Personal improvement? What's that all about then?...   

Personal Improvement

"There is always something more I can learn!"

That's what Caroline says in her video on YouTube below. But I'm wondering whether all these videos, and self-help websites are worth the cost of improving yourself. I also want to know how personal development differs from self-improvement, if at all. Thankfully, I have included links to expert resources that will attempt to explain all. Maybe.

Please note that, my tongue was firmly in my mouth (I mean, my cheek!) when I created this page. Hey, it's almost Friday and I've got better things to think about than this right now. (Haven't you? :-) )

Personal improvement - what I say...

What's the difference between personal improvement and personal development? Hey, I'm being serious here I'd like to know. I created a page for both topics - people do searches for information on both self help subjects , so why not! - but I really am not sure of the differences, if any. How about you?

Is improvement different, better or worse than development? Do you get to read better articles. Is a personal improvement plan different to a personal development plan? And what have personal growth tools got to do with either?

Yep, I'm confused! I'm just glad some smarter people than me have built self improvement websites to explain all. (Well at least I think that's what they've done.)

Please tell me what you think - thanks.

Personal Improvement!

Personal improvement - what these websites say...

Yes, unless you really improve yourself, then you'll always have to check out websites like SelfHelpCollective.com and these...

The scary thing is, some of these websites think self development is about buying stuff, self-help books stuff. For example, look at this Amazon Self Improvement Store or look at Amazon.com's personal improvement page (Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing anyone?)

And there's the following website, that says...

"The Personal Improvement program includes specially
designed courses to help you develop and improve a variety of
important competencies. These include Decision Making,
Goal Setting, Improving Time Management, and Team Building. "

That's all and well and good until you realise it's the Fleet & Family Support Center Navy website. :-(

Hmm, or how about hypnosis? Is personal development that important to you that you will willingly buy one of these self-hypnosis downloads and hynpotise yourself every day?

Or how about a visit to "The #1 Self Improvement Site On The Internet! Over 1 Million Monthly Visitors" - SelfGrowth.com. (Not to be confused with eSelfGrowth.com.)

And if the personal growth resources at that website aren't enough for you how about checking out all the sites on this personal improvement links page. (Again, how much does your personal development growth matter to you?)

And, finally, a website with all the answers to self development - answers.com. It defines self-improvement as, "Improvement of one's condition through one's own efforts." I politely suggest that one can improve one's condition if one gives up on personal improvement and one does something less boring instead! :-O

Still interested? Okay, well don't say I didn't warn you! Over to YouTube...

Personal improvement - what YouTube says...

Yes, if you don't improve yourself right now young lady (and young gentleman) then you surely will have to go onto YouTube and watch self improvement videos like the ones below.

'Personal development growth' videos? I thought YouTube was all about slapstick, US presidential elections, Madonna vidoes, video bloggers (vloggers) and, er, weird lyp-synching stuff! Apparently not!...

(These videos aren't bad, by the way, but do you really want to spend your life watching self-help videos on YouTube?)

Christine Breese has got a good attitude to personal development, I will grant you that.

Okay, this next YouTube video must scare you enough to improve yourself so that you no longer need to know about 'personal improvement'. If it doesn't, nothing will and you will be one doomed individual! Lol

Clayton Cheney is one talented individual. But, dude, what were you thinking! Lol

And another thing about personal development and growth, once you're finished with it you will never have to watch 'The Secret' or listen to people spouting on about 'The Law of Attraction' etc.

(Hey, this is just a clip about our beautiful planet - it's inspiring, actually!)

Personal growth success? Self-help books? This guy knows what I'm talking about...

Not sure where wpat007 filmed this, but anyway...

Okay, I am kind of joking above. (No kidding! Lol.) I guess there is a place in the world for personal development. (I guess.)

So take a look at this (10 minute) video that talks about the secret of happiness being education and self improvement. Fair enough.

Caroline says, "Learning is rediscovering the world" - great stuff! :-)

(By the way, I did the Peace Corps thing in the 90s, except we British call it VSO! :-) And I have to say if you ever want to learn about yourself - strengths and weaknesses, etc - then do a two-year stint in Peace Corps (or VSO or APSO or WUSC or...). Life in an alien culture, when you have to make friends and learn how other people do things, really is a great way to develop yourself. Plus, you will probably have a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experience too like I did. (I kept a diary of my experiences, as it happens, and it's here: Diary of a Volunteer.)

And, if you're still reading this and wanting to improve yourself, then take a look at yourself in the mirror - do those shoes really go with those trousers?... ;-)

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How Did We Do?

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