Developing Yourself To Help Develop Others.

Out of all the definitions for the word “develop” I think I like this one the best.  It’s from Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary and it reads, “To move from the original position to one providing more opportunity for effective use”. 

 

Over the last year, I’ve been trying to become "better" so I could be of better service to others.  I’ve read different studies and blogs by well known leaders and authors, all in an attempt at becoming “better”.  Why?  I'll tell you.

 

First of all, I want to be better person.  I thought,  if I become better, I can be a better teacher, a better leader and just an all around better guy.  Secondly, I want to help others.  The way I see it, the way I accomplish that is to better myself.  George Bernard Shaw said, "Those that cannot change their minds cannot change anything".  So if I want to help others change I must first change myself. 

 

How do you become better?  One way is to ask questions.  Without questions you’ll never get answers.  However, with some answers come the potential for more questions.  Dan Rockwell, author of the blog Leadership Freak, says, “If you can’t ask questions your people development skills are weak”.  That’s true.  If you can’t ask questions you won’t develop the skills needed to help others. 

 

J.D. Stroube said, “Life is filled with unanswered questions, but it is the courage to seek those answers that continues to give meaning to life".  What questions do you have?  Ask them!  The answer you get may be the answer you’ll need to help someone else. 

 

Another way of developing your self is to read.  According to Bruno Bettelheim, “The ability to read becomes devalued when what one has learned to read adds nothing of importance to one's life.”  

 

Dr. Seuss says, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”  

 

If we want to become a better person, pick up a book and learn from others experiences.  Learn how they developed plans and set goals, overcame obstacles that got in the way and achieved success.    

 

Lastly, don’t be afraid to fail.  Remember, you’re human.  You’re going to make mistakes.  Learn from those mistakes and keep going.  Don’t let it keep you from achieving your goal of getting better.  Rather, let it become a lesson on how not to do something or a reminder of what route you should or shouldn’t take. 

I like what Richelle E. Goodrich said about failure.  She said, "Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.”   By learning from your mistakes you’re able to instruct others on what NOT to do.  Remember, the goal is to become a better you so in return, you’re able to help someone else.  That "failure" you had may turn out to be someone else's gift. 

It's time to make that step and be a better you.  In Stephen Richards book Think Your way to Success: Let Your Dreams Run Free, he says, “You are essentially who you create yourself to be and all that occurs in your life is the result of your own making.”   So, the question is...when do you start?
Let's Geaux!