Author Robert G. Allen wrote, “The will to prepare to win is more important than the will to win. Preparing usually means doing those kinds of things that failures don’t like to do.
“It means studying and learning. It means reading books, going to seminars. It means not being afraid to corner experts and ask foolish questions.”
As a person who has traveled across the country to attend a seminar and even further to conduct one, I can’t imagine why everyone hasn’t discovered the joy of participating in events that have the power to change our lives for the better.
People who can’t be bothered never learn this little secret: getting yourself to a seminar may, in fact, be more important than what happens in the seminar.
When you are willing to spend your time and money to expose yourself to new ideas, new techniques for doing things, and new people who can add their enthusiasm to your dreams, you’re also sending a strong message to your subconscious mind about your own worth.
Conversely, not investing this way also sends a strong message. As Sondra Ray says, “When you say, ‘I don’t have enough money to go to that self-improvement seminar or buy that book, it’s almost like saying, ‘I am not a good investment.’ The best way to make money is to invest in yourself.”
What would you like to be better at? Speaking German? Creative marketing? Managing your time? Boosting your emotional intelligence?
You can accelerate your progress at anything by putting yourself in a roomful of people who are on a similar quest.
Best of all, an investment in yourself is the one thing that no one can ever take from you. No matter what is happening in the economy or where interest rates are headed, the investment you make in your personal growth—and continue to make— never stops paying dividends.
“In times of change,” said Eric Hoffer, “learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
With all the resources—the books, the seminars, the insights of others—available, it makes no sense to skip the critical preparation stage.
Because, in the the final analysis, winning isn’t about what you have or even what you do. Winning is about becoming the person you were meant to become no matter how long and difficult that journey may be.
If you truly want to join the winner’s circle, take advantage of every resource you can find. You never know what might happen if you do.
You could be sitting in a roomful of strangers and suddenly meet yourself.
I like this post, I feel as though it sums up my philosophy. I always say my ideal job would be to be a perpetual student. You’ve reminded me that I can be if I just look for the opportunities. thanks.
You could be sitting in a roomful of strangers and suddenly meet yourself.
I love it!
This is why I am headed to Inspired Livelihood, April 16-17, Sedona, AZ
Hooray!!!
Sandy, And I think it’s no coincidence that you’ve made continuous progress since setting out on your Joyfully Jobless Journey AND you keep stretching yourself by hanging out in places where learning is abundant. I suspect you also have made a commitment for this to be an neverending process. Hooray!
By the way, I believe the process goes something like this: Learn. Test. Activate. Repeat.
Barbara Winter!!! You did it again. Every time you write on all the different angles of jobs or self learning or time spent on yourself for improvement, starting a business, income streaming, net working, social net working or etc, 29 out of 30 times you get it wright. Keep going young lady, keep going.
What do you mean 29 out of 30? I thought I was hitting 100%!
Thanks, Danny, for your enthusiastic comments. I’ll keep working to hit that 1 out of 30 that is missing.
Thank you, everyone, and especially to Barbara for providing the wonderful platform.
It’s great to know that you’re all in my habitat!
Great post, Barbara! I always get so much out of seminars and conferences I attend and often find terrific books that answer many of my questions.
My challenge? All those seminars, conferences, and books are all prep work for me. Getting beyond them into something concrete and soulful usually doesn’t last long. I’m great on investing money, not so much investing time after.
But reading your post clarified that, so thank you!
Bec, I recognized early in my personal development journey that backsliding was normal and putting new information into action was a slower process than I’d anticipated. However, I also recognized that every time I had a learning adventure, it moved me ahead a little farther than would have been true without that adventure. So the moral of the story is: keep showing up!
That’s a relief to know, Barbara! Wish I could make it to the seminar in April, but I’m already booked for a different conference.
Do you have plans to give a seminar somewhere near Seattle/Vancouver, BC in the future?
Perhaps I should look into figuring out how to bring Moses to my Mountain. 🙂
Alas, Bec, since Discover U disappeared, I haven’t been back to your part of the world and currently have nothing scheduled.
NP, Barbara. I’ll see what could be put together in my neck of the woods. Might not happen for a year, but I think it would be great to have you out. Lots of folks I know are looking to hear what you have to say.