Blog | Entrepreneurship, Personal development

Personal Development

Personal development: includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. The concept is not limited to self-help but includes formal and informal activities for developing others in roles such as teacher, guide, counselor, manager, life coach or mentor

Source: Wikipedia

Growing up, personal development was not a word commonly used – at least not in my circles. At school, they never heard the word personal development. My formal education focused more on memorization and compliance.

At home, my personal development was measured by how well I did in school. Good grades meant a reward and bad grades – punishment.

My challenge came in the form of my lack of interest in school and what the teacher had to say. At the time I felt that 90% of what teachers were teaching had no current value in my life. For example: school was not going to improve my video game skills. I needed to be left alone with the opportunity to practice on becoming a better BMX’er (Bicycle Motocross Rider). I wanted to learn about practical things like how to get a girlfriend… or even how to deal with my anger and confusion around my parents’ divorce. My interests were diametrically opposed to those of the school. We were miles apart.

With my parents’ divorce having a major impact on me… my mom took me to a therapist; she knew I was struggling and did her best to help me. Back then I only had one perception of a therapist – if you see one then something must be wrong with you. This myopic perception led to me keeping my sessions a secret from my friends. Eventually, I rejected the support and pushed the idea of therapy aside. Little did I know that years later…the concept of the therapist profession would be the catalyst for my journey to be happy, healthy, financially free and a Rich Dad Advisor with the opportunity to meet consistently with a team of personal development professionals.

Per a Robert Kiyosaki quote “Amateurs don’t have coaches, professionals do.” This principle resonates with me. I believe that individuals playing at the professional level have coaches around all the time. A coach offers support, encouragement, and provides honest/constructive feedback. And when the time comes for them to light a fire under you – they do.

My wife Lisa – business partner and Rich Dad Advisor – and I have built a team of professionals to support us in achieving our personal development goals… even though some of these goals and team members change periodically. Currently, our personal development goals are segmented into three categories:

Health
Wealth
Happiness

Each category provides us with a platform from which to work and cultivate our goals, strategies, and areas of interest for pursuit. For example:

• Health
• Personal Trainers/Crossfit
• MMA (mixed martial arts)
• Naturopathic Doctors
• Prepared and Delivered Meals (if you eat out a lot, this is less expensive than you may think)

 

• Wealth
• Mentors
• Rich Dad
• Business Coach
• Wealth Strategist (CPA)
• Asset Protection (Legal)

 

• Happiness
• Therapist
• Support Groups
• Clearing Coach (dealing with upsets)
• Seminars
• Book Studies
• Parenting
• YPO (young presidents organization)

Through personal development, my life is richer. In essence, personal development is about the empowerment of the human spirit.

Build a team that will support you and emulate the best you. If you don’t like your current teachers and they are not encouraging you to be the best that you can be, fire them! In school I could not fire my teachers, as an adult, I can!

Align your teachers with your personal interests and goals. Build a team of personal development experts and take on the amazing challenge called life. In the process you will not only improve the quality of your own life, but also the lives of others – go for it!

To Your Continued Success