Self-Builders Engage In Some Of The Most Effective Forms Of Self-Improvement.
No matter where they work or what they do, the most successful people are focused on continuous improvement. Many people recognize the habits of self-improvement in others but struggle to implement those habits in their own lives. Too often, the quest for self-improvement becomes mired in the latest trends or catchy slogans.
But successful people who stand the test of time adhere to some timeless practices of self-improvement that I call self-building.
There are four categories of self-building.
Self-building category #1: Build relationships of trust and confidence with individuals.
Loyalty is not dead. It’s just that nowadays the most successful people focus their loyalties, not on institutions, but rather on individuals. Without institutions to rely on, we need individuals to be our anchors of success and security.
Self-builders have a strong tendency to approach relationships, not in terms of what they might want or need from other people, but rather what other people might need or want from them. I call it “beyond networking,” approaching relationships in terms of “service” to others and, in the process, creating real lasting bonds of trust and confidence.
Self-builders approach relationships in terms of what other people need or want from them
Source: Christina Morillo/Pexels
Self-building category #2: Become a learning machine.
All work is knowledge work. Instead of just lobbying for limited resources and waiting for the formal training opportunities to be provided by their employers, the most successful people today are those who turn every move they make into a learning opportunity.
With all skill, knowledge, and even wisdom on a rapidly steepening obsolescence curve in today’s information environment, we need to be extracting learning from every task, responsibility, and project; from every interaction with every person at every level; from every success and every failure and everything in between.
Self-builders are very likely to get more than their share of limited resources and take advantage of every formal training opportunity, but they multiply everybody’s return on that investment because they are always in learning mode. I call it “voracious learning,” turning every experience into an opportunity to build—and apply—new skill, knowledge, and wisdom.
Self-building category #3: Try to add real value in any situation.
The best way to be valued is to add value. Instead of begging for the next coveted task, responsibility, or project at work, the most successful people today are those who find ways to add maximum value to every single task, responsibility, or project they are currently doing.
With organization charts flatter and resources tight, the key to gaining greater recognition and rewards in today’s lean and fiercely competitive workplace is to be the person who is always ready, willing, and able to do what needs to be done now very well, very fast, all day long, and longer, with a great attitude and after getting everything done according to specifications and ahead of schedule then and only then tries also to add bells and whistles, or something new and better, or creativity, or innovation, or a cherry on top.
Self-builders do tend to get the next coveted task, responsibility, and project, not because they were begging for it, but rather because they are always focused like a laser beam on adding maximum value to what they are currently doing. I call it “value-adding,” always focusing on doing what needs to be done, very well, very fast, with a great attitude.
Self-building category #4: Maintain a strong mind, body, and spirit.
Work-life balance means you need to take care of yourself, not half the time, but all of the time. Instead of working themselves to a frazzle and then hoping for more vacation time, the most successful people today are those who prioritize their own wellness no matter how busy they may be at work.
With global time-zones and travel and communication technology, the workplace has become 24/7/365. It’s great that so many people can work from home nowadays or work non-traditional schedules. But that also means that lots of people can never get away from work.
Self-builders prioritize their own physical, mental and spiritual well-being every day. Self-builders tend to spend time most days explicitly trying to build up their own physical, mental or spiritual strength. As a result, self-builders are stronger specimens—they bring their best selves to work most days and their best selves are healthy, clear-headed, and values-centered. I call it “true balance.”
Here’s the other thing about self-builders: They are always planning their own growth, but no matter how long-term they might be thinking, they are always focused on the incredibly short-term, as in “right now.” It’s “right now” all the time. Self-builders might make one-year or one-month or one-week plans. But their self-building is always about today: What relationship am I going to build today? What skill, knowledge, or wisdom am I going to learn today? What value am I going to add today? How am I going to build my mind, body, or spirit today? The number one common denominator of self-builders is that they tend to have a habit of stopping and thinking explicitly about their self-building—daily or multiple times a day. “What am I going to do today? What am I going to do right now?”