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Not long ago, I had the misfortune of reuniting with a friend of mine.

Most of the time, reunions are tagged with excitements, how-are-you-doing-now’s, sumptuous dinner and other good feelings. Mine applies too, except that my friend Barney, is extremely negative.

I realize this while we were catching up over dinner. He said he wanted to take up a few personal development courses but there was a problem. A big problem.

In Barney’s universe, he is the protagonist of a giant conspiracy involving the God, the government, the boss and his family. He was so convinced of how everyone was out to get him that I almost believed him!

Barney is very creative and eloquent.

But he will never realize his full potential if his attitude and beliefs about who is responsible for his development stays the same.

Only his side of the town was flooded, only his car was scratched this week, only his tax was increased, only he had to cover for his colleague, only his family took up a big chunk of his time and leave him none left for attending the courses. I hope you see what I mean now.

Everyone from the very top to the bottom is at fault, except Barney.

The saddest thing is many of us see outcomes in life this way.

When we gain nothing from professional or personal development, it is the easy way out to make excuses. But we have to face the truth and admit it.

It is easy but meaningless to point the finger and say “it’s useless”. Positive changes only follow after you make a firm decision to improve your life!

Have you made your decision?

If you say yes, here are three keys to get you started on your personal development.

Take the first step

If you know that your poor reading speed is pulling your efficiency down and holding your business back from optimal performance, enroll yourself in speed reading courses.

If you feel that you can give your clients a better first impression, make an appointment with a professional fashion consultant to improve your fashion sense.

Committing yourself is the most difficult part of a self-development plan. The first step to commit is the hardest to make. If you have taken the first step, the second, third and subsequent steps will be easier to swallow.

Take the first step now and you will not regret it.

Pick one only (maybe two…)

Have you ever create a to-do-list before and it turns out to be as long as a toilet roll? Just peeking at it strikes fear into the heart and no work is done at the end of the day.

It’s the same thing with a list of all the new skills you want to pick up or improve upon. They are all intimidating to look at.

The solution is to choose the most urgent and important one, and strive to perfect it first. In other words, complete them one at a time. (Maybe two if you are confident of doing so)

Please don’t take this as an underestimation of your ability. The purpose now is to build the momentum. Once it’s set, you will have more confidence and it shortens the learning curve.

On the other hand, if you burn yourself out by biting more than you can chew, you will be back to square one.

Be selfish for once

Remember my friend, Barney? He said he had to accompany his family and had no time for that self-development course he wanted. It seems reasonable to place your family as top priority. But in actual fact, he will be unhappy and unfulfilled because his needs are not met.

Has he ever thought that he can be of greater service to his family and friends if he is happier and more proficient?

If you take time off to improve your fashion sense and manage to secure a huge deal because of that, you can provide more for your loved ones.

If you improved your public speaking skill, you will be more confident and also set a positive example for those around you at the same time.

Time constraint is not the problem of a selected few; you have to choose what to do with your time.

Recognize your responsibility

At the end of the day, you are the one spending the time and effort, and the one who emerges wiser. The responsibility for your development lies with you.

Only you can make the first the step, only you know what you really want to be good at and only you know if it is worth your time.

P.S. I found this quote on time management by a Taiwan actor in the local news recently. Although I don’t agree with it fully, it is great for having a laugh.

“Time is like a cleavage. If you are willing to squeeze, you will have it”

Take the Best First Step in the Right Direction

Okay, consider this a P.P.S. to the above P.S. It is also crucial that when you begin to take responsibility for your own personal development, you take the most deliberate care to make the best possible first step in the right direction.

To help you find the best possible direction to take, I suggest you use a COMPASS . . .

personal development, overcoming procrastination, get started

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