[LucasK]

No this isn't an MLM ad

How many of you, outside entrepreneurship (running your business), focus on self-improvement? For example, in areas of health, social influence/skills, etc.

I believe that self-improvement is a vital component of successful entrepreneurship, and in the end it is all linked up. Work too hard without developing the rest of yourself, and you'll end up dead at 40. Forget about social skills, and you'll lose a contract during the first interview, and so forth.

What sort of things do you normally do to improve yourself?

[justin8]

I was a horrible public speaker for most of my life, until I took some classes on public speaking. I like to do it now. I usally look for my weaknesses and try and find ways to learn to improve them.

I also love to play sports and it seems the more I play the more competitive I become in business. So i play sport as much as I can. It is also relaxation for me.

Thats what i do to keep my edge and also keep me happy!

[gazzareth]

G'day Lucas,

I believe self improvement is very important. Skills that you pick up fro ma range of activities can be used in the business world and sometimes i might take a weekend or two and teach myself something new.

currently i have taught my self about fittness techniques, guitar, writing, how to fix computers, web design, drawing, bookkeeping and a range of other things. I believe that someone can never know to much. I also have a very good general knowledge, and if i ever get the call from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ( i keep entering but no call back) i hope to try anc clean up on that show lol.

but to be an entrepreneur you jsut don't need business skills, you need life skills and that little bit extra to help you acheive.


Gareth Egan

[Dus10]

It is a key factor. Improving your business knowledge is key. Improving your political knowledge is definately key. Improving your knowledge of the industry to are focusing on is key. Improving soft skills is paramount.

Anything that you can do to make yourself better is great. But, before you make changes, you must evaluate your current methods and quantify them and the results, so you can measure the difference that your changes have made. Have a measuring stick always makes things more clear.

[davee2k]

hmm,

I reckon a true successful entrepreneur never truly can take time out for other activities. They just keep thinking day and night about how cool it would be to be rich, how cool it would be to tell other people about your success, and how cool it would be to make more money then they are at this moment. I was karting the other day - something I really enjoy - and in the middle of this i was thinking about new ways in which i could advertise to make my enterprise more succesful -

[Karen]

I am a big believer in reading. Reading is one of the most educational things one can do (well unless you are reading something trashy).

Anyone who wants to become (rich, famous, sucessful, insert desire here) has to work on self improvement. There are no short cuts, and no other methods that work.

I am lucky in that I love to read (I will read instead of watch tv anytime) and I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

Probably the best book on personal development ever made is
Maximum Achievement - Brian Tracy


Karen

[focusben]

Reading, listening and associating are the top factors into self-improvement. You actually stay in business because of these three aspects.

That's why this forum is so good - they cover all three.

Of course, there's more...self-help books work marvelously as well as any other business-focussed material.