Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

As a Performance Improvement Specialist, I diligently apply Continuous Improvement principles in my personal and work life, and have consistently achieved great progress as a result.

To this end I’m always keen on researching successful people in various areas of endeavour. I do this not just for myself, but also to improve the variety and depth of insights I can deliver to my personal improvement coaching/consulting clients.

This past week, my efforts yielded the following 3 articles that I thoroughly enjoyed reading:

1. The #1 Thing You Need to Be Successful in Life (That Nobody Talks About) – By Darwin

In this detailed article, Darwin highlights a fundamental ingredient (which he calls “Deferral Of Instant Gratification”) required for success, which too many people fail to identify.

As a result, they often end up sabotaging themselves in their pursuit of success. Interestingly, this ingredient is featured in Daniel Goleman’s bestselling book (titled “Emotional Intelligence”) as a key attribute of Emotionally Intelligent people – a group to which many successful entrepreneurs belong.

Goleman simply called it the habit of Delayed Gratification. Another little book titled “The Millionaire Next Door” by Stanley and Danko also identifies this willingness to put off instant gratification in service of an important future goal as a key strategy employed by majority of the wealthy Americans studied over 2 decades.

The above makes it obvious that what Darwin says in his article is known to work. And yet only few who aspire for success act like they understand that simple but powerful principle!

That’s why I believe this article is aptly titled. Too many people just don’t “get it”…that thrift, frugality and a generally conservative approach to doing things will greatly enhance their chances of success in any areas of endeavour.

Darwin’s article offers many useful examples and analogies…including an entertaining comments thread!

Click here to read it.

2. King of the Online Jungle: The Early Years of Jeff Bezos – By Evan Carmichael

Jeff Bezos needs no introduction. Everyone knows he created the modern day online book selling miracle known to us all as Amazon.com.

What many may not know however, is who he was/what he did BEFORE starting that company. And more importantly how he achieved his astounding success.

This is quite important when you consider the following famous quote credited to him about discouraging advice he received from those he turned to for guidance:

“Every well-intentioned, high-judgment person we asked told us not to do it,” – Jeff Bezos

This article offers very valuable lessons, and powerful insights. Most important being that if you are reasonably convinced of the workability of your ideas, don’t let anyone – no matter their qualifications, reputations or achievements – discourage you from following your instincts. Success may lie ahead of you, just waiting for you to act on your convictions!

Read the article here.

3. How A Guy With A Full Time Job Built A $2,000 A Month AdSense Income Niche Site And Then Sold It For $200,000 – Patrick Meninga Tells His Story (Interview By Yaro Starak)

The title says it all. And from listening to the podcast (available as an MP3 download from Yaro’s website, I can tell you there’s no hype in there.

If you’ve not heard or read Patrick Meninga‘s story before, THIS incisive and indepth interview conducted by Yaro delivers the most detailed insights anyone could ever hope to get, on the amazing success story of the “Skinny Ninja” (as Patrick is known in some Internet circles)

The most noteworthy takeaway for me was Patrick’s emphasis on the fact that his success was far from being overnight. He worked many long hours for months on end, to make little progress in traffic and income.
For 2 years he was still working to get the formula for success right. And there were times when his massive work rate (e.g 20 to 25 articles per day – each not less than 600 words long) yielded seemingly no significant results.

He did all this while working a 9 to 5 job. He kept at it. And eventually his persistence paid off.

Click here to read Yaro’s preview.

You’ll see the download link to the 28MB podcast MP3. Take it from me: you don’t want to leave that page without listening to that interview!