TRACKING YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH

In the course of building a business and growing a strong brand, many times, entrepreneurs get so focused on the particular demands of their businesses, they forget to pay attention to their own personal growth. There are many organisations growing under very narrow-minded chief executives and this particular flaw eventually affects the organisation in the long run. A company will continue to grow effectively when the person or persons at the helm of affairs are well-rounded individuals.

Personal growth is an ongoing process that involves continuous self-improvement. It involves being mindful of your health needs, spiritual, social, and emotional needs as well as keeping abreast of updates in your industry and the environment. It involves developing skills and interests outside your main areas of business.

In general, personal growth should involve the following:

Physical – Well-being, Skincare, Adequate nourishment, Fitness, Personal grooming, etc

Intellectual – Academic upgrade, new Skills, and Environmental Awareness updated Political and Business expertise, etc

Social/ Emotional – Working on your Tolerance level, Enlargement of circle of influence, Interpersonal Skills, learning and improving new Hobbies

Spiritual – Internal peace, God-awareness and manifestation, charity

There are so many areas of personal growth, it is essential to know the things that are important to you and to work towards them meticulously. This can be achieved by keeping track of your growth.

Tracking your personal growth is essential because it helps you to measure your progress and identify areas where you need to improve. When you track your personal growth, you can celebrate your successes and learn from your failures. It is also a great way to stay motivated and focused on your goals.

The first step in tracking personal growth is to set clear and achievable goals. These goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). For example, if your physiological goal is to improve your health, general well-being, or a specific aspect of your health, you might set a goal to perform some activities or do some things that would ultimately achieve the expected result. You might decide to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week to improve your well-being. You might decide to follow a diet plan or embrace some other lifestyle changes that enhance good health. When you have set your goals, write them down and be specific about the activities that would help you reach those goals. Keep the goals pasted or kept in a place that is easily visible so that you are constantly reminded of what you are working towards.

Keeping a daily or weekly journal is another excellent way to track your personal growth. A journal can help you to reflect on your progress, identify patterns in your behaviour and quickly pinpoint areas where you need to improve. You can write about your thoughts, feelings and progress regularly. In your journal, you can also write about your successes, setbacks, and lessons learned. You can use your journal to set new goals and plan how you will achieve them. Writing in your journal can help you to stay accountable and motivated. By its very self, keeping a journal that is consistently updated is a form of growth.

There are many apps available online that can help you to track your personal growth. These apps can be used for habit tracking, mood tracking, productivity tracking and more; you can look them up via the internet. When using apps to track your personal growth, be sure to choose the ones that align with your goals and needs. You can try different apps until you find one that works for you.

Consistency is another key tool in tracking personal growth; you need to measure your progress regularly. You can measure your progress by reviewing your goals and assessing how far you have come. For example, if your goal was to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, you can measure your progress by tracking how often you are able to achieve that goal in a week, and the progress you have noticed or measured in terms of the overall goal. Being consistent also helps you to form a habit so that exercising for example will no longer be a goal but a daily habit, you may set other helpful goals. Consistency also helps you to track your reaction to the set goal. The feeling of fulfilment is a major energy boost that often translates to other aspects of your productivity.

You can also measure your progress by comparing where you are now to where you were when you started. Celebrate your successes and use your progress to motivate yourself to keep going. There may be days when work pressure or any other personal demand may stop you from following up on your planned activities, be gentle with yourself and keep your schedule strict but flexible. Your old successes will help you to bounce right back into schedule.

Asking for feedback from people you trust is an excellent way to track your personal growth. Feedback can help you to identify blind spots; areas that you might have overlooked, areas where you need to improve on, and areas where you are excelling. Be open to constructive criticism, and don’t take feedback carelessly; it must be from people who have competence and objectivity and you must use the feedback to make worthy improvements. Don’t be discouraged by failures, instead, use them as learning opportunities. Analyze what went wrong, what you could have done differently, and use that knowledge to improve.

Remember the words of world famous Albert Einstein, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” This phrase may sound dramatic but holds true anyway because daily we owe it to ourselves to keep increasing knowledge, abilities and influence. Personal growth is a long journey and thankfully, the results are reaped as we go along.

Start the journey now.

Fatherhood with Ibe  

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD IS MIXING WITH THE WRONG CROWD

Years ago, a friend – a Nigerian man and his American wife, Denise decided to relocate and set up shop in Nigeria. He was a lawyer and his wife a counsellor or shrink as some people call them. She specialised in post-trauma therapy and so of course people who had lost their loved ones to death or a major disaster, those who had survived a calamity or life-changing experience were her regular clients. Her husband was a lawyer and soon got immersed in corporate law but it was not so easy for Denise. Initially, she got clients; doctors referred patients to her for post-treatment therapy. The problem was that it was very difficult to convince the average client to pay money for what they considered was almost similar to what their pastors, friends, parents, uncles, aunts and numerous cousins would do for free. They did not place adequate value on Denise’s ability to expertly help them get through their problems just by listening and offering advice. Frustrated, Denise returned to her practice in America. A few years down the line, I started hearing of life coaches, relationship coaches, business coaches etc, in Nigeria. People were paying money for guidance through some of life’s tough patches. Now, people are very dependent on coaches, infact, some organisations even hire coaches to help their displaced workers adjust to unemployment. Quite a step up!

I am going into all these because someone, a concerned reader, Ferdinand, sent a reaction to a previous write up on Fatherhood with Ibe. He said he is a parenting coach and wanted to share some ideas on how to quickly notice when a child is going on the wrong path. The parenting coach part caught my attention even before I read the article. So I am guessing now, it would be wrong to say there is no parenting manual; the likes of Ferdinand would soon put together the ABC of Parenting. Wouldn’t that be a great relief?

Here’s his very useful contribution:

EARLY SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD IS MIXING WITH THE WRONG CROWD.

“As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the company your child keeps. Many people have used various terms to dissuade parents from paying close attention to what their children are up to but I feel it is far better to be a “helicopter parent” than the parent of a junkie or a drop-out. The people your child associates with can have a significant impact on their behaviour and decision-making.

One of the most significant signs that your child is mixing with the wrong crowd is changes in behavior. Your child may become more aggressive, rebellious, or argumentative. They may start using foul language or disrespecting authority figures. They may become involved in fights or other violent behaviour. If you notice these changes in behaviour, it’s important to talk to your child and find out what’s going on.

Another sign that your child is mixing with the wrong crowd is changes in appearance. They may start dressing differently, wearing clothes that are inappropriate, or wearing gang-related clothing. They may start getting tattoos or piercings without your permission. If your child is suddenly wearing different clothes or has a dramatic change in appearance, it’s important to check out the people in his peer group and their lifestyles.

If your child suddenly loses interest in activities he/she once enjoyed, it could be a sign that they are mixing with the wrong crowd. For example, if they were once active in sports or school clubs, but suddenly stop attending practices or meetings, it could be because they are spending time with new friends. Talk to your child and try to find out why they have lost interest in their activities.

Another tell-tale sign that your child is mixing with the wrong crowd is a decline in academic performance. Your child may start skipping classes or neglecting homework. Their grades may start to drop, and they may no longer care about their education. This decline in academic performance could be because they are spending time with their new friends instead of focusing on their schoolwork.

If your child is suddenly secretive about their activities, it could be a sign that they are mixing with the wrong crowd. They may start coming home late or not telling you where they are going. They may be unwilling to talk about their friends or what they are doing when they are away from home. This secretive behaviour could be a sign that they are involved in activities that they don’t want you to know about.

If your child is mixing with the wrong crowd, they may start using drugs or alcohol. They may be exposed to these substances by their new friends, and they may start experimenting with them. You may notice that they smell like smoke or alcohol, or you may find drug paraphernalia in their room. If you suspect that your child is using drugs or alcohol, it’s important to talk to them and seek help if necessary. Many people advise against encroaching on a child’s personal space. Under some circumstances, I do too but when you have suspicions about the child’s conduct, please do feel free to search his/her space in order to validate or cancel your fears.

If your child is mixing with the wrong crowd, they may start engaging in criminal behaviour. They may start stealing or vandalizing property. They may be involved in gang-related activities, sexually inappropriate activities or other illegal behaviour. If you suspect that your child is engaging in criminal and unsavoury behaviour, it’s important to take action immediately.

Conclusion:

If you notice any of these tell-tale signs that your child is mixing with the wrong crowd and is engaging in a grotty activity, it’s important to talk to them and find out what’s going on. Try to maintain open communication with your child and let them know that you are there to support them. I would actually advise that you seek professional help to address any issues your child may be experiencing because how you handle a problem is very important especially in our impressionable youngsters. Happy parenting!!