Business Education: Week 3

Post 4 of 14: Read more here

Wow, this was a really great week! I was so busy sponging up information on continuous improvement in my field, and immersing myself in learning that I didn't even blog about it.

I came up with a tracker in Excel to chart my progress and have been assigning myself daily ratings for how well I've been doing. With 5 being the top score and 0 being no activity in support of the focus trait, every day for Week 3 I scored a '5' - it was incredible!


Without going into nauseating detail about the activities I completed, suffice it to say I have definitely benefitted from these efforts, and have set a goal to have an additional certification and more CEUs completed in the coming months.


Once again, I feel that I'm just getting rolling with this trait and the time has come to switch gears. Arrgh. However, the good far outweighs the bad, and I am so on board with this whole idea that I just influenced another of my MasterMind groups to study this book and to do the 13 traits. We are starting it up in a few weeks. Yay!

Presentation: Week 1

2 of 14 posts on developing 13 traits

It's the last evening of the first week of my 13-week "traits" challenge.

7 days polishing up my presentation skills, and I feel like I just barely got the cart rolling. Yet it's time to move on to the next trait. I am updating my tracker in our MasterMind wiki tonight (ask me about this) and although I scored myself well all 7 days making effort to improve upon this trait, I feel a little disconcerted over moving on so quickly (my brow is actually wrinkled up in resistance).

Hold on. What was Ben thinking? One week to tune up my presentation skills?! I don't exactly suck, but I need more than a week (peripheral free time, mind you) to feel like I was able to take it to the next level...

Ah, but let's review my progress.

I crafted a goal card. Priceless!

I reviewed Toastmasters guidelines --which by the way reaffirmed how great that organization is for people desiring to improve speaking/presenting skills. Check it out! This was a useful exercise for sure.

I actually prepared ahead of time for a new 1/2 day workshop I have coming up soon. Very valuable! (I am sure I will feel less anxiety as the countdown continues.)

I also read several chapters from books I've had on the shelf for quite awhile that I had been meaning to get to. OK, I concede some definite value there, not just because I rifled through the books and have a better understanding of my existing resources, but also because the content was helpful.

I listened to some audio files on sales presentation skills. OK, yes I gained some perspective while also validating what I am doing is still the best approach for me (while doing household chores too!), so this was a good use of my time.

Hmmm...then again, I guess that Benjamin Franklin guy had some things right after all.
Week 2, here I come!

13 Should Be a Lucky Number!

Have you heard of this system that Benjamin Franklin used for self development?
13 weeks of self-improvement...
13 areas of his own choosing - those traits which likely contributed a great deal to his success and the many benefits we enjoy because of it...

I was not familiar with this before a member of one of my MasterMind groups suggested we read a book by Frank Bettger, "How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling."
Bettger revised Franklin's list, modernizing it a bit and tailoring it to his own circumstances and definition of success.

Our group of professionals is now embarking on our own 13 week focus to strengthen those traits that we (individually) feel are the keys to our success.

By the way, the concept includes repeating the process each quarter so that after a year's time you will have spent 4 weeks on each area and experience significant gains - ultimately to be living more successfully.

Here are my 13 (each with a definition/focus relevant to my personal development):

1. Presentation
2. Moderation
3. Business/Continuing Education
4. Prospecting
5. Intention
6. Communication
7. Relationships
8. Organizing
9. Spontaneity
10. Peacefulness
11. Effectiveness
12. Generosity
13. Strategy

I am excited for the progress each of us will make, and the difference we will make because of it!

To your success,
Heather