Cultivating Greatness: Your Personal Growth Manifesto

Dan Rockwell

2 years ago

Personal growth is the first practice of remarkable leaders.

Show up as the person you aspire to become. What are you waiting for? Average leaders show up as their best selves. Remarkable leaders show up as the leader they aspire to become.

You affirm yourself when you focus on the person you are. You grow yourself when you focus on the person you aspire to become.

Turn aspiration into personal growth:

Personal growth is harder than encouraging others to grow. Serve yourself by learning something every day.

Choose an area of leadership to improve every week.
Read at least 15 minutes a day. You can read one book a month if you read about 10 minutes every day.
Seek specific feedback regularly. Ask, “I’m working to become a better listener. What do you see me doing that serves that goal? What do you see me doing that blocks that goal? What suggestions can you offer to help me improve my listening skills?”
Reflect on your day by keeping a journal. Practice structured self-reflection. Design three questions to ask yourself. Use questions that align with personal goals and aspirations. For example, what did I learn about listening today?
Engage in peer learning. Meet with other leaders once or twice a month to discuss leadership challenges and opportunities. Have dinner. Sit around a campfire and talk.

The best investment you make is in yourself. The people around you rise higher when you improve.

I read or watch something every day that gives me the opportunity to get better. Right now, my focus is on coaching.