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Personal Development ToolboxPersonal Development Toolbox ...

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Personal Development Blog

A personal development plan is a map of your self development journey. It is basically a goal setting practice, but for the area of personal development. In a way, it is all encompassing in ones life and not just limited to specific goals. The objective of it is to plan for your aspirations in regards to personal development. Among other things, it involves identifying what skills you need to learn, the aspects of yourself needs to be improved, abilities that are you lacking and areas which needs to be given priority for improvement.

Although it is in essence a goal setting plan, however due to the nature of personal development, a slightly different approach would be more suitable and effective as opposed to using the goal setting method. Hence, the reason for having a personal development plan.

For many people who are serious about success, goal setting is a must. However, many do not set goals for the area of their personal development. People normally have financial goals, health goals, career and professional goals, spiritual goals and relationship goals. However, they have no goals for their personal development.

This is not ideal because as you get more and more caught up in achieving your goals, you will unconsciously tend to neglect learning more and improving further. In addition, when people start seeing success, many get complacent and stop their personal development. It is this complacency that usually causes many successful individuals to consequently fall.

Heres the gist of having a personal development plan. Everyone works hard towards achieving their goals. Unfortunately, often times many neglect working on whats most important to their success THEMSELVES; their skills, abilities and knowledge.

Goal setting takes care of what we want, but it does not take care of what we need. Having this plan for personal development helps to ensure that we are continually focused on making sure we improve and get what we need.

Though the basic premise of a plan for personal development seems quite simple, it is important that you spend time and really work on it so that you can come up with a really good and detailed plan. This is important to ensure that you are effectively developing yourself and headed the right direction.

The first thing that you want to do is to learn more about the methods for writing a personal development plan. Things like how to discover your strengths/weaknesses, knowing what to prioritize on etc. Once you are familiar with that you can proceed to create your detailed plan.

Here is a personal development plan template that you can use as a reference to create your own. Just follow the sections in the template and youll be on your way. Feel free to make any changes to the template to suit your personal needs if necessary. Though nothing is written in stone, however try to not to lose the essence of the template.

Here is an example personal development plan as a reference. Check this out if youre having trouble with writing any part of your plan.

Finally, use these personal development plan tips to ensure the effectiveness of your personal development plan and to get the most out of it.

Having a personal development plan helps you make sure your knowledge, skills and abilities are constantly upgraded. When all is said and done, it is your capabilities that ultimately affects your level of success and the quality of your life. So dont neglect it.

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Effective personal development plan for high achievers ...

The Kroc Center offers many programs and classes designed to facilitate personal development and life-long learning for children and adults.

BASIC WINDOWS COMPUTER CLASS: Including Internet and Email Primarily using Windows 7, this course will cover the practical use of the Windows operating system. Building from the basic skills you develop, we will show you how to do the most common and useful computer tasks such as going on the internet and using email. During the course there will be frequent hands-on practice and ample time for us to answer your questions on the material. In later course sessions we will devote more time to your individual questions and to additional practice. Also near the end of the course we will offer a brief overview of Windows 8 for those of you who are planning to update to that system. Day: Tuesdays, 10am 12pm Sessions: 10/14 11/18 (no class on 11/4) 11/25 12/16 Location: Administration building Community Room Registration fee: $15

FREE Open Lab Workshops!! Have computer issues or questions? Stop by and visit one of our computer volunteers for help. Day: Tuesdays, 12:30 2:30pm Sessions: ongoing from 10/14 12/16 Location: Education Center Computer Lab, Education Building By Appointment Only. Sign up at the Education Guest Service Desk, or by calling (619) 269-1540.

Arts and literacy come together for a fun and engaging series of evenings. Each night features a themed presentation by one of San Diegos premiere cultural institutions and an interactive art project from Young Audiences. Each family takes home a new book related to the evenings theme! Takes place in the Education Center Multipurpose Room 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free Parking and Admission!

NOVEMBER 20, 2014: Books Alive Its a special version of Music With a Twist of Mimes classic program Books Alive. Mr. K and Stu Mulligans performance features mime, music, juggling and audience participation. Learn about Commedia dellArte style of theatre derived from Italian mime. Jerry Hager leads a mime workshop and Christina Thurston demonstrates a 3D collage of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

JANUARY 29, 2015: The San Diego State University Performing Arts Troupe The Golden Age of Radio comes to Family Arts and Literacy Night. The San Diego State University Performing Arts Troupe (under the direction of Jerry Hager) brings new life to old time radio as they present a broadcast for todays audience filled with music, sound effects, comedy and lots of fun!

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The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center:: San Diego ...

Being happy at work means growing as an individual. The funny thing is most of us dont equate personal development with our jobs. We see them as separate entities that dont belong together. I believe this couldnt be further from the truth.

The reason why personal development and happiness at work are forever linked together is simple. The better we are at cultivating relationships and productivity, the more we enjoy our jobs.

Artists at Heart

We are all artists at heart. I watched a George Carlin interview over at 43 Folders. He talked about the importance of enjoying the various parts of writing, performing and promoting (marketing). He became successful when he began to understand who he was. In the earlier half to middle half of his career he thought that he should be an actor because everyone else was doing it. He hated it. Success came easier when he stopped trying to be something he wasnt and figured out what really made him happy.

Happiness is a continuation of happenings which are not resisted. Deepak Chopra

By not forcing yourself to work hard (being a big bully) and allowing your desires to pull you like a giant work-happiness magnet to do great work, the pain (stress and worry) will be significantly reduced and success will happen.

Why It Works for Companies

Dwayne J. Clark, CEO of Aegis Living stopped reviewing sales numbers at his annual meeting and created a yearly inspirational meeting. He brought in spiritual, personal development, and relationship speakers (Deepak Chopra and Jack Canfield) to give back to his employees. Popular speakers cost over $80,000 for an hours time. They did this to show that they were serious about creating an atmosphere that would help people grow.

From the day he launched Aegis with Bill Gallaher in 1997, Clark pledged to improve employees lives. Jim Berry of Inc. Magazine (check out the whole article Is it an annual meeting? Or an Episode of Oprah?

Dwayne began to see a significant improvement with his employees. They were more compassionate toward each other. They were also willing to share personal problems with each other. He was able to create a community that supported each other.

The turnover rate at Aegis is 25% to 43% a year, compared to the industry standard of 70% to 120%.

By fostering personal development at your company, you can also promote better teamwork, happier employees, and of course improve the bottom line.

Your Career

When you take the time to develop your emotional intelligence and personal skills, youll reap the rewards at work. The better you understand your needs, the easier it is to fulfill them.

Next time you are caught in office politics, denied a raise or refused much needed appreciation, try to think of the situation as a chance to grow. Notice how it makes you feel and try to end the negative cycle and give appreciation to people you work with. Believe me, if you enjoy feeling a certain way then chances are they will too. Youll probably notice that by taking the time to improve your happiness, your ability to be compassionate and your overall personal development skills, you will be able to enjoy your job even more.

I put a little resource list that I know you all will enjoy.

Three of my favorite personal development blogs are:

Steve Pavlina Check out my Interview with Steve.

Positivity Blog How to double your productivity (series)

Abundance Blog Five Stress-Busting Techniques for Busy People

Three of my favorite blogs on improving your career through knowing yourself:

Penelope Trunk How to go to a meeting when you want to sit home and cry

Get Rich Slowly JD doesnt post many career based articles, but How Do You Turn Passion into a Career? (And Should You?) is fantastic.)

Delightful Work An Authentic Approach to Making More Money

Do you believe in personally improving yourself at your job? How do you bring more love, spirituality, and power into your working day?

If you enjoyed this post I have a good feeling youll like these:

*

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Personal Development at Work - Work Happy Now

If you want to create a personal development plan that helps you to actually achieve your goals, solid preparation is the answer.

Preparation already starts with your interest in reading this article, so you are already a good step ahead! However, there is a bit more to it.

So, what if I showed you how to use some great preparation techniques to create a powerful personal development plan that guides you along the way to your goals?

UPDATE: For a little personal development plan 101, check out this presentation first.

You ask: What is a personal development plan?

The official Wikipedia answer on the process around the personal development plan is the following: Personal development planning is the process of creating an action plan based on awareness, values, reflection, goal-setting and planning for personal development within the context of a career, education, relationship or for self-improvement. (source).

In my simple terms: A personal development plan is an action plan that gets you from where you are right now to where you want to be in future. This can incorporate learning hard skills (like project management skills) as well as soft skills (like active listening).

Is this a bit clearer now?

Is it complicated to create a personal development plan? It can be. Everything can be complicated. For me, it is also a matter of mindset. So.

Think of two benefits right now. Ready?

There can be huge benefits, both for you as well as your employer, if everything works out as planned. In case you finish this course as a project management professional, for instance, you can be referred to as the project management expert within your company and be engaged in different interesting projects. Added values for both parties.

In general, there are three types of motivation to create a personal development plan:

But the question remains, how can you do it?

When I create a personal development plan, I use the following questions as a guideline to prepare myself best and to make this plan as useful as possible. Otherwise, I risk to lose the red thread. No matter how much motivation I have, without a logic plan, I am not getting very far.

Refer to the top of this article, if you need some tips.

There are commonly five to seven main categories of a personal development plan:

If business related, this will likely depend upon the circumstances. Is this plan related to your annual objectives? Has it been triggered during a training? During a 360 Feedback process? In all cases, you should be informed in advance.

Finally, yes, I believe plans should not only consist of words and numbers. Make a drawing on a separate page, just for your personal use. Draw an image or a symbol that you link with your desired outcome of the plan. It does not have to be pretty.

Follow the planning, aim for some progress, not perfection by tomorrow. You will be more satisfied and therefore more motivated to keep going.

If you are wondering what you need to succeed with your plan? You might like to read some techniques that I put in place. Last, but not least, do not forget to reward yourself every once in a while!

Has the question on What is a personal development plan? been answered for you? What do you think about such a detailed preparation? Does this make sense?

Leave a comment!

Image credit: iStockphoto (claylib)

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Train the elephant while he is young, for he will never forget. At least, thats how this story goes that I heard in India.

When an elephant is very young and small, their trainer ties them to a tree with a thick rope.

The baby elephant struggles and struggles but is not strong enough.

Soon the elephant learns that his strength is no match for the rope.

He accepts his faith, gives up and gets used to the idea that this rope can hold him.

As the elephant grows, even a simple string is enough to hold himwithout resistance. He dares not struggle, rememberingthe ropethat he could not break many years ago.

Though the string hasno chance of holding the elephant, he does not realize that: he has convinced himself that itis stronger than him, and he never even tries.

For many people, the failure from past events is what they remember. The memory of weakness, of not beingstrong enough stopsthem from even attempting to overcomechallenges in their lives, eventhough their strength is much stronger now.

They never forget and just like the elephant who will not try tobreak the string, theyshy away from challenges in their lives that they could overcome if they would only try.

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Sid Savara - Personal Development Training | Personal ...

Clinical Narcissism

Although must of us have exhibited some "narcissistic" behaviors at one time or another, a specific set of personality traits must be habitual for someone to be officially diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder.

Ideas to help you develop a better knowledge of yourself.

Its an imperative with a millennia-long history. But why is it important to develop a thorough knowledge of the self?

It seems that good leaders such as John Wooden, like Collins, have discovered that humility and selflessness are essential traits for successful and memorable leadership.

At some point every one of us has the opportunity to lead. What are the principles that enable us to lead with the interests of others foremost in mind?

None of us is a stranger to anger. Used appropriately and then dismissed, anger is healthy. But if allowed to control us and have its way, it can also damage us and those around us.

Is leadership all about the leader? Or are effective leaders those who are most in tune with their followers? Vision interviews two authors on The New Psychology of Leadership.

What would happen if a video of our daily lives was placed on YouTube?

Leaders arent born, theyre developed. And a true leader is a leader in every area of life. And leadership begins at home. Parents provide the earliest influence on children. By modeling leadership in their own lives, parents profoundly affect the kind of leaders their children become.

As King Pyrrhus admitted, some victories can effectively undo a person. From time to time, we, too, have battles to fight that may not be worth the price of winning.

Its not uncommon to find, in modern literature, the call for a new Golden Rule. But do we need a new rule, or is the one we already have adequate?

What is the key to preventing low self-esteem?

The term narcissist has come to refer to someone who indulges in self-worship or is in some way excessively self-absorbed.

You may have to lose yourself to find true self-worth.

Too many people derive little or no satisfaction from their work. So what does it take to achieve lasting fulfillment in our employment?

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Personal Development - Vision

If you are in need of some inspiration, but are on a limited budget (namely $0), this post is for you. I recently roamed the blogosphere in search of free personal development blogosphere is search of free personal development ebooks; the following list is the result of my efforts.

Please note: many of these ebooks require you to subscribe to regular updates or a newsletter to receive the ebook (you can always unsubscribe, right?). If you offer a free personal development ebook that is not on this list please contact me and Ill add it.

101 Things To Do Before You Die Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

30 Things You Need to Know Now Alex Blackwell, The Bridgemaker

4 Steps to Create the Life You Desire Ellie Walsh, Living the Law of Attraction

5 Secrets to Attracting Everything You Want Lorraine Cohen, Powerfull Living

5 Simple Steps to an Awesome Life Vlad Dolezal, An Amazing Mind

50 Ways to a Positive Consciousness Nicholas Powiull, Conscious Flex

84 Tips on Overcoming Procrastination Alex Fayle, Someday Syndrome

A Year of Change Peter Clemens, The Change Blog (thats me!)

Career Satisfaction From Within Chris Edgar, Purpose Power Coaching

Clear Negative Energy Andrea Hess, Empowered Soul

Change How You Communicate Leona Dawson, Transformative Living

Curlys Law Seamus Anthony, Rebel Zen

Enduring the Road to Success Eric Hamm, Motivate Thyself

Enlightening Stress Relief The Daily Minder, The Daily Mind

Enlightenment in a PDF Ivan Campuzano, Ivan Campuzano . com

Flying By The Seat Of My Soul Tess Marshall, The Bold Life

How to Get a Girlfriend Alex Shalman, Alex Shalman . com

How To Be A Deans Lister Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

How to be The Confident P.H.A.T Girl in ANYRoom Shabraska Ponder

How To Deal With Disappointment Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

How to Make Friends Glen Allsopp, PluginID

How to Manifest What You Want Evelyn Lim, Attraction Mind Map

How To Move On From Relationships Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

How To Overcome Procrastination Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

How to Practice the Art of Life Balance Stacey Hoffer Weckstein, Create a Balance

How To Successfully Achieve Any Goal Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

Learn This (numerous ebooks) Mike King, Learn This

Life Changers ManageTrainLearn

Manage, Click, Learn! 2010 ManageTrainLearn

Most Inspiring Quotes of All Time (Over 300+ Quotes) Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

On Creating Personal Change Angie Atkinson, In Pursuit of Fulfillment

Opening Doors: A Mini Guide to Blissful Guide to Blissful Living Laurel Vespi, Stone Circle Coaching

Quit Your Day Job Ali Hale, Aliventures

Shoots of Growth ManageTrainLearn

Slow Down Fast: A Revolutionary How-To Guide For Being Productive, Efficient, and Effective David Bohl, Slown Down Fast

The 77 Traits of Highly Successful People Mark Foo

The Beautiful Calm Meditation Ebook Ananga, Living By Design

The Essential Guide to Personal Excellence Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

The Genius Within YOU Steve Martile, Freedom Education

The Inspiration Manifesto Tanner Maluchnik

The Meaning of Life: Discover Your Real Purpose Celestine Chua, The Personal Excellence Blog

The Quote Effect Davina Haisell, Shades of Crimson

The Zen of Blogging Hunter Nuttall, Hunter Nuttall . com

Thinkonomics Rev. Ike, Science of Living Online

Thriving On Less Simplifying In A Tough Economy Leo Babauta, Zen Habits

Why Were Failing the 4-Hour Workweek (or, Reflections of a Pro Blogger) Hunter Nuttall, Hunter Nuttall . com

Work Happy The Google Way Karl Staib, Work Happy Now!

Note: this list is a work-in progress! If you offer a free personal development ebook that is not on this list email me at peter [at] thechangeblog.com and Ill add it.

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Free Personal Development Ebooks - The Change Blog

Jeffrey Gitomer

When I say Think and Grow Rich, what comes to your mind?

Almost everyone in sales and those interested in personal development have read this classic by Napoleon Hill at least once. And almost everyone who's read it has a positive comment. Many (like me) will say, "Turning point in my life."

Everyone has a turning point in their quest for lifelong learning. Everyone has their Aha! In your personal development, it's what you choose to listen to, watch or read that enhances your understanding of your life and teaches you what you need to do to succeed.

Napoleon Hill's 1937 quote sets the standard. "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

And once you have the information, it's all about what you are willing to do to take advantage of it.

Most people know Napoleon Hill was the author of Think and Grow Rich. The person Hill emulated and studied was. Not many know that.

Marden was the leading positive-attitude genius of the 20th century. Well-known before 1930-almost unknown today. He was a founding father of personal development and positive thought. Aha!

Author of more than 40 books, Marden also was the founder of SUCCESS magazine. Here are a few of his words of wisdom from the book he wrote in 1908, He Who Thinks He Can.

"Every child should be taught to expect success."

"The man who has learned the art of seeing things looks with his brain."

"The best educated people are those who are always learning, always absorbing knowledge from every possible source and at every opportunity."

"People do not realize the immense value of utilizing spare minutes."

"No substitute has ever yet been discovered for honesty."

"Poverty is of no value except as a vantage ground for a starting point."

These are quotes worth learning and passing on to others. One hundred years old!

1. Expose yourself to knowledge.Based on my personal experience and personal Ahas!, I'd like to challenge you with the rules of personal development and give you some examples of what I have learned so you might make your own plan to succeed or enhance the one you have.

At the end of a seminar I gave on positive attitude, I received an evaluation from a woman named Mary with a comment that read, "I wish I would have heard this 30 years ago." I got goose bumps of sadness and thought of a Jim Rohn quote: "All the information you need to succeed already exists; the only problem is you're not exposing yourself to it." This information existed 30 years ago. Mary just hadn't exposed herself to it.

Jim Rohn is known as America's leading business philosopher. His CD, The Art of Exceptional Living, is among the modern classics of personal development. Jim Rohn is the current master of inspiration and Aha! He imparts wisdom in every sentence.

Between Marden and Rohn, there is a long list of valuable books. I owe my career success to these books and to personal development information to which I have exposed myself.

Most of the books are more than 50 years old. Many with religious connotations-but still preaching the right words and thoughts. One of the most notable is The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. Biblical and brilliant.

2. Simple is powerful. If you read it and it seems too easy or too hokey, reread it. It's probably part of your personal development foundation.

One of my early Aha! moments of personal development was the simplicity of the message. Sometimes it's so simple, you go right past it without understanding the impact it can make.

A classic example is the eternal How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. In 1936 he wrote, "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." How many salespeople could benefit from that single Aha!? I think all of them.

Interesting to note that Dale Carnegie's lessons still are being taught in the classroom 70 years later!

3. Think and apply to improve. In As a Man Thinketh, published in 1902, James Allen says, "A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts." Thinking what can be done is at the core of your personal development. About 54 years later, in the million-seller, The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale writes, "We become what we think about all day long." Get it?

In 1969, I listened to Glenn W. Turner on a cassette tape: "Act as though you have already begun to achieve. Not fake it-live it."

4. Take a daily dose. Think about the time-worn expression, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apply that to personal development, and it means learn and apply one new thing every day. At the end of a year you will have 365 new pieces of information.

5. The older the better. If you want a new idea, read a book that's 100 years old. "The best educated people are those who are always learning, always absorbing knowledge from every possible source and at every opportunity." -Marden, 1908. Or, "History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats." -B.C. Forbes, 1919.

6. Personal development and positive attitude are joined at the hip-and at the brain. And there is another component-being of service. "There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." -Clement Stone, 1946. Add that to the 5000-year-old Chinese proverb, "To Serve is to Rule."

7. Do it even as your butt falls off. In 1898, Elbert Hubbard wrote an essay titled, Message to Garcia. Deliver the message, get the job done, complete the task-no matter what. Many have read that essay. Few have emulated it.

Personal development challenges you to think forward. "Greater than the tread of mighty armies is an idea whose time has come." -Victor Hugo, 1874.

Personal development challenges you to be your best. "You cannot mandate productivity; you must provide the tools to let people become their best." -Steve Jobs, 1988.

"I am the greatest of all time." -Muhammad Ali, 1963.

Personal development challenges you to make decisions based on the person you seek to become. "The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." -John Ruskin, 1869.

Wondering where you can "find more time" to devote to your own success? "It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste." -Henry Ford, 1901. Just a thought.

The key word is not development; the key word is personal. Do it for yourself, in your own way, and make your own time for it-or not.

The biggest Aha! of personal development is from Russell Conwell's Acres of Diamonds. Considered to be one of the finest speeches ever written, Acres of Diamonds offers a multitude of lessons about the rewards of work, education and finding the riches of life in your own back yard-or your own library. Aha!

Visit the SUCCESS store for books, CDs and downloads for your own personal development.

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The Power of Personal Development - SUCCESS magazine