Personal development is a journey of self-improvement and growth. It helps us in shaping our lives. It makes us expand our knowledge, and skills, and build emotional intelligence.
This quest for personal growth isn’t just about making ourselves better. It is a necessity. We must adapt to the changing world.
We must learn to overcome challenges. Build resilience. And enhance our ability to make meaningful contributions.
Successful people often attribute their achievements to a relentless pursuit of personal development. They understand that success evolves with each new skill and insight gained.
To stay ahead, one must continually evolve, embracing change as an ally.
Do you seek personal development?
I dare you to do a simple experiment.
For the next seven days, ask a hundred people this question: Do you seek personal development?
I have no idea what percentage of people will say “yes” to you. Everything depends on who these people are.
I tried this experiment with school principals. Many years ago, I had a series of seminars that teaches school principals the discipline of execution. I was expecting to get a lot of yeses from them.
So I started asking questions.
“Raise your hand if you believe that personal development is important?” Almost everyone raised a hand.
“Raise your hand if you actively pursue personal development?” About 50 in a hundred raised their hands.
“Who among you regularly read a book about leadership and teaching?” Only three raised their hands.
I continued. I asked about seminars, writing, research, and some other things.
Even those who believe in the importance of personal development do not act on it.
But I know one thing.
If you ask successful people, you will surely find more who consciously improve themselves.
Successful people do daily self-improvement steps. Are you one of them?
People who pursue personal development are not satisfied with the status quo. They turn mistakes into mastery. I will talk more about it later.
Everyone grows old. You and I have no choice. But growing up is a choice we must make each day.
Why People Seek Personal Development
Many good people are contented with good enough. They don’t seek personal growth. They have wishes too, but they don’t care enough.
Even if you provide them with the information, it does not mean that they’ll do something.
Spending three hours each day on Facebook will provide volumes of information. But spending time on Facebook or Netflix, or Twitter won’t make us improve ourselves.
We do not need much information. We need the inspiration to grow.
1. People grow when they are not satisfied.
Dissatisfaction makes people pursue personal development.
I was born into an impoverished family. My father was a construction worker; my mother was a laundrywoman. Both did not have regular jobs. When I was young, on some occasions, we only managed to eat once a day — even on holidays.
For many of us in the slums, life was predictable. Most of us would grow old like most of our parents: poor and powerless.
You got the idea.
Listen. Not everyone who was born into poverty will leave it. Sure, people complain a lot. Many believe that the fault is in the stars — or in the politicians who bought their votes.
People who pursue personal development are not satisfied with their situations. No power on earth could make them stay with the status quo.
At the age of nine, I saw the future for me. I would drop out of school. I would marry at a young age, be a drug addict, or would have died young. My future was predictable.
At age twelve, I decided to change the course of my destiny. I was both dissatisfied and inspired.
I did not like what I saw. And I was inspired to create the life I desired.
People cry every time I tell my story. But they do not need to cry for me. One does not have to be poor to be miserable. It is a misery to wallow in mediocrity.
Inspirational dissatisfaction motivated me to change our life.
I don’t know you — but I know that there are situations that you want to change in life.
It might be that you want to find a cure for cancer — and you are looking for opportunities to get people to support you.
It might be that you are sick and tired of politicians. Yet, you believe that you can serve people better by getting yourself elected to office.
It might be that you see ugly squared buildings everywhere. And you want to inspire creativity and artistry.
It might be that you have a decent job and you receive a decent salary. But you have unused talents and big dreams. And you do not want to wait any longer. You want to make things happen now.
You can.
You can.
You can.
Do you need to be intelligent?
You do not have to be intelligent to pursue personal development.
Sometimes, being intelligent is an obstacle. Intelligent people talk to themselves too much. That’s not the problem. The problem is that they possess a fixed mindset.
Logic paralyzes them. Limiting world views imprison them.
They don’t take risks. They strive to place themselves in “good” situations. They play same-same, slow and safe.
This world was not changed by intelligent people. People who are inspirationally dissatisfied change the world.
Personal development is a heart decision.
Remember, logic does not move people. Emotion does.
Pause for a moment. Think about all the things in your life that you are very dissatisfied with. Write your answers. I will wait for you.
Are you done?
2. People are inspired to create a new future.
You want what’s best.
I also have tried tools and techniques in personal development.
Visualization. Affirmation. Mantra. Productivity apps. Life hacks.
These tools are interesting. But for the most part, these tools can help you move like a headless chicken.
Because a person who has a purpose does not have to visualize and imagine the unreal. They do not need to convince themselves every day. They do not have to paint pictures of fantastic days.
They don’t only imagine, they do their damndest best.
For Salespeople
If you are a salesman, grow your knowledge about your profession. Understand how people buy. Have complete and unequal expertise about your products and services.
Find everything there is that will make you the trusted advisor of your clients.
Be an awesome salesperson.
For Managers
If you are a manager, grow your knowledge about your business. Master what everyone knows about your industry.
Find out what managers do in other sectors. Study performance psychology and learn what motivates people.
Learn management principles and strategies.
Find out the simplest and best ways to make things happen.
Attend seminars on leadership. Buy books on training and coaching, and mentoring. Find ways to stand out. Stay ahead.
Be an awesome manager.
For Teachers
If you are a teacher, distinguish yourself. Be the best resource for your students.
You cannot give them what you do not have.
Read books. Study teaching strategies. Practice active learning approaches, then create your own approach.
Encourage your students.
Join Toastmasters and communicate better. You can impact the world. Impact the world faster, cheaper, simpler, and better.
Be an awesome teacher.
For Priests
If you are a priest, master your catechism.
Practice what you preach for impact.
Study what people want and need. Give it to them, or at least show them how to get it.
Every week, every day, you have opportunities to change people’s lives. Prepare them not only for heaven. Equip them for a better life here on earth.
Model the way. Work, work, work like St Paul. Work, work, work like Jesus the Carpenter.
Don’t be contented with what people give you. Be the giver.
Be an awesome priest.
For Speakers
If you are a speaker, study people.
We are not in the speaking business; we are in the business of helping people.
Our success is not dependent on our platform skills or marketing campaigns. Our success is anchored on our ability to provide the best help to our clients.
Don’t just make them laugh. Give them concrete solutions.
Attend seminars. Watch other speakers. Read books. Study everything that your clients need to know.
Show them pure and unadulterated intellectual firepower. Be their most trusted advisor.
Be an awesome speaker.
Personal development is the pursuit of awesomeness. You want to become your best.
Awesomeness is a lifestyle. You have to choose it. Because if you don’t pick awesomeness, personal development will not make sense.
But if you want to become your best, you won’t need motivational quotes to move you. Instead, people will quote you because you infect people with your enthusiasm and energy.
People who pursue personal development spread awesomeness. They grow their knowledge about their profession and their vocation. They blaze the trail. They help others become successful.
3. People learn from their mistakes.
I am not yet done.
What I will tell you next is of great importance that you have to read them word for word:
Your mistakes will show you the road to mastery. So, make more mistakes.
In short, create your OWN formula for success.
I have made more mistakes than most people can imagine. However, each mistake taught me valuable lessons.
If you continue reading my articles, you will understand.
Your mistakes will give you valuable education, which no speaker can provide you. I share my stories because I want you to remember yours — and learn what I have done with my experience.
You can create your own formula and turn your mistakes into mastery.
Pursue personal development so you can become the person you really want to be.
