What sets successful people apart from the rest? This question could generate a long debate, but one thing is clear: they follow the path of Personal Development because there is no other way to achieve success.
But what exactly does Personal Development mean ? Quite simply, it’s about starting a journey in search of excellence, the best version of yourself. It’s about starting a conscious (and continuous) process to become the best person you are capable of being in every way.
And why is this so important? Why is this the only way? Because no one achieves success by being an average version of themselves. Do you agree? The version of yourself without Personal Development is doomed to a life of difficulties, frustrations, and deficiencies… These are the people who only see the present and the bills to pay at the end of the month, without a long-term growth strategy in life.
And believe me, you don’t want to get there, look back and realize that your life fell far short of your true potential.
So, to avoid this common and unfortunate fate, it is essential to reverse your priorities and put development at the top of your list! Because everything stems from this decision. The big problem is that most people never start this development process. They wait for “something to happen” and, before they know it, time has passed…
Therefore, to help you have this awakening right now, here are, in a very objective way, 8 reasons (among many others) why you should invest right now (not tomorrow, not next week, it’s today!) in your own development.
1) Time passes without you noticing
We live on autopilot, we are not aware of the passing of time in our lives. If you don’t act now, when you realize it, another 10 years will have gone by and you will still be living the same life, doing the same things… – and with one important detail: 10 years older. Don’t waste any more time.
This is the time to act, especially in moments like the one you are in right now. As you reflect more deeply on your future, “windows of opportunity” emerge that have the potential to change your destiny forever. That’s why they are so valuable.
“It is in the moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”
– Anthony Robbins
2) There is no other way
As I mentioned, all successful people — without exception — have made the decision to pursue self-development at some point. This is because success is not achieved by being an average version of yourself. Only by unleashing your potential will you be able to achieve the things you’ve always dreamed of.
Look at successful people you admire and notice how much they had to evolve to reach the position they are in now.
“When you reach your goal of making a million dollars, your greatest treasure is not the money itself, but the person you had to become to achieve that goal.”
– Andrew Carnegie
3) Don’t wait for things to “happen”
Most people sit around passively waiting for something to “happen,” but as President Kennedy wisely said, “Things don’t happen. We make them happen.”
If you put off taking action until tomorrow, that tomorrow may never come. One of the worst mistakes anyone can make is to wait for ideal conditions to begin their personal development; this can result in wasting valuable time.
“The future is not a place we are going to, but a place we are creating. The path to it is not found, but built.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
4) Traditional education alone is not enough
If you think that what you learn at university, in a company, etc. is enough, I’m sorry to inform you, but that only puts you at average – and if you do it well, that’s it! The difference is in what you do beyond the average .
So, it is you who must pursue your own development, especially with regard to acquiring Softskills that are essential for success .
5) Better quality of life
There is a direct relationship between your level of development and your quality of life. The more you develop, the better your life will become. It’s natural… Start by asking yourself: “How much am I willing to invest (time, money, energy…) to increase my value and become a better person?”
The life you live is a reflection of the person you are. So if you want to have a better life, you must first become a better person , worthy of receiving the things you desire. That’s how it works… there are no shortcuts.
6) It’s the best investment you can make
Stop for a moment and think about how much you spend on “things” every month. Drinks, clothes, luxuries, etc. These are ephemeral items that do not increase your value in any way. Now, compare that with how much you invest in your own development.
Successful people invest heavily in themselves because they know that this is the most valuable investment. After all, it is something that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Note that the more you invest in yourself, the more prosperity you will achieve in your life.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
– Chinese Proverb
7) Happiness lies in progress
There is a saying that goes, “In nature, what is not growing is dying.” No matter where you are, staying in the same place for too long will eventually lead to unhappiness.
Even if you earn R$100,000 per month doing what you love, stagnation will invariably lead you to discouragement. After all, we all have the need (and the duty) to evolve. Without growth, life becomes meaningless.
Want to find happiness? Remember that it is found in progress, not stability.
8) Motivation and well-being
How do you wake up on Monday morning, looking forward to the week ahead? This is a good barometer to see how your life is going… If you go to bed excited to wake up the next day and make progress towards your goals, it shows that you are living a life with purpose.
On the other hand, if the opposite is true for you, the only thing that will change the situation is for you to stop for a moment and make the definitive decision to do things differently from now on; set a course and move forward with focus towards the life you really want to build for yourself.
And Personal Development plays a fundamental role in this story… the more you develop, the more motivated and at peace you become.
Conclusion
I hope I have been convincing in the eight reasons I have presented for you to start a major transformation from now on. And, to finish, I leave you with a famous quote from Jim Rohn that summarizes my entire work philosophy:
“Success is not something you pursue. Success is something you attract by the person you become.”
– Jim Rohn