At a roast for one of my closest friends whom I steered into this industry over 40 years ago, I cited his “addiction” to self-improvement books. In my ever-facetious way I said to the party guests, that despite reading almost every self-improvement book published, he has shown no visible signs of self-improvement. Over the years he said, “You have to read this one” and gave me the book. I confess, after one or two, I did not open them. I do not have the personality to invest in guru advice. So, I remain unimproved in the 7th inning of my life.
Email after email passes through my browser from all types of coaches in our industry and outside our industry. I have noted the difference between “self-improvement” and specific sales and marketing strategies. I have and continue to “gobble up” sales and marketing strategies. I can execute them immediately and measure the results. I can’t do that as easily and effectively with self-improvement. I have a to-do list and another to-do list to remind me to look at my to-do list. I have Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and a host of other voices reminding me to look at my to-do list and to-do list. I submit for your consideration that it all is still on my current to-do list. As a matter of fact, this column has been on the to-do list and was submitted two days late. Now back to the point I am trying to make. It takes a certain person with well-established personality traits to benefit from coaches, courses, and books.
Advice is a thriving industry, offering a plethora of coaches, courses, and books aimed at guiding individuals toward personal development and growth. While these resources can be valuable to a wide range of personalities, there exists a particular type of personality that tends to derive the most benefit from such endeavors. This ideal personality is characterized by a combination of openness, self-awareness, and a proactive mindset.
First, you have to be open to change:
That rules out the majority of my 55+ neighbors.
The individual who can extract the most value from self-improvement initiatives is one who possesses a high degree of openness to change. This personality trait reflects a willingness to embrace novel ideas, experiences, and perspectives. Open individuals tend to be curious, imaginative, and receptive to new concepts, making them ideal candidates for the diverse array of self-improvement strategies available.
Self-Awareness:
I read and believed in Stephen Covey and his 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I remain ineffective. I am also ticked off that after telling me there were 7, he came out with more and more. I thought it a con to sell more books.
Another crucial aspect of the ideal personality for self-improvement is a high level of self-awareness. Self-aware individuals possess a deep understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. This self-knowledge forms a solid foundation upon which self-improvement efforts can be built. Self-awareness enables individuals to identify specific areas of their lives that require enhancement and allows them to set realistic and meaningful goals.
Proactive Mindset:
A proactive mindset is a key characteristic of individuals who thrive in the realm of self-improvement. Proactivity involves taking initiative, being accountable for one's actions, and actively seeking solutions to challenges. Individuals with a proactive mindset do not wait for change to happen; instead, they actively engage in the process of self-improvement.
While individuals of various personality types can undoubtedly benefit from self-improvement coaches, courses, and books, those who possess a combination of openness, self-awareness, and a proactive mindset are likely to extract the most value. Be it internal or external, dig deep into what the takeaways are before you spend money and sign up.
Joel D. Schaffer, MAS is CEO and Founder of Soundline, LLC, the pioneering supplier to the promotional products industry of audio products. Joel has 48 years of promotional product industry experience and proudly heralds “I was a distributor.” He has been on the advisory panel of the business and marketing department of St. John’s University in New York and is a frequent speaker at Rutgers Graduate School of Business. He is an industry Advocate and has appeared before the American Bankers Association, American Marketing Association, National Premium Sales Executives, American Booksellers Association and several other major groups. He has been a management consultant to organizations such as The College Board and helped many suppliers enter this industry. He is a frequent contributor to PPB and Counselor magazines. He has facilitated over 200 classes sharing his industry knowledge nationwide. He is known for his cutting humor and enthusiasm in presenting provocative and motivating programs. He is the only person to have received both the Marvin Spike Industry Lifetime Achievement Award (2002) and PPAI’s Distinguished Service Award (2011). He is a past director of PPAI and has chaired several PPAI committees and task forces. He is a past Chair of the SAAGNY Foundation, Past President of SAAGNY and a SAAGNY Hall of Fame member. He was cited by ASI as one of the 50 most influential people in the industry.