Personal Development for Busy Adults - Next Year, Same As This Year.

By Eric Scott

The Martial Arts Perspective

I have an amazing job. I teach full-time, and get to use mixed martial arts and self-defense as a vessel for personal development for kids and adults. The kids get it that they're supposed to be learning full-time, and their mother and father invest in them. The adults are rather more of a challenge when faced with their own personal development. At times , adults would prefer to sacrifice than put aside the time for their own development plan. Some adults think it's greedy - that learning and personal development is a luxury.



Lifelong Learning

Learning isn't a luxurious excess , but it's a leisure activity; but learning is the only past-time that gives a return on the investment of time and money. We're most of the way through 2015. My clients hear it from me one or more times every month. Next year will be the same as this year, except for these three things - the people you have met, the books you have read, and the things you are better at. Human connections, knowledge, and abilities.

Starting an Israeli Krav Maga self-defense program is empowering but might not be for everyone, but the plan must include something that is challenging and time-bound. One issue is that the sorts of goals we will set and enjoy don't appear heroic. But the fact is that if we aren't growing a little, we're dying a bit.



A Basic Development Plan:

I am not getting preachy with adults, but when I get questions, I share an example of what I do every month:

Read one book per month on an engaging subject

Make a short list of work and personal talents I want to work on, and do it. Not moving mountains, small things. Lynda.com can turn out to be a great resource for this. I learned video modifying, which is great for personal and business. There is a boom in learning possibilities for anything you'd need to learn - including my online Krav Maga programs.

Put the phone down and strike up an interesting conversation with somebody at the coffee bar once a week, and spend 20 minutes studying about what she or he does. It's the most simple place in the world to have a genuine conversation, without needing to "network. " (Yuck)

The months roll by and I I never have the wherewithal I'd like. Neither will you. It's satisfying to understand I'm making a tiny bit of progress at a time, which is by accident also the key to progress in martial arts.

About the Author:

Eric Scott is a pro martial-arts instructor and founder of Self-defense Global . Self-defense Global offers gear, coaching, and training missions for a safer life. He offers a free video introductory class which has more information than most paid programs including a week of video lessons, and a free electronic book.