I think it’s pretty easy as a small business owner to push the concept of ‘improving myself’ to the side. I know I’m guilty of doing it time and again. Things get busy and the focus becomes about just getting by… just making it work… just keeping up with producing content or products so you can get by financially.
Well, I am here to tell you that you have to make time to improve yourself or you will not reach your full potential. Period.
I wish I could tell you something different. That I could promise you’ll still be truly successful even without considering yourself, your growth, your improvement. But I just don’t believe it’s true.
Professional Development, according to the Glossary of Education Reform, is continuous learning, both formal and informal, for the purpose of improving professional knowledge, competence, skill and effectiveness.
Oftentimes, we assume that our skill level in something is enough to get us by. But ‘enough to get us by’ can’t be the highest bar we set for ourselves. That final word in the definition above – effectiveness – rings so true to me for many reasons. But mostly, it is because it literally means ‘success.’
You have to value your effectiveness… have to want to continuously challenge yourself… if you’re going to be as productive and and fruitful as you’re capable of being. And I know you’re more than capable, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.
So… what does professional development look like for you? Well, I’m hoping to help you find the answer to that. Make sure to check out my YouTube channel for more information. Videos coming soon, including a step-by-step process for how to create a professional development plan for yourself.
HUSTLE UP GIRL 