“Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better” Émile Coué
There’s a difference between growth and development. You don’t have to do much to grow physically, time will usually take care of that for you. But you have to make an effort to develop mentally, emotionally or in any of the ways that count.
Personal development isn’t a one-off, neither is it something to be achieved only by attending motivational seminars. It’s a real, practical never-ending process. You can’t say ‘Let me stop here, I am mature enough’, because the day development stops decline sets in. Every day is an opportunity to become better, but you must be intentional about seizing the opportunity. As you start setting goals for the new year, getting serious with your personal development should be high on your agenda.
Here are 6 things you should do to help you develop yourself consistently.
- Read – There’s a saying I totally agree with that says, “leaders are readers”. What is it that you need to improve on in your life? What do you want to get better at? I guarantee you there is a book written about that somewhere. Find and read it. Read broadly about everything you need to know to improve yourself. There’s too much knowledge available in the world for you to try and achieve all by yourself, help yourself by learning from the experience of others. and then read some more.
- Get a Mentor – A mentor is experienced in the field(s) you want to grow in. They could be older friends, colleagues at work, or people you have sought out specifically to learn from. Get someone who knows more than you do about your field and learn from them. Make your time with your mentor count by asking a lot of questions and taking notes. Remember, time is a valuable currency you can’t afford to waste.
- Track Your Progress – At the end of each week, reflect on what you did, what you learned, and how that has improved you. Abe honest with yourself about where you have gotten better or worse. Get a weekly/monthly planner to help you keep track of your progress. This is personal development: no one can check it for you, but you.
- Practice Makes Perfect – Don’t get all the knowledge and store it in your brain: put it to good use. As you read and receive mentorship, practice what you are learning, and keep on practicing till you see the results you’re looking for.
- Be With People of Like Mind – Surround yourself with people who are taking their personal development seriously. Finishing 2018 strong may mean cutting off people who have no positive impact on your life. This may be painful, but it is necessary. If you think big, then associate yourself with big thinkers.
- Hold Yourself Accountable – You are in charge of your development, which means you have to take yourself to task when you perform poorly and praise yourself when you have performed commendably. Take responsibility for yourself…
Personal development is a lifestyle that you should be consistent with. Remember, you’re responsible for how your life turns out.
