When I was in my 20′s I spent four years in the US Navy.  While I was on the ship I did everything I could to grow as a leader.  I learned all the systems and procedures.  I worked on every qualification I could get.  But I neglected on thing, studying for the advancement exams.  While I was busy learning about my ship and everything on it, my peers were studying for advancement.  I knew so much about the ship my higher ranked peers had to stand watches under my authority because of my qualifications.  They did outrank me, but they did not have the respect attributed to the watches I stood.

Leadership isn’t about money, it is about respect.  I couldn’t learn anything from Donald Trump because I don’t respect him.  If people don’t respect you, you can’t lead them.  Knowing where you are in life leads you to growth. Even if you work in the mail room, learning your trade, doing your job well, and treating people with respect will allow you to lead people.

The flip side is where are you mentally.  I got out of the Navy because I knew I could do more with my life outside of the structured environment.  Many of the guys who advanced ahead of me stayed in because they saw themselves as thriving within the structure.  My brother-in-law just retired after 20 years in the Navy, and he thrived not only physically but mentally in that structure.  He was also a leader of men and women.  His list of accomplishments was longer for things he did outside of his duties than within his duties because he also knew that the Navy was not his be-all-end-all.

No matter where you are in life, you can become a leader if you want to.  It may take time, it will take learning, but when you wake up in ten years and you realize you aren’t where you started it will all be worth it.

Luckily Ron Edmondson is where Jessie got the question from.  Ron had posted on his blog  Three Questions to Write a Personal Development Plan.  I immediately went to Ron’s post and scoured the article.  Ron is a leader and leaders help those around them.  I am not going to put Ron’s three very simple keys on here because I want you to go to his site and read them for yourself.

So do you have one?  Post it here, or over at Catablog.  If you are like me and don’t have one let’s get started together.

What You Get:

• Month 1) Personal Development – Become the person you truly desire to be by engaging in a life-long strategy of skills, knowledge and self-improvement (which will also place you in the upper echelon of your particular industry).
• Month 2) Goal-setting – Achieve a sense of purpose behind every action as well as multiply your long-term success quotient by having a set of clearly defined 10-year goals.
• Month 3) Health – Spiritual/Physical/Emotional - Improve your looks, confidence, energy, quality and length of life by having a consistent health/fitness philosophy and maintaining a health plan.
• Month 4) Money - Financial Independence/Getting Out of Debt/Saving/Giving – Place yourself ahead of 85% of the population and increase by 90% your odds of achieving financial independence by retirement age simply by having a sound financial philosophy and proven investment plan.
• Month 5) Relationships – Improve your ability to be a more effective and loving parent, spouse and friend by improving your relational skills.
• Month 6) Time Management – Gain between 10 and 15 additional forty-hour work weeks per year (multiply one to two hours a day by 365 days a year) by applying more productive time management methods each day.
• Month 7) Networking/Referrals – Tap into one of the greatest resources we posses as well as have a greater, more positive influence in the marketplace by utilizing our current relationships and networking base.
• Month 8 ) Selling/Negotiating – Increase your production by 10%-50% without investing more time or effort by improving your selling, networking and negotiation skills.
• Month 9) Communication/Presentation – Increase every level of performance related to your company, staff and individual performance, as well as all your personal relationships, by mastering the art of communication.
• Month 10) Leadership – Multiply your efforts and have a positive influence over a larger sphere of people by learning effective leadership and management skills.
• Month 11) Accelerated Learning – Quickly improve your skills and aptitude to gain and retain knowledge in any area (communication, time management, leadership, etc.) through Memory and Speed Reading techniques and more.
• Month 12) Legacy/Contribution – Take the time to apply your skills in making a difference in your community and world; something that will have an impact on future generations.

Receive 12 Conference Calls (one per month) with a specific focus and hosted by a Premier Expert in each of the 12 Pillars of Success including Jim Rohn, Chris Widener, Zig Ziglar, Nido Qubein, Vic Johnson, Loral Langemeier, Brian Tracy, Bob Burg, Ron White and Mark Sanborn

Now Is The Time To Start Your One Year Success Plan!