“He who stops being better stops being good.” – Oliver Cromwell
The Japanese have a word that symbolizes constant, never-ending improvement. That word is kaizen. Many of the world’s most successful people have adopted this philosophy as well. Achievers commit to ongoing continual improvement. What about you?
In today’s world, a certain amount of improvement is necessary just to keep with all the new technology. Improving therefore is needed simply to survive. But you don’t want to simply survive, you want to thrive. You can thrive by beginning to make small improvements that target your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Start small and get those wins under your belt, then gradually set new larger ways you can continually improve.
One key to continuous improvement is reading. Yes, you should read at least 1 hour per day in your field. If you work in Human Resources, read something in that field daily. If you work in Supply Management, Corporate Communications, Sales, or Marketing, you should be reading what is going on in your field. You need to become the most educated person in your organization. Becoming one of the best informed in the company will lead to your one day becoming one of the highest paid as well.
When I was a Letter Carrier, I would keep up with what was going on in the Public Affairs Department. I became really good friends with one of the managers and this helped me stay informed. I’m also a voracious reader, so I was always on the lookout for books and reports that had to do with my niche area of interest. Because of that, I am where I am today.
Action Item: Read for 1 hour in your chosen field.
Excellent advice!
While I like your “Action Item: Read for 1 hour in your chosen field.”, I think this would be better as 1 hour/field and 1 hour/outside field. I.e., while you might read for an hour in your field, I believe that reading about things outside your field are also part of kaizen or “good change”.
+1 to Ramona’s comment. Opening your mind to different ideas plants the seeds to innovation. Also, growth and understanding happen outside your comfort zone.