3 Good Abilities to Develop

Jim Rohn, the personal development teacher and speaker that I worked with in the 1990’s, talked a long time ago about some skills that were incredibly valuable, yet underused.  I want to take a moment to comment on each of them.  The 3 good abilites to develop are:

1- The ability to Absorb what’s going on.  “Where ever you are, be there,” is one of his great quotes.  What he means is to take advantage of opportunites to learn and develop.  Soak it up, don’t miss anything.  He says to high school students to be sure to “get it while you are here.”  What you think about the information is up to you, and will probably change over time.  What you do with the information is also up to you, but while you are here be sure you get it.  You can’t do everything you know, but be sure to find out everything you can do.  Ignorance is NOT bliss. 

Another way to look at it is:  If you are on vacation, don’t worry about work!  If you are at work, don’t daydream about being on vacation.  Make the most of the time that you have, and become really good at paying attention to what’s going on in life. 

2- The second skill is the ability to respond.  Make a decision and take action.  Don’t let yourself suffer from paralysis by analysis.  Get going.  Life is brief, even at the longest so be a good decision maker and a person of action.  Spend major time with major people and on major things.  Spend minor time on minor things.  Don’t mix them up if you wish for success.  Most people who don’t get what they want major in minor things. 

Another good little saying is, “plan, do, review.”  Make a plan, take action and then review the results.  It’s amazing how many people don’t plan and are not decisive at taking action.

3-  The third ability is the ability to reflect.  Learn from your own mistakes and the mistakes of others.  PE and OPE are the best teachers.  Personal Experience and Other Peoples Experience.  Take some time at the end of each day to review how it went.  What did you accomplish?  Did you work toward your dreams today?  Take some time at the end of the week to do the same thing, then again each month and of course at the end of the year.  Are you on track or off track?  Become better at “mid-course corrections.” 

For example, Casino’s in Las Vegas work up financial statements several times a day.  They need to know what’s going on, are they on track or off track.  They can’t survive in that world without KNOWING what’s happening so they can make the appropriate changes.  You need to do the same thing.  You don’t have to work up a financial statement everyday, but at least a few times a year.  Keep strict accounts and know exactly where you are at any time. 

My favorite way to reflect is by writing in my journals.  I go over the days and weeks and months by writing down what I’m trying to do, and noting how I am going about it.  Then I can evaluate if it’s working or not, and hopefully make better decisions in the future based on this knowledge I’ve gained.  Use the past as a school, a school to teach you what went right and what went wrong.  Don’t (as many people do) use the past as a club, a club to beat yourself up with.  No regrets.  Move forward and continue to refine your plan.

Be sure to start this process (if you haven’t already) and prepare for a profitable 2009!  I am working on these abilities myself right now, and I plan on becoming even more focused and more efficient in the new year.

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