Subscribe

RSS Feed (xml)

Powered By

Skin Design:
Free Blogger Skins

Powered by Blogger

Friday, April 4, 2008

Think Growth


The name is of little importance. Names such as self-growth, education, keeping up with the Joneses in your job, financially and socially, all center on your own personal growth. It all starts with you.

If you know your situations, understand them and what they mean to you, and you are satisfied and content with them, then you can stop reading here. But if there is a nagging to become better, to achieve more, to gain more for self and for your family, and to calm that inner nagging, then you need to think about personal growth.

Is that inner nagging obscured by too many dinners, too many parties, too much time attending ball games ? On the other side, do you become tired by idleness, and restless, by sitting around twiddling your thumbs while watching television ? Then personal growth may be what you need.So what is personal growth ? Silly question ? Maybe. It is growing self with more knowledge, greater useful activity, and rewarding achievements. One result is greater self-esteem. Another is greater value to others whether it be family, employers, friends, or customers for your business.

As stated earlier, it begins with you.

1. You must consider yourself, and decide whether you need to grow self, and in what areas. Others can suggest areas for improvement, but it is you that must decide which areas you will improve. And do not be fooled about ability. The brain, when you apply it, works well until the day you die.

2. The next step is to determine where you can obtain solid material for growth in the area you have chosen. It may mean returning to school for selected courses or even a degree program. It may mean spending a lot of time in a library. It may mean attending quality seminars given by professional organizations. It can also mean spending time with a recognized expert even if you have to buy him dinner or take him or her to a ball game.

3. Once the plan for growth is laid out, then it is time to put it into action. This is when you may be separated from friends while you are growing. At this point there may be a need to spend money, though considerable can be gained with little or no costs through reading quality relevant literature, or attending free seminars. This is the time to stand up for self, and for all those about you who will eventually benefit from your growth even if they do not see it at the moment.

4. As you gain knowledge, and understand it, begin using it. Start by applying it in every area of your life where it is useful. Practice it humbly, that is, without being snooty or with aloof ness. Think about all who are contributing to your growth, and the knowledge gained, and be humble by it.

5. Perhaps about half way through your plan commence looking at possibilities for a promotion, for a better job, or for improved sales in your business. Writers, for example, may be able to apply learning almost immediately.

6. As you complete your growth plan you may realize that you want, and even need, to change careers, or sell the old business and start a new one. Do not, however, allow this activity to cause any slacking off on your growth plan. Finish it.

7. Once you have completed your growth plan then go full tilt at securing a new job, a promotion, performing your present activity better, or whatever you have planned. Do not quit your present income activity until the new one is secured, however.

8. Make no mistake about personal growth. It may require the sweat that goes with the labor of getting it done.

All successful activity and efforts requires persistent effort until it is completed. That is true for personal growth also. Lax effort may yield some gain, but it will not yield the full potential. Only full application of what you have learned through patient persistence, and the sweat of the labors involved will be rewarding.

Remember that anyone can grow. Age is not a factor in mental acquisition of knowledge and learning, or its use.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post, Meredith!

I love the practical eight step plan you've laid out so clearly.

Keep up the great work.
Gary