Finding Success Using Personal Development Activities

By 

Personal development activities can help you creating positive habits that can ensure more and better results from your efforts. Whatever course you need to take in the life-style change arena, most should be considered long-term and things or actions that will become part of your regular routine.
Many people choose behavior modification techniques and take the 'baby step' route. Small and incremental changes over time can help you achieve your goals and changes that will impact your life in a very positive way.
"Success is not an accident"
No one is born a success. Even if you are born to rich parents, their wealth could actually hinder your own success because if everything is given to you there is no reason to strive for excellence or success when you already have all the money you need.
Every parent wants their children to have everything they can possibly give them, yet many times it is to the detriment of the child.
When all the goodies are given and to the child having anything they want is just a normal state of affairs, what do they have to wish for?
How can having your every wish fulfilled instantly give them the desire to set goals to create a successful life?
The "poor, little rich kid" is easily observed by watching children or teenagers of the rich and famous in Hollywood. They have so much time on their hands they find themselves in trouble more often than not. And they also have a sense of entitlement that spills over into the upper-middle class family.
Until the economy made a nose dive it was apparent that even the up and coming family was over indulging their children. Now many of them are unable to give as much as they used to and their children are in total shock that they are being deprived.
No, we aren't born successful, but those who have found success made it happen through trial and error, ups and downs and hard work.
Many successful people have even gone bankrupt-several times. They pulled themselves up out of their pit, shook off their "victim" attitude and took a cold hard look at their lives and began rebuilding, soon to become wealthy again. With hard lessons learned they will probably remain successful throughout the remainder of their lives.
Some success tips to consider:
  1. Make your plan and plan to work. Create a Success Plan, define every component of the plan and flesh it out on paper. Be specific in every area.The most successful people all have their plan in writing and as they reach each goal they make notes of how they completed each task, how they achieved the goal and make a note as each one is finished.

    When you write something down it becomes real. The mere action of putting it on paper and reading it every day causes your brain to recognize and take in what you have written as real instead of simply thinking or daydreaming about whatever your goal.

    Break up your goal into daily, weekly, monthly, yearly then move out to five-year and ten-year goals. Make sure you include every area of your life. Business, relationships, things you may want to acquire like cars, boats, a new home, a healthy bank account, travel or anything else of note that you may desire.

    Read them every day and make notes of what you have done to achieve and reach each goal.

  2. Develop a "to-do" list and work on it daily. Having a list will keep you from procrastinating and forgetting your objectives. If you are lacking a well-defined and thought out plan you will flounder around and never accomplish anything.

    Don't give your list of goals so much power that it controls your life instead of you being at the controls. Consider your list a marathon, not a sprint. Some things may happen quickly and others may take time to complete.

    Make it a habit to look at your list when you first get to your desk in the morning. Don't read your email, go on Facebook and check your Wall or messages or do anything else until you have looked over your 'to do' list and do what's necessary to get them done; daily first then work on the longer term goals.

    A disciplined mind will create a successful life.

  3. Get out there and network. There's no such thing as knowing too many people. Attend the weekly networking meetings that are held in almost every town. They are usually early in the morning before work and sometimes even breakfast is served. It's a great way to get to know business people from every industry and you always make some great connections that can lead to helping you achieve your goals.

    Let those you meet know you are very interested in who they are and what they do. It's not a "selling" venue, so don't try to pitch anyone. Just gather cards and be friendly and interesting without being overbearing.

    If one or more people truly pique your interest give them a call later and set up a lunch with them. At that time you can brainstorm as to how you can help each other.

    You may even consider creating a Mastermind Group where four to six of you get together weekly and keep each other accountable for moving forward toward your ultimate goals as a group and individually.

  4. Self-talk is smart. You don't have to walk around muttering to yourself but we all talk to ourselves in our heads all the time.Unfortunately many of us say negative things to ourselves. Don't be critical of who you are or what you do. Negative self-talk simply reinforces your belief system that says, "You can't do it." Never do it even if you're joking around.

    Your subconscious mind believes everything you say. Everything. It cannot distinguish between humor and reality.

    Negative self-talk anchors the limiting beliefs into your subconscious and will actually sabotage you at any moment. Be kind to your mind.

    Remember the movie Pretty Woman? There was a scene where they were lying in bed and Richard Gere was telling her how wonderful she was and how she should think better of herself. Julia Robert's character then said, "It's a lot easier to remember the bad stuff."

    This is a perfect example of how our minds can lead us to success or a life of misery.

  5. Hang out with successful, positive and encouraging people. Never underestimate the power of this suggestion.If your circle of influenceis a bunch of broke, stressed-out and frustrated people it will have a very negative effect on your life.You may have to rethink with whom you associate.Don't hang around people at the same level as you. Otherwise, it's the blind leading the blind.

    Surround yourself with people who are operate their lives at a higher level than you. Live events are perfect places to find these types of people.

    They may be friends and family but if they are holding you back it may be necessary to cut some of those ties that bind. Naturally your family is your family, but if they make you miserable and don't support your dreams of success you might have to see them a bit less.
Your success depends upon your activities and how you handle your day. You may have a regular job that takes up most of your day, but you have evenings and weekends to work on YOU.
Make yourself a priority and keep working on those personal development activities that will, if done each and every day, take you closer and closer to living the dream you have for yourself.
About The Author
Richard M. Krawczyk is a human potential expert, best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker and strategist. For more information about personal development activities, go to http://www.RichardKrawczyk.com. This article may be reprinted if sent in its entirety and with the author and contact information attached.