I get asked this a lot…in fact I used to ask this question a lot myself!
I wanted to make money, get stuff, do what I wanted and to heck with all that “self-improvement” crap! I didn’t want a bunch of woo-woo do-gooders telling me how to act or be…. Bleh!
Well guess what. I was wrong.
If you want to be truly successful in life you have to put self-improvement into the equation. In fact if you dump everything else and focus solely on self-improvement then you’ll be on the fast track to success in every area of your life!
OUR DEFINITION OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT
Before I go one sentence farther, let me define what I mean by self-improvement.
Self-improvement is continually learning, growing, and expanding your experience and understanding of the world around you. It challenges you, causes you to look at things differently, expands your mind, and pushes your envelope until you evolve and morph into a new and better version of yourself. It is the chrysalis from which you emerge to show the world the awesome butterfly you have become!
Self-improvement has components that are similar for everyone but it is a very personal process. Your experience will be different than someone else’s and you will take different paths and use different tools in your journey. There are however certain requirements that those on the road to self-improvement (and success) must meet.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT
- Keep an open mind – First, foremost, and definitely most important!. Be a sponge, soaking up everything you can. The more information the better… even if it seems strange or foreign to your way of thinking. In fact the stranger it seems the better indication that expansion is imminent!
- Suspend judgment – Whenever we come across something that doesn’t fit into our little bubble of “accepted reality” our first reaction is usually to discount or disregard it all together. If it’s really outside our bubble we may even actively reject it, saying it’s wrong or bad or… even evil.
- Be willing to try – You don’t have to jump off a cliff here but you have to be willing to allow new experiences in your life. This can be done in small steps, trying little things then bigger ones until you are jumping off those cliffs! Successful people are not afraid to try. In fact they can’t wait to jump!
- Trust yourself – The one person you have to live with 24/7 for the rest of your life is YOU. So you better dang well be able to trust yourself and your judgment. If you’ve made bad decisions in the past I know this can be difficult. But to be successful – super successful – you have to learn to trust the person you are closest to – YOU.
YOUR PERSONAL SELF-IMPROVEMENT JOURNEY
Though there are some global requirements, the actual road to self-improvement (and ultimate success) is very personal and different for everyone. What excites and dazzles you may bore someone else to tears. Your passion may be nothing to another person. You may find amazing information in certain books or classes and be confused when those close to you don’t share your enthusiasm. Conversely, you may find yourself scratching your head as you try to figure out what’s the big deal about the “latest and greatest” guru your friends can’t get enough of. You may follow certain gurus or teachers that your friends think are really “out there.”
That’s all ok. Your path to success is exactly that… YOUR PATH. Skip down it happily and let others do their own thing. I guarantee when they see how much happier and more successful you’ve become they’re going to be all over wanting to know how you did it!
HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE THERE?
That’s easy… you’re never there.
Self-improvement is a journey… a lifelong one (and if you believe in multiple lives then it spans them all)!
You’ll get one level only to realize it’s just a plateau from which you can launch to even higher levels. You’ll expand so far only to realize it’s just the beginning. You’ll rush ahead with the enthusiasm of a kid on their first bike, stop to rest when you wipe out, get a rush as you feel the wind whip through your hair, take a break when you get tired of pedaling, and then ride off into the sunset of even greater adventures.
You never get it done. Isn’t that exciting!
HOW CAN YOU GET STARTED?
Like I said, self-improvement is very personal so what worked for me may not work for you. I’d start by reading success books and listening to audios. I’d also look into success gurus and philosophies. Below are some ideas and resources to get you started. Use the ones that resonate with you and discard the rest. But do get started… it’s truly your fastest road to success!
Ideas & Resources
- Study and model successful people – It’s true that you become what you surround yourself with. So study successful people. Read about them, ponder what makes them tick, really make a study of it. To be successful you have to think, act and live like you are successful and what better way to figure that out than but studying people who are already there.
- Take that one step further and become friends with them – While it’s great to study success, it’s even better to be close to people who are actually living it. Become friends with successful people. Hang out with them and absorb their energy. Keep your eyes and ears open to pick up tidbits of valuable information you can use for your own success. (Hint – You don’t have to go for the rich and famous. There are very successful people in your town or city and they’re a lot more approachable than you’d think).
- Cut out the word “NO” – Every time you find yourself saying “no” or “can’t” you need to stop yourself immediately! Change that with “what if” or “how can” instead. For example, instead of “I can’t get that job” say instead “what if I got it” or “how could I get it.” Successful people see solutions where others see obstacles and by switching out “no” and “can’t with “what if” and “how can” you’re re-training your mind to think like a successful person.
- Read books about success – My all time favorite is Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker. I keep it right by my bed and read a little of it almost every day. There are lots of other good ones too so peruse your local library or book store and get what calls you.
- Spend time dreaming about what life will be like when you’re successful – Dreaming and fantasizing is not only fun but very productive! I can’t tell you how many times my dreams have come true… literally J
- Immerse yourself in self-improvement and success materials. – Follow the gurus. Read the books. Study the courses. The more you surround yourself with it the faster you’ll live it! Here are some of my favorite success teachers....
- Zig Ziglar – Yeah his stuff is dated but it’s also timeless. I still have some of his old tapes that I listen to regularly.
- Jim Rohn – Another amazing success teacher. I listen to his stuff all the time.
- Anthony Robbins – he’s a little “over the top” for me but lots of people really love his stuff. Decide for yourself J
- Me – In one of my other businesses I’m all about being successful, manifesting the things you want, and creating and living the life of your dreams. Did you know that? I share the Law of Attraction philosophy of manifesting and you can get your very own FREE How to Manifest Kit right here.
- There are lots more… thousands more in fact. So keep your eyes and ears open for your own personal “self-improvement guru” and absorb there stuff until it’s coming out your ears.
