“You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming, and encouraging your greatest asset.”
Tom Hopkins
Question: Do you think that improving yourself is becoming more or less important ?
Which direction do you think the world is going?
I’ll tell you my answer – it matters more than ever, and you are only going to become more responsible for your own future.
I believe that improving yourself – your skills, your motivation and planning for your own future – is the single best investment you can make with your time.
I read a fascinating article in the New York Times recently. Thomas Friedman discusses how hyper-connected our world is becoming – and how lots of things are now being measured, to see exactly who and what is most productive.
“We’re entering a world that increasingly rewards individual aspiration and persistence and can measure precisely who is contributing and who is not.
This is not going away, so we better think how we help every citizen benefit from it.”
The basic premise is something I have thought about for a long time. While I never had the statistics to back it up or not, I’ve always felt that the more we move towards a world with data, less boundaries and more competition the more that individual effort will be rewarded.
That’s partly why I never stop learning. I read a ton of books, research papers, and articles. I am constantly trying to improve myself.
The moment you stop getting better is the moment you start to fall behind.
“If you are self-motivated, wow, this world is tailored for you. The boundaries are all gone. But if you’re not self-motivated, this world will be a challenge because the walls, ceilings and floors that protected people are also disappearing.
Government will do less for you. Companies will do less for you. Unions can do less for you. There will be fewer limits, but also fewer guarantees.
Your specific contribution will define your specific benefits much more.
Just showing up will not cut it.”
One of my favorite concepts from The World Is Flat is how now everyone is competing with everyone on a global scale.
I’ve seen it in my own life. With online reviews, LinkedIn and the general push towards transparency everyone wants the best.
Everyone wants the best. They are not satisfied with average.
In fact, I know you’re not satisfied with average either.
Almost everyone who reads this website and writes to me talks about what they dream of or aspire to – whether they are on their way or not, I know you feel it and want it.
And that’s good – because in this new world, you’ve got to make your own future.
You’ve got to have motivation, direction and a plan. The people who are driven and able to get it done are at a huge advantage.
And the people who stand still and hope the world rewards them? I don’t believe that is going to happen anymore. There is too much competition, and too many ways to multiply productivity.
Being a warm body is not enough anymore – your life and your contribution has got to mean something.
I’m an optimist – I believe in you. I know your life will lead to great things. Maybe it already has – or maybe it’s just around the corner.
And of course, if you need a push: I will help you get there.