Blueprint >> Reading Self-Help
Disclaimer: This document is in raw form as I process and distill 4 years-worth of my personal development notes. Expect some typos and cryptic language for now. I will be updating frequently and polishing up.
Prescription: Understand how to read self-help.
Related Concepts: Just Do It, Theory vs. Practice Ratio, Commonplace Book, Learning = Behavior Change
What is Reading Self-Help?
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Why is it Important?
Reading self-help without knowing how to get the promised results is disheartening and a big waste of time.
Reading Self-Help Videos
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- Redesign your life to align with your purpose
- Mindsets and tools for exceptional success
Reading Self-Help: Key Points
Reading a self-help book without taking immediate action will waste 95% of the possible impact of the advice. Advice must be implemented, not just studied. If you simply move on to the next piece of advice, you will forget. Discipline yourself to follow through and do the exercises. The same applies to audio programs, DVDs, seminars, and workshops. The results are in the follow-through.
Don't read multiple self-help books at once. There is a tendency to want to hoard self-help advice. Resist this urge! 1 half-implemented self-help book is worth 10 unimplemented ones.
If a self-help book as exercises, assignments, worksheets, or homework, that's the gold. That's were the results are. You will not get significant personal growth from reading books alone. That would be too easy.
If you have a self-help audio program, re-listen to it 7 times or more over the course of a month so it soaks into your subconscious. Listening to a tape once is not enough. You can listen to it in the car, at the gym, in the shower, or even while you sleep. You only need to pay close attention to first time through. 1 After the first round, just hearing it is enough. Yes, it's tedious, but it works!
References
- Dan Kennedy
- Redesign your life to align with your purpose
- Mindsets and tools for exceptional success