You're 100% supposed to grow professionally outside of work.
Do y'all really not read Hacker News while board sitting on the couch? Discover a new programming language that looks interesting? Play with some new database technology? Read a reddit sub related to technogoly, etc. after the hours of 9 to 5? Vibe some fun looking idea, even if you just throw it away?
I'm kind of doubtful the people who are actually spending time learning something on Hacker News fall really into the category that they're not working on their career growth outside of work hours....
Are any of you good at your job?
(If you don't desire to grow your career, that's a viewpoint I can entirely understand.)
some people see 'career growth' as opening up a new technical manual and acquainting themselves with new stuff.
I think it's import to differentiate; networking with managers and going to industry-specific (or even company specific) seminars offers next to zero enticement for me, but I usually always have the time to read about a new language or tech.
In other words: If a growth opportunity arises, i'd rather it be personal growth.
What you're calling personal growth is 100% related to career growth. And you sound like someone who does do things outside the hours of 9 to 5 that intellectually you find interesting, and likely makes you better at what you do 9 to 5...
You're going to show up at that meeting someday, there's going to be a problem to solve, and you're going to have some ideas for things to try that are answers, because you read about that new tech. And someone's going to tap you on the shoulders to lead that or what not....