Please take this one question / one click survey about this article to help me tailor
this newsletter to what you really want to know!
How many self-help books have you bought over the last, say, ten years?
Of those, how many had a significant impact on your life?
If you’re anything like most people who buy personal development books,
the answer to the first question is, “a bazillion or so,” and the answer to the
second is, “not many.” Now, since the main purpose for buying a self-help
book is positive change of some sort, what gives?
I can tell you the reason that happens for me. I read them cover-to-cover
without stopping to really do the work it requires to get any long-term benefit
(at best I tell myself I’ll come back and do the work). Then I hit the last page
and I’m already reaching out for another one like candy.
Sure, the occasional idea or insight will sink in, but by and large there is a
huge untapped treasure trove of potential sitting on my bookshelves in the
form of already-read books.
How about you? How many half-read, marginally-implemented personal
growth books do you have on your bookshelf?
I have a radical self-help idea. DON’T BUY ANOTHER SELF-HELP BOOK.
(At least not yet.)
Instead of looking for the answer in a new book, try this: Take all the relevant
books off your shelves and start thumbing through them. If something
catches your eye, read it. Jot down notes on the ideas and actions that jump
out at you. Think of it as filling a personal development treasure chest.
As the insights and action steps start to pile up, ask yourself:
- What step can I take right now?
- What process can I implement right now?
- What one change can I make right now?
- What one idea speaks to me the loudest? How does it apply to my
situation? What one step can I take as a result of this insight?
Find one step, one idea, or one process that really speaks to you and put
it to work. Then, as that one starts to take hold, go back to your treasure
chest and pick another.
Part of how I make my living (in addition to coaching and speaking) is
through writing, so I love words. But the words alone mean nothing unless
you pick them up and actually put them to work in your life.
The reason most people continue to grapple with challenges is not because
they don't have the information they need. It’s because they don't actually
act on that information. They hope the words will somehow change their
lives by osmosis, and when they don't, it's off to the next book.
Should you ever buy more books? Of course! But keep in mind why you’re
buying them. If it’s just for the entertainment value, great. Don’t worry about
mining your existing books for gold. Just keep plowing through the new ones.
But if you really want to make improvements in your life, the magic lies in
taking those words and weaving them into your life.
Is the answer you need waiting for you on your bookshelf?
--
Time for a career change? Launch it with
The Occupational Adventure Guide:
A Travel Guide to the Career of Your Dreams
