I believe you are confusing two different things. First: the activities that you would take as an individual that would make you grow. Second: the perception of

I believe you are confusing two different things. First: the activities that you would take as an individual that would make you grow. Second: the perception of others for your potential for future growth. This article is about how we reward others based on our perceptions. The unstated assumption is that these two things are independent. That is, it seems possible that the things that you do that cause you to grow may be independent from the things that cause others to perceive you as deserving reward. If they are independent (and there is no proof in this article or in my comment that they are, they are unstated assumptions) then the mechanisms that govern them are independent. So while it may be true that pushing yourself to your limit does indeed lead to growth (I have no immediate opinion on this but have no issue granting it) it does not necessarily also lead to others perceiving you as deserving reward. The natural question ... why doesn't it? What is the source of this discrepancy between activities that lead to growth and people's perception of individuals and the desire to give out rewards. It is to that questions my original comment was addressed.