The Number One Way You Can Improve Yourself Today
One of the things I am constantly trying to do in my life is improve. There are many ways to do this in each area I want to improve. If I want to lose weight, lose fat, and/or gain muscle, I know I can lift weights, do cardio, and change my diet accordingly. If I want to have more relationships I put myself in social situations and push myself to meet new people and social circles, or even just build upon the relationships I already have in my life. If I want more money, I have to either work harder or work smarter in some way to increase my income. I made these all sound very simple, and the truth is that they are not that simple. There are small steps, tactics, methods, and techniques to doing each that can very well make the process successful or not. The one way I most improve my life in anything that I undertake to do is this: READ.
If you are not reading regularly, then start. Education, and more importantly, self-education is the number one way to ensuring success or improvement in any area of your life. I have purchased and borrowed books, read blogs, looked at internet forums, and talked to people better than myself to improve in all 3 of these areas and that is how I continue to approach each one every day. I have always done this to some extent throughout my life, but I remember having an epiphany about it a while back. It came while (no surprise) I was reading!
I was reading Mark Cuban’s blog and he listed reading as possibly the biggest key to his success. He said that he thought that since every book and magazine out there was just sitting there for anyone to pick up that everyone would have all of this information and it would be worthless. But then he noticed that no one consumed the amount of information he did, and that he could compile it and come up with brilliant ideas for his business and his life. He said he still averages around 3 hours of reading time a day. I realized at that time I read a lot and that the more I read, the more valuable ideas I got. If I read AND implemented what I learned, then I got even more.
It really takes a lot of effort for some people to admit to themselves that they need to improve something in their life and sometimes twice as much to actually getting around to doing something about it. Taking the time and effort to actually get a book or do a Google search on a subject and read up on how you can improve is that first big step. If you really want to fix that nagging issue in your life, here are a few pointers:
1. Make a list of things that you are unhappy with or would like to improve. Identify which one irks you the most and make a conscious decision to get that area of your life handled and under control.
2. Begin your search: ask some friends who have conquered a similar problem, do an internet search, go to the bookstore, or drop in at the library. Find out the best book or books to read and get some information on how to improve yourself in that particular area. Buy or borrow.
3. Actually READ! Read all at once or a chapter a day, whichever you are comfortable with. If you get good ideas (which tends to happen when you’re reading), write them down and go over them at your leisure.
4. Develop a plan to implement. This could be a diet/workout regimen, a social calendar with missions to meet new people, or a plan to get a raise/start your own business.
5. Implement the plan and make observations. Experiment a little bit. Notice what works and what doesn’t and start phasing out what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to ask someone you trust for help if you need it. If you don’t have anyone, consider getting a mentor.
6. Continue to read and feed yourself good information and come up with ideas for what you are trying to accomplish. More knowledge can only give you new perspective on your quest.
So go out, pick up a good book, and take action to making things better for yourself. It’s your life and you only get one, so make it count!
Top 5 Books about Dating & Relationships for Men
I have been fortunate enough to read some excellent books on this subject, and especially within the last 3 years. If you are a man who wants to know more about dating and relationships and how to be successful in your love life, these are must-reads. So without further ado:
1.
“The Game” by Neil Strauss. This is an excellent book. It is the story of bestselling author Neil Strauss’ journey from being a nerd to a superstar in the seduction and pickup community. There are jewels of advice scattered throughout the book, but the true value is in the storytelling. It also lets the reader know what is possible for a man who just isn’t that good with women if they put forth a little effort. A great book and I would recommend it to anyone.
2.
“The Mystery Method” by Mystery, Lovedrop, and Neil Strauss. After reading “The Game”, you will naturally be curious to know and understand the methodology of it’s main superstar teacher, Mystery. This book basically tells 3/4 of everything you will ever need to know about meeting women. The other 1/4 you will learn by experience. I can’t stress how great this book is, not just for meeting girls but also for learning how to handle yourself better in social situations. If you suck with women, you need this book. If you are okay with women, you need this book to get better. If you are good with women and have never heard of this book before, get it to understand WHY you are so good. Excellent read.
3.
“She Comes First” by Ian Kerner. I read this one during an educational phase I was undertaking in my own relationship. I wanted to know how to better please and take care of the special lady in my life. If Mystery’s book teaches you how to use your mouth to be a better speaker, this book teaches you how to use your mouth to be adept at other things. Ahem, if you know what I’m saying. (I’m trying to keep it PG here!) You get the idea here. Great book.
4.
“The Way of The Superior Man” by David Deida. This book is more helpful once you are in a relationship but can also help with other areas of your life. It’s very spiritual, but also very enlightening. Deida speaks of finding your true purpose in life and letting all other things like family, love, and everything else fall into place around your true purpose. It also highlights why it’s difficult to deal with your woman sometimes, why you shouldn’t get mad when your woman tests you, and how to handle such situations. It was very enjoyable and you may have some very deep insights by the end.
5.
“Mastering Your Hidden Self” by Serge Kahili King. This book is about the ancient art of Huna. It is a form of spirituality that can enhance your current spiritual preference or stand on its own if you don’t have a spiritual preference. While the spirituality of it can be quite enlightening, the real strength of the book is it’s precepts and that “the world is what you think it is.” You can learn a lot about yourself and ways to master your life, career, and relationships from the book. I still like to read it from time to time and it gives a me a reminder that ultimately I am in control of my life and destiny. Give it a read.
These are my 5 favorites. If you don’t have them, get them! You won’t be sorry.
Clark
