The personal development movement has been around for , well, as long as people have been around. Whether the term is self-help, self-development, personal growth, or self-enlightenment, people have historically looked for different ways and different means to greater fulfillment. And they are willing to pay for it! How fast is this industry growing today? According to one source, in just the United States alone, people have spent an estimated
* 5 Billion dollars in 2000 * 9 1/2 Billion dollars in 2005 and will likely invest more than * 13 Billion dollars in 2010
Over the last ten years, the market for personal development has nearly tripled in size. It is easy to see that our collective desire for finding our one thing is growing at a spectacular rate. Why now? People have historically searched for greater meaning in their life, so why has this search mushroomed in just the last few years? Perhaps the answer lies within this clip from the 1991 movie "City Slickers", starring Jack Palance and Billy Crystal. ( PG-13 language ahead! )
Jack Palance's character "Curly" suggests that if we find the "one thing", everything else won't mean S#@*! Billy Crystal's character asks what we all want to know."what's the one thing?" . The wise old cowboy Curly replies "That's what YOU have to figure out". Yeah, thanks a bunch Curly. Much easier said than done! Consider the Information Age in which we live and the sheer amount of ideas, thoughts, data and sensory input we are exposed to on a daily basis. According to a recent Pew Research study, almost 2/3 of all adults in the United States have broadband access to the internet in their home. The Nielson Company tells us that there is a television in 98.9% of households in the U.S. If all of that isn't enough, we can get on an airplane and fly nearly anywhere in the world to experience something different first-hand. Fifty years ago, thirty years ago, even twenty years ago, we simply did not have nearly so much information available. It can be incredibly overwhelming just trying to get through the day being exposed to all those different messages. So for many people, finding their one thing is all about filtering the information that is coming at them and discovering what and who they are at their core.
So back to Billy Crystal's question. What's the one thing.....and how DO you find it? People are like snowflakes. No two of us are alike. Though we may have similar callings, paths, or purposes in life, our "one thing" will be unique to each of us. One way to filter through all of the information and begin the process of finding your one thing is to start at the beginning. Your beginning. Here is an easy to use tool that will provide you some insight and direction around finding your one thing. If you are still reading this, you are indeed interested in finding your one thing and the most critical step is to action. Use this tool or get a recommendation from a colleague/friend or visit the personal development section of your local bookstore....but take action. If you need a little motivation to keep going, just remember Curly's advice....."once you find that one thing, everything else don't mean S#&%! - 31955
* 5 Billion dollars in 2000 * 9 1/2 Billion dollars in 2005 and will likely invest more than * 13 Billion dollars in 2010
Over the last ten years, the market for personal development has nearly tripled in size. It is easy to see that our collective desire for finding our one thing is growing at a spectacular rate. Why now? People have historically searched for greater meaning in their life, so why has this search mushroomed in just the last few years? Perhaps the answer lies within this clip from the 1991 movie "City Slickers", starring Jack Palance and Billy Crystal. ( PG-13 language ahead! )
Jack Palance's character "Curly" suggests that if we find the "one thing", everything else won't mean S#@*! Billy Crystal's character asks what we all want to know."what's the one thing?" . The wise old cowboy Curly replies "That's what YOU have to figure out". Yeah, thanks a bunch Curly. Much easier said than done! Consider the Information Age in which we live and the sheer amount of ideas, thoughts, data and sensory input we are exposed to on a daily basis. According to a recent Pew Research study, almost 2/3 of all adults in the United States have broadband access to the internet in their home. The Nielson Company tells us that there is a television in 98.9% of households in the U.S. If all of that isn't enough, we can get on an airplane and fly nearly anywhere in the world to experience something different first-hand. Fifty years ago, thirty years ago, even twenty years ago, we simply did not have nearly so much information available. It can be incredibly overwhelming just trying to get through the day being exposed to all those different messages. So for many people, finding their one thing is all about filtering the information that is coming at them and discovering what and who they are at their core.
So back to Billy Crystal's question. What's the one thing.....and how DO you find it? People are like snowflakes. No two of us are alike. Though we may have similar callings, paths, or purposes in life, our "one thing" will be unique to each of us. One way to filter through all of the information and begin the process of finding your one thing is to start at the beginning. Your beginning. Here is an easy to use tool that will provide you some insight and direction around finding your one thing. If you are still reading this, you are indeed interested in finding your one thing and the most critical step is to action. Use this tool or get a recommendation from a colleague/friend or visit the personal development section of your local bookstore....but take action. If you need a little motivation to keep going, just remember Curly's advice....."once you find that one thing, everything else don't mean S#&%! - 31955
About the Author:
Steve Sheeren has spent the last decade and a half training and coaching individuals and corporations across North America to improve their mental approach and skillset. He offers additional insight, articles and resources on finding your one thing, including an alternative to working for a corporation.
