The Mindset That Kills Progress: Why Growth Requires Discomfort and Action
- Marcus D. Taylor, MBA
- Jun 26
- 5 min read
When Learning Feels Like Pain
There are times I’ve stared at something new—an idea, a tool, a system—and my first reaction was, “I don’t get it. This is too hard.” It didn’t make sense, or it felt so far removed from what I already knew that I dismissed it as unnecessary.
But then I thought about the youth we mentor—the ones we push to believe in themselves, to step outside of what’s comfortable, and to learn through the struggle. How could I challenge them to rise if I wasn’t willing to do the same?
So I began asking myself deeper questions:
Do I really want to learn this?
Is it important for me?
How can I learn it?
Who else has done it?
What did it take them?
Do I have the time and discipline?
Am I passionate about this—or just curious?
That shift changed everything. It reminded me: learning is not about comfort. It’s about commitment.
Excuses or Evidence?
When someone tells me, “I can’t,” I don’t assume they lack the ability. I assume they haven’t built the mentality.
Most people give up at the first sign of discomfort—not because they can’t move forward, but because they won’t. Some were never taught to push past resistance, while others got comfortable after early success. But the truth is, success from the past won’t carry you forward unless you evolve.
And the biggest red flag?When someone starts listing off what they already know—as if old knowledge guarantees new results. That’s not confidence. That’s complacency.
Outdated information becomes like old software—clunky, slow, and incompatible with the systems of today. That’s why we update our phones, change the oil in our cars, and install new hardware. Yet when it comes to our minds, many stop updating. They stop learning.
They stop growing.
“This Is How We’ve Always Done It” – A Comforting Lie
Few phrases reveal more about an individual or organization’s downfall than:
“This is how we’ve always done it.”
Especially when it's used to defend failure.
Clinging to ineffective methods while expecting different results is not loyalty to tradition—it’s fear in disguise. It’s the worship of familiarity over function. A refusal to stretch. A deep-rooted belief that change is dangerous rather than necessary.
To rely on precedent while achieving nothing is a paradox—and a dangerous one. It locks people in cycles of mediocrity and prevents innovation from taking root.
If something’s not working, repeating it doesn’t make it better. It makes it worse.
The Curse of “If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It”
Another damaging mindset that keeps people and organizations stuck is the phrase:
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The origin of this expression is often credited to Bert Lance, Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Lance was quoted in Nation’s Business magazine saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” as a defense of leaving functioning government systems alone.
At the time, it seemed like a sensible idea—avoid unnecessary tinkering. But over the years, this phrase has morphed into a justification for laziness, avoidance, and fear of innovation.
In today’s rapidly changing world, “not broken” does not mean “optimal.”
That mindset convinces people that just because a system is still moving, it’s still effective. But there’s a difference between functioning and flourishing. That outdated process might be “working” the same way a rusty old car still drives—but what’s the cost in performance, efficiency, and opportunity?
“If it ain’t broke” has become a cultural excuse to avoid progress. It’s a slogan for stagnation. It creates resistance to growth, especially in environments where innovation is needed most.
When I Didn't Wait for the Break
When I was in the Texas Army National Guard, my job role was an automated logistics specialist, working as a dispatcher in the motor pool. It didn’t take long before I noticed a major issue: the dispatch data wasn’t being recorded or stored properly in the system. There were no backups, no archive process, no redundancy—just manual logs and trust.
So I asked my motor sergeant if I could use some of my free time to build a database—a basic archive and backup system. I’d seen something similar at a previous job and knew that eventually, every system would need to evolve. His response?
“Man, we already have a system. If the Army wanted you to do that, they’d have told you.”
I didn’t argue. I just said, “It may happen anyway,” and I used my spare time to build it.
A year and a half later, the Army transitioned from the older dispatch system (ULLS-G) to a new one (SAMS-E) that required full data integration. When the intergration teams came to our unit—we were one of only a few units in the state with a clean data archive. Because I had already purged, organized, and stored our records, the transition was seamless.
What others dismissed as unnecessary—because it wasn’t “broke”—became the very thing that allowed us to lead in a system-wide upgrade.
Sometimes protecting the future means preparing beyond what’s required. Just because something’s working now doesn’t mean it’s ready for tomorrow.
Familiarity Isn’t Safety—It’s a Stagnant Pool
Some people aren’t attached to excellence. They’re attached to familiarity. And familiarity feels safe… even when it’s suffocating.
The moment something challenges that comfort—like new knowledge, a change in leadership, or a demand for accountability—many shrink back. They find reasons not to act:
“It’s too expensive.”
“I don’t have time.”
“I’m not ready.”
What they’re really saying is: “I’d rather stay where I am than risk growing into who I could be.”
But let me be clear—growth is uncomfortable by design. If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be growth.
Stop Worshipping Past Wins
We cannot build a better future by anchoring ourselves to outdated strategies. That’s not tradition—that’s stagnation. What worked 5, 10, or 20 years ago may no longer serve today’s challenges. And what once felt advanced may now be inadequate.
The mind, like any tool, requires updates.Without new learning, we become stuck—defending failure because it’s all we know.
I learned this lesson firsthand when I was playing football. I had a bad play—I took the wrong angle, went inside instead of sealing the edge, and the opposing team scored a touchdown. My coaches scolded me hard, benched me, and my teammates made harsh comments that showed they lost confidence in my ability to be on the first team. And I couldn’t shake it. My mind was still replaying the mistake, over and over. "I told myself, "we practice this all the time". But then, my defensive line coach came over and said:
“Next play mentality.”
He explained that in football—and in life—you have to move forward. Reflect on the mistake. Understand where it went wrong. But don’t stay stuck there. Don’t let it define you.
He said, “It’s not about the fact that you made a mistake. It’s about being aware enough not to make it again. And when the opportunity comes again, be ready.”
That lesson stayed with me far beyond the field. Because too many people bench themselves after one misstep. They let failure freeze their growth. But you can’t live in the last play. You have to learn, reset, and move forward.
Thanks Coach Montgomery. I learned a valuable lesson that day and I have lived it. My children, athletes, Soldiers, and Kappa League members have received that wisdom.
Final Thought: Are You Curious, or Are You Committed?
Ask yourself:
Are you avoiding learning because it’s difficult?
Are you defending failure because it feels safe?
Are you stuck because you believe you already know enough?
If the answer is yes, you have a choice to make.
Curiosity is a good start—but commitment is what transforms your life.
The world isn’t waiting. Neither should you.
“Progress is never made by those who worship their past more than they invest in their future.”
Awesome job. Reading your article and see things in a different perspective, I agree with you. You never know what good can come out of something if you don't try.
Complacency kills ambition. Very nice article