but was more importantly the key to unlocking your neighborhood.

Yes, it was scary being small in a big world, but it also showed us a whole new level of freedom. It allowed us to face failure head on and ultimately mature, make friends, and achieve our dreams. As kids, we didn’t let fear stop us in our quest to grow. Whether it was learning to ride a bike or swimming to the deep end, solving a complicated math equation or climbing to the top of the world—aka the biggest hill on our block— we embarked on challenging adventures with determination, knowing that it would help us become who we wanted to be. 

We learned that on the path to big, we got bigger.

Somehow this lesson was forgotten by most of us along the journey. We became content in our achievements and started capping our aptitude. And though we wanted success, we felt content being a big fish in a small pond.

Despite wanting extraordinary results, it turns out that as adults, we’re often afraid that leading a big life and experiencing new things will bring unwelcome complications or hurdles. So instead of embracing the opportunity for success, we avoid or sabotage it altogether. As kids, we learned to look back and laugh at the things we once feared. As adults, it’s time we channeled the emotions of our childhood and relearned that “big is bad” is a lie.

As Gary and Jay talk about in The ONE Thing, staying small may seem safer and easier, but it also limits success. It’s not good for us to be a big fish in a small pond. Here are three benefits to seeking out a bigger pond.

1. You Have More Room to Grow

If you’ve ever visited the aquarium section at a pet store, you’ve likely seen that they jam dozens of tiny fish into each tank. But, when you want to take a fish home, the workers will make sure you have a tank that is the proper size for the fish you want to get and won’t be overcrowded. It seems contradictory to the situation at the pet store. That’s because these small tanks are only meant for temporary occupation. For their forever home, fish will need plenty of room to grow, swim around, socialize, and get oxygen. The same idea is true for us. 

In order to grow, thrive, and reach our highest goals, we can’t stay in spaces that should be temporary. We must seek out environments where we are able to truly spread our wings—or fins—and take hold of better opportunities. This doesn’t mean we have to move from a small town to a giant metropolis. But we need to make sure we are in the right environment for us to continually evolve into better versions of ourselves.

2. You Get to Learn from the Best

Several popular quotes and idioms talk about how important it is to choose whom we spend our time with wisely. “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room,” has been attributed to several famous people throughout history, including Confucius. Then there’s these words from motivational speaker Jim Rohn: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” The point is who we are around will affect our trajectory in life. And when we strive to be in a bigger pond with bigger players, we can be with those who will make us better and more successful. 

As Jay wrote in The TwentyPercenter, this is also called playing up, and we can do so in many areas of our lives. “Playing up can be defined as choosing an environment that provides a higher level of challenge,” Jay says. Work, romance, friend groups. By playing up, we will likely be held to higher standards, learn about new ideas and skills, and reach our highest potential. We will always be influenced by those we choose to fill our schedules with. That’s why it’s important to choose wisely and grow with the best of them. 

3. You Can Think Bigger

By being in a big pond, we get to think big. We can see our potential and understand that the only limits to our success are the ones we create. The world is our oyster. And by thinking big, we can focus more on getting the outcome we want. This is because we don’t need to constantly set new goals and re-evaluate our strategies. Thinking bigger gives us more runway, more momentum as we pursue our bigger goals. We can think big, get focused on what we need to do to achieve our goals, and put those plans into action. And get big, bigger results in return.

Remember, big is not bad. It can help us become the best, most successful and fulfilled versions our ourselves. When have you benefitted from being in a big pond before? Tell us about it on our Facebook page. And don’t forget to check out our blog for more exciting articles.