The #1 Reason Self-Improvement Initiatives Fail

[Mike Hawkins]

I was signing books recently in San Diego when I was approached by a
woman who claimed to be an expert in self-improvement. Pointing to the
Barnes & Noble isle of self-help books to my left, she said "I've read
all those and there isn't anything more for me to learn in self-
improvement."

Being eager to differentiate my book (and yes, prove her wrong), I
explained to her that my book was unique. That it was based on
practical experience and not mere research or a few academic studies.
I said that having successfully helped hundreds of executives improve
their leadership competencies, not to mention my own, I truly
understood what it took.

To demonstrate the point, I concluded by saying that my book was the
only one that I've read in this genre that really confronted the #1
issue people face in improving themselves. A bit intrigued, she asked,
"what is that?" But instead of telling her, I asked her what she
thought it was. She first guessed "not having the desire to improve."
I said, "no, that's not the number one issue that derails people's
development ambitions."

She guessed several other causes which to all I said "no, that's not
it either." To put her out of her guessing misery, I finally gave her
the answer, "time and energy". I explained that more coaching
sessions are cancelled, more assignments go uncompleted, and more
development plans stall because people can't add more to an already
overloaded schedule or to an exhausted level of energy.

She quipped back, "No, that's not the number one issue. Take me for
example, I don't need any time or energy to lose weight. I can lose
weight anytime I want to." We debated this for a few minutes, and
finally she said she had to go. I asked her if she would be wanting a
copy of my book. This was her reply, "I don't have the time to read a
book right now!" As soon as the words left her lips, she realized
what she had said and that she just validated what I was saying.

There are many lessons to be learned from this true story, many more
than I have "time" to write. Just know that freeing up valuable time
and energy is critical to self-development, and bringing that
knowledge into your consciousness is the first step in doing so!

[Samuel Toth]

I would have enjoyed watching this exchange Mike!  :)

--
S. Chip Toth
LeadersInspire
4280 Lake Hill Drive
Canandaigua, NY 14424
www.leadersinspire.net

[James Hamilton]

Great story, Mike;
It also validates the # 2 issue people face in improving themselves – lack of an accurate self awareness!

[Win]

Oh my goodness. This woman seems to be one of the people who thinks
changing and healing are things which can be achieved from external
resources. People often perceive books much in the same way that they
perceive vitamins, cosmetics and thought without action. If you have
them or think them, you will change. Hopefully she will figure it out.


On Oct 6, 8:34 am, James Hamilton <healthcare.conce...@comcast.net>
wrote:

> Great story, Mike;
> It also validates the # 2 issue people face in improving themselves ­ lack
> of an accurate self awareness!
>

> On 10/6/09 7:32 AM, "Samuel Toth" <c...@leadersinspire.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I would have enjoyed watching this exchange Mike!  :)
>

> >> knowledge into your consciousness is the first step in doing so!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -