Spending time, money on self-development a worthy investment

Many of us neglect our personal development because it requires an investment of two things that we hold dear and often mismanage: time and money.

During this time of economic uncertainty, the most common thing that I hear from many who have been laid off from their jobs is that they had become too comfortable. They admit that they did not take time to improve and further develop their personal and professional skills. As a result, not only had they not become "indispensable" to their employers, but they have found it difficult to bounce back into the job market.

The bottom line is that if you want to advance in your career, personal and professional development are not only important, they are necessary. Here are three tools that can help you jumpstart your personal development plan:

1) Mentoring: A mentoring relationship can take your career to the next level. Aligning yourself with someone who has already achieved success and is willing to share insights can accelerate your professional growth. Mentors come in all shapes and sizes. A mentor can be someone who guides you through a one-time event, a transition or through-out your career. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when looking for a mentor:

• Does the person have a record of career success?
• Is the person well regarded by his / her peers?
• Does the person have a track record of nurturing emerging leaders?
• Is the person willing to invest his / her time sharing personal experiences with you?
• Is the person willing to share connections and other resources with you?

2) Coaching: A coaching relationship can also take your career to the next level. Coaching will require that you invest both your time and your money. Coaching offers you a personalized approach that helps you align your goals with your values and keeps you focused on achieving your best. A coach can provide the encouragement, focus, honest feedback, structure and accountability you need to develop both personally and professionally. A coach can help you to:

• Identify obstacles that interfere with achieving your best
• Help you to develop a mission statement and a strategic plan for your life and career
• Help you to set and achieve goals

When looking for a coach, make sure that the coach is certified by a reputable institution. Also, take the time to interview the coach to make sure you have a good rapport.

3) Seminars, webinars, books: If you have a limited budget and limited time, you may want to consider seminars, webinars and books. Although not tailored to your specific needs like mentoring and coaching are, these tools provide you with on-the-go resources that can suit your schedule and allow you to stretch your mind in new ways.

Don't wait any longer. You'll be much more successful in your career and personal life if you make it a priority to invest on your personal and professional development.

Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mailellie@ellienieves.com.

© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.