The Best Personal Development Strategies that Really Work

As a coach, I hear from people all around the world about what their struggles are, what their goals are, and how they'd like to be living a better life.  I help them bridge the gap between where they are now, and that sweet, sweet destination they'd like to reach.  Over the years, I've collected lots of strategies and exercises for reaching your goals, but ultimately it is up to the client or reader to use them and create the life they've dreamed about.  Here are some of the best personal development strategies that work.

One of the best strategies that works is called Kaizen.  Previously on the blog, I wrote about the principle of Kaizen in the article

The Power of Kaizen — The Continuous Self-Improvement Process for Success

Kaizen is the process of gradual improvement through continual small changes and it is this concept that can be extremely helpful in reaching your goals.  Start with small changes, taking small steps along the way.  Monitor your progress, adjust where necessary, and continue focusing on your goal.

Speaking of focusing, focus is also an important personal development strategy.  Focus on one thing at a time--otherwise it becomes way too distracting and you'll find yourself and your attention all over the place.

Also, having a focus is so important!  You want to steer your life in a positive direction.  Having goals to work toward will diminish the distractions of life and help you to attain success (success defined by you) much more quickly.  Your time management skills will become better if you align your day according to your most important goal or goals.  Otherwise, you're like a captain of a ship without a destination, drifting aimlessly, maybe never even making it out of the harbor.  Be the captain your ship needs by knowing where you want to go and a map of how to get there.

Take control over your habits by becoming conscious of your behavior.  Habits are unconscious behaviors that are often triggered by environmental cues.  For example, if you find yourself rambling around the kitchen later at night, looking for something to munch on, the kitchen and that time of day will unconsciously trigger the need to relieve stress by eating.  To change, you must find something else positive to fill in the need to relieve stress.  Every habit you're trying to rid yourself of, needs a replacement--the hole created by its absence will create a vacuum that will suck anything into its place unless you take control and fill it with something that is good for you.

Do.  Action is more important than all the thinking in the world.  Start something.  Continue figuring out and exploring things through trial and error.

Okay, let's review!  The most important personal development strategies are:

• Kaizen -- small continuous changes, done in small steps.
• Stop the feelings of overwhelm and focus on one thing at a time.  
• Have a focus; have a goal.
• Become more aware of your ineffective habits.
• Fill up the vacancy of your old habit with a new, more positive and life-enhancing habit.
• Shoo-be-do-be-DO!  Get up, get doing.  Action will take you to your dreams.  Dreaming about them won't.

How do you reach your goals?  What makes you motivated to reach them?  What's worked, what hasn't?