Why do some of us choose to invest our time, and in certain cases our hard earned cash, in personal development and growth? It’s no secret that successful people focus on personal development and understand that increasing their net worth is directly proportionate to how much they improve their personal worth. But what constitutes personal development and how can we achieve it?
Daily Routine
Our daily routines can make a huge difference to how healthy, happy and productive we are; but habits and routines are inherently personal. Mark Twain would advise you to get your biggest tasks done early, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Whereas Steve Jobs looked in the mirror for 33 consecutive years and asked himself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”
What works for you won’t necessarily work for somebody else, but there are some clear parallels to draw from the successful.
Eight Personal Qualities
Dr Simon Raby from Kent Business School advises that it’s key to look at some of those common personal qualities observed among successful business owners and entrepreneurs. “The following eight common qualities are shared by the successful individuals we have worked with who’ve invested in their own programme of personal and organisational development.”
1. Open minded
They are always open to new ideas, ways of thinking, and discovering the unexpected.
2. Ambitious
They are by their very nature ambitious. They are keen to achieve in all areas, to push the boundaries of their own capabilities, to set themselves goals that others would consider daunting.
3. Accepting of challenge
They are keen to debate, to learn from and understand the views of others. They will not automatically presume that their way is the best.
4. Future-focused
They are focused on what can be achieved, not on what can’t. This does not mean an ignorance of the past, but rather a desire for a better future.
5. Make mistakes
They make mistakes, plenty of them! They are willing to experiment and practice, and learn from what emerges. They believe that every situation provides an opportunity to learn.
6. Success ≠ sales
They are clear on what success is to them, and they see success emerging from satisfying a range of needs, not just their ego. Beyond economic gain, they also want to feel fulfilled, and satisfy the needs/wants of others.
7. Create space
They create time for themselves and for their business. They work on themselves and their business in a strategic capacity, and aim to create distance between themselves and the ‘day-to-day’.
8. Persistence
They never give up – they are tenacious, action-oriented and focused on progress.
What’s your view?
Join the debate on LinkedIn, or if you are an ambitious entrepreneur or business owner you may wish to bring your ideas to the complimentary Revealing the Characteristics of Success Event at Kent Business School on February 26 2015.
For further information on our work with business owners and entrepreneurs, please get in touch with Simon on 01227 824740 or S.O.Raby@kent.ac.uk .