Your Personal Development Plan in 6 Steps
Jim Rohn said, “I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.” I know that statement has certainly held truth for me at times in life.
How about you?
Have you ever gone on an extended vacation or holiday with your family with little to no planning? While the allure of a spontaneous adventures is intriguing, for me, it would be fraught with frustration and uncertainty knowing I would be inherently responsible. Of course, this is far less of a challenge if you are going alone, but for most of us, our lives are closely linked with those we love. And while some spontaneity is incredibly exhilarating, it is difficult to fully enjoy the trip if you constantly need to think about the essentials like where to sleep, what to eat, and where to go – especially with others in tow.
Having insight into where you are going and what you would like to do, see, and accomplish along the way often leads to incredible memories and maximizing the adventures. Of course, you cannot forget to build in time for just being present – wherever that may be.
The same can be said about your personal leadership journey. Too often, leaders follow opportunities with little or no planning. Failing to spend time to cast a vision, a direction into the future and establishing those daily activities that move you forward on your journey. Therefore, it becomes no surprise when they become frustrated and reflectively ask themselves, “How did I end up here?”
Whether you are the ultimate planner for your vacations or not, I want to challenge you to take some time to explore and design your personal development plan. Don’t leave your growth to chance, prepare a plan in advance! Not only does it provide direction, but if it is founded on your ‘why’ – you will find incredible encouragement daily as you align your focus with your passion. Not only that, but it can also provide several key benefits:
Navigation: provides a clarifying direction regardless of the circumstances
Resilience: aligning your passion with your direction helps with resiliency
Boundaries: creates accountability for character and integrity; better decision-making
Safeguards: increases awareness of pitfalls along the way
Opportunities: increases possibilities when headed the right direction
I know, you were hoping for a plug-n-play personal development plan that would make your greatest frustrations disappear, your daily activities more effective and cast light on your future direction. If it were that easy, good leaders would be everywhere. What we know about (positive) change is that it isn’t easy and efforts toward change must be intentional and recurrent.
“The hallmark of excellence, the test of greatness, is consistency” - Jim Tressel
In John Maxwell’s book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth (ad), he passionately shares his perspective about personal development anchoring on the word potential. A word filled with optimism, hope, fulfillment, and significance – when reached. It is often dependent on consistency, a hallmark of excellence that requires intentionality, perseverance, and resiliency. Maxwell affirms that value-added growth requires the right attitude, improved self-knowledge (to increase self-awareness), aligning your passion and purpose, and developing yourself consistently.
Your potential is largely untapped due to self-imposed limitations!
Is that statement true for you? Have you ever considered the subtle limitations, the doubts that reverberate in your mind at the thought of your own potential?
Maxwell continues to provide insight into intentional personal growth through the 15 laws and affirms that if you live them, you will reach your potential. Whether it be the law of intentionality, the ladder, the rubber-band or expansion, each holds unique truths about the challenges that hold us back and how to leverage them to move forward. If you have the time, it is a very insightful read.
However, from the text, several things continued to resonate regarding the approach to change. While some may seem simple on the surface, it is in the intentional actions required that compounds over time. To develop your own intentional growth plan, you must embrace the following 6 steps:
Make a commitment to grow intentionally.
Make your commitment public.
Define the areas where you want to see growth.
Invest one hour a day in those areas.
Invest one hour a week on reflection and writing about what you are learning.
Share your growth with someone at least monthly.
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Make a commitment to grow intentionally
You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. And to do something differently, you must identify what it is that requires such a personal investment. What is your vision? What are you trying to accomplish? And what do you need to be doing to get there?
Recall that discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments. If you are a leader who is hard pressed to make positive change in your areas of influence, then make a commitment to grow intentionally every day.
Make your commitment public
Once you define your direction, your area of focused change, make it known. After all, it is one thing to hold fast the enthusiasm of your focus – but quite another when you make it public. This doesn’t necessarily mean to broadcast every detail through all avenues of social media, but enough to touch those around you that you respect and have your back. When people know what you stand for, often they will provide the needed guardrails for accountable growth. This can be a bold step for some. A trusting step of accountability that can be born of integrity.
Be specific in your declaration. Share of your commitment to change – the ways you plan to accomplish this and over what timeline. Ask those you trust to come alongside you in this journey.
Identify the areas where you want to see growth
When you have discovered your purpose, when clarity comes forth – there is a cost associated with it. Are you willing to pay the price for change? To move from where you are to where you want to be comes at a cost. It will require a refinement of who you are, a belief in the vision, then tested in the crucible of change. Remember, it is difficult to trust something that hasn’t been tested – yet most aren’t willing to go through the fire of change. To face adversity rather than chose comfort – going with what you know is much easier.
When you find your purpose, it doesn’t mean life will be easy – but meaningful.
Invest one hour a day in those areas
Far too often the scale of our success is often weighted toward the capacity to complete more in a given time. Ask those around you how they can increase their capacity and many will say by working more. Is that true for you? Do you value effort over effectiveness? Does your to-do list grow without having increasing impact?
It has been said that small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time. If that time is spent dedicated to change and that change is framed in the ‘greatest return’ or ‘greatest reward’ mindset – the change will bring value for you and others.
What will it take? Too often more than you are willing to give. Are you willing to set aside your smartphone for an hour each day – perhaps decreasing time spent surfing social media or news feeds? Maybe it means that you have to say no to a few things to make room for those that will have greater impact.
The dream is absolutely free… but the hustle is sold separately. -Steve Harvey
You can dream all you want – but your goal is a dream with work clothes on. Are you willing to pay the price, the time each day to move forward in your personal growth? If you start by dedicating 1-hour focused on the work, not in the work, the results will compound over time. Pick up your smartphone or your computer and block the time out now. It may come at the expense of something else – an opportunity cost toward your future. But it will be worth it. Establish your routine.
Invest one hour weekly reflecting and writing about what you are learning
I really like time spent in reflection. The wealth of insights gained in reflection is tremendous. Keep in mind, too often everything looks like a failure when you are in the middle of it. So when you take time to reflect over past week, think about what you had hoped to accomplish, the challenges that you previously identified, and the areas where you met success and those that also fell short. It is not only in the reflection, but in the process of writing that brings value. If this is not something that you are routinely doing, consider setting aside time at the end of your week (however you define that) to complete the following:
Write down 3 reflections from the week
3 things learned from those reflections
3 items that you want to address in the coming week
In time, I believe you will be intrigued at the insights gained, impressed by the challenges overcome, and fulfilled by the momentum gained toward change.
“At the end of each day, you should play back the tapes of your performance. The results should either applaud you or prod you” – Jim Rohn
Share your ongoing growth with others
If you have discovered what you want to do, find people that do that with excellence and reach out to them. Ask them about the challenges they faced along the way, what they learned from them and how they might approach the same challenges differently knowing what they know now. Be prepared to ask questions. Be prepared to share. But most importantly, be prepared to listen.
Too often we listen to respond, rather than to understand.
This exchange allows for greater accountability, collaboration, and insightful conversation. It fosters a broadened perspective, a deeper understanding of the challenges faced, anticipated (and unforeseen) obstacles and the simple realization that you are not in it alone. There is also incredible value in establishing a network of those that will not only challenge you but connect you with others that can help you continue your journey.
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There isn’t anything magical about the 6 steps outlined above. The effectiveness comes through your dedication to change. And change is hard. But so is doing something for the first time – something you could not do until you overcame the fear of doing it.
But recognize, success isn’t easy – neither is being significant in others lives. The personal development plan is built on the premise that you need dedicated time for personal reflection – but also that you cannot get where you want to go on your own. You will need the help of others to guide you on your way.
What will it take for you to take the next steps into your future? Are you willing to put forth the effort to grow yourself? Are you willing to change?
I believe you are. I believe you have what it takes. I believe you have potential far greater than you even realize. Your adventure awaits. The first step is up to you.
“Motivation gets you going, discipline keeps you growing” - John Maxwell