It’s that time of year again where we see so much content from coaches, speakers, consultants, marketers…you know, people like me, that are telling the world to “make this coming year the best ever.” There are many variations of this message, but it’s all the same.
We tell you to check out a program on goal setting or on how to be more productive. You’re also being bombarded with “don’t be fat next year” messages and a million other things to tell you to be better.
We do this because it works. The personal development industry makes ga-jillions during this “be better next year” push and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
I’m tired of it.
It bothers me for a couple reasons so I don’t really play the game. Maybe I should jump on the bandwagon and capitalize on the demand? I know that’s the advice coaches who coach coaches give. At this point in my life it doesn’t feel right so I’m not doing it.
So, why does it bother me?
First, it assumes you’ve been a dirtbag during the past year. “Be better” being shoved in your face by a stranger seems odd. I don’t know you, unless of course I really do know you. Then, I suppose I can tell you to be better, right?
Anyway, I don’t really know most of you and have no idea if you should “be better” in the next year. Maybe you’ll never be “better” than you were this year? Maybe you lost your job, house, wife, dog and got cancer…and you’re still standing. Hard to top that if you ask me. Maybe you kept your business alive through some huge trials? I remember leading a business through the recession. We stayed alive and didn’t lay people off. We did amazing as leaders throughout those few really tough years. Paid off a lot of debt, did right by our clients and employees. Hard to be “better” than that.
I won’t assume you’ve been a moron this past year. I’ll let you figure that out. If you know you could’ve brought more focus, effort, leadership, discipline and things like that then maybe you need to take some action. “Action” being things like going to a seminar or workshop. Or purchasing a product or hiring a coach or joining a mastermind group.
If you can look in the mirror and feel good about who you are and what you’re becoming, then don’t get “better,” just repeat what you did this year.
‘Personal development’ in many ways implies that you’re screwed up and need to be …”better.” We’ve all got a story. We’ve all have fears to slay and obstacles to overcome. Don’t partake in ‘personal development’ because you think you’re fundamentally messed up. You are who you are due to many factors. Be proud of your scars, the journey you’re on and who you’re becoming.
It’s not my job to tell you to be better. That’s yours. My job is to help you take another step toward who you want to be.
The second reason I’m tired of the “be better next year” message is that you shouldn’t need a new year to get your ass in gear. How often do we use the calendar as an excuse for not doing what we know we need to do.
Call me crazy, but I’ve never met someone who just happened to realize that they needed to get it in gear in December. They knew it in September. They knew it in July. And, they probably knew it last year at this time.
If you don’t like the person you’re becoming then take action today. If it’s May and you know your business isn’t what it needs to be, then flip it on its head in May, not at the New Year.
I want you to pay attention to who you are and what you’re building all year. Every day. Know who you are, where you want to go and who you need to help you get there. Pay attention to the little things each day and an amazing things will happen in December each year…you won’t feel like you need to totally become someone different just because it’s January 1st.
Here’s a secret about the ‘personal development’ industry: We’re all thieves.
We’re not all bad people, criminal-types like that. But we steal. There isn’t too much that’s new under the sun in personal development. My whole ‘hit one nail in at a time thing’ hopefully isn’t the first time anyone ever told you that you should get focused. It’s just my way of packaging it because it makes sense to me.
Derek Halpern, founder of Social Triggers and an online marketing internet guru dude says “If you want to strike gold don’t dig 100 one foot holes, dig 1 one hundred foot deep hole.” He might of stolen that from someone for all I know.
All of us coach and speaker people don’t suddenly get smarter in December and have all this amazing game-changing content and advice that never existed before available for you at the end of the year. It’s here all year. And, like you, we’re trying to get our tails in gear too. We just have expertise in areas you may not. We might simply be a lap ahead of you on the same track.
I’m Tired of All the ‘Make 2015 Your Best Year Ever’ Programs.
My hope for you is that you be the judge of what you need. Be honest with yourself. If you’re not ‘feeling’ it right now then don’t put pressure on yourself to make a bunch of hollow promises about what you’re going to do in the next year. Take your time and let it come to you.
You can still kick start yourself in April. I promise.
