Key # 4 to Unlock your Potential and Achieve Success: Seek Personal Development

We have talked about taking care of yourself, taking risks, and be prepared as the first three keys to unlocking your potential and achieve success. The next key (4th in the series) talks about how being prepared.

Despite the uncertain economic climate, I think we are living powerful times for women in business. Just last week I saw this article on CNN.com that refers to a ‘mancession.’ In it, Patricia Sellers explains that out of 7 million jobs that were lost during the recession, 3 quarters belonged to men. Further, the male unemployment rate is at 9.8% compared to 8.1% for women. Some of the factors involved have to do with the fact that men are mostly affected by the decline in construction and manufacturing while the expansion of health care and education is helping women.

Additionally, as you may know women are traditionally paid less than men (statistics show 22% on average) hence, it is more cost effective for companies to keep women on payroll.

In fact, the upshot is that reportedly this is the first time in history, women are neck and neck with men in the labor force. Women held 49.9% of 131 million U.S. jobs in late 2009 and those numbers are expected to go up. So, why is this important; the increasing power of women in the workforce will definitely have a long-run impact on institutions, the social contract, and the look and feel of work itself.

With that background, it makes sense that we seek to become as polished and prepared as possible. Personal and professional development are top items on my agenda, and has proven to be a direct connection with success.

As you can see, all the keys I’m discussing in this series involve you as an individual. What do you want? Where do you want to be? See? it’s all about you. Whether you embark on a journey to advance at an internal personal level or you want to pursue additional tools to become better prepared on the workforce; if you ask me it is all worth it. When you seek development, you are acknowledging that there is room for improvement. And although I always tell people, that we are perfect the way we are; most of us have that desire and drive to do and do more. One little concept comes to mind. “Be-Do-Have”. The philosophy of BE-DO-HAVE, which some say was first introduced by L. Ron Hubbard on his book Conditions of Existence; refers to the attitude and mind-shift that has to occur in order for all of us to enjoy the kind of life we want.

For example, I hear people all the time saying “when I get the house, I will be happy” or ‘when I lose the weight, I will feel good about myself” or ‘when I get married, I will feel complete.” Conversely, the BE-DO-HAVE mentality goes as this: “based what do I want to be, I do the things I need to do, and the result is that I have what I want.” So in other words, in order to be you have to do, and only then you will have. Aha! Now I get it, the reality is that we go about it the opposite way, I will do what I need to do to have what I want, then I will be…happy, skinny, loved, etc.

With that Be-Do-Have mindset, you can appreciate that the do’s will support who you are or who you want to be and this is when personal and professional development come to play. Another example: Since I want to be a nurse (the be), I will enroll in school this fall (the do) and then I will enjoy the benefits of the education and a good job (the have.) Makes sense?

So, as assertive and intentional women it is important that we always have a goal of self-development in mind. Some objectives at a personal level could be: to lose weight, to take a yoga class, to learn to drive, to balance the checking account, to learn a new hobby, to start a new sport, to make more friends. On the other hand, professional development can include anything from attending a new workshop or seminar, enrolling in college, learning more about a topic that you may need for a promotion, to sign up for a professional networking group, etc. The bottom line is that any or all of these things may contribute to a powerful you. And the reason why I say powerful is because you will have selected the course and the goal that you want to pursue.
"Of all the things that can have an effect on your future, I believe personal growth is the greatest. We can talk about sales growth, profit growth, asset growth, but all of this probably will not happen without personal growth." – Jim Rohn

Being in control of your life and destiny starts with a deliberate decision of choice. Like the other keys; being in the look out for self-development options will allow you to feel secure about yourself, will tell others that you are on the quest to be the best you can be and better yet; it will amaze you by showing you all that you are capable of.

If you are stuck in your pursuit of self-development. If you know you can be more, if you want more but are not sure how to move forward Life Coaching might be for you. Call today for a complimentary coaching session and experience Coaching!
© 2010 Maria Martinez