Some of the lessons include starting self-development and

1. Finding mentors and building personal board of directors. Life is complex and difficult. To be successful at it, having a mentor, coach, or someone more experienced than you, and someone in the position you want in the future, is very important. On the other hand, you can also build your personal board of directors by reading and understudying great authors in your field of interest. That is learning from great people you will never have the opportunity to meet. Most people underestimate the value of mentors and the personal board of directors. Hence the number one cause of failure in both personal and business life.

Great mentorship or coaching program can help you achieve the following.

• Increased knowledge with a new or right perspective
• Gives constructive criticism and feedback
• Accelerate personal growth and setting the right goals
• Provides words of encouragement during difficult times
• Helps to define firm boundaries, that is, being ethica
• Is a trusted ally and so provides unbiased opinion
• Guides you on how to leverage your Network

2. Make time to unlearn and learn: The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. – Alvin Toffler

3. Work on your hedgehog by studying yourself to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Based on that, identify the opportunities and threats. The Hedgehog concept is based on an ancient Greek parable that states, “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. A simple, crystalline concept that flows from deep understanding about the intersection of three circles:

a) what you are deeply passionate about,

b) what you can be the best in the world at, and

c) what best drives your economic or resource engine. Transformations from good to great come about by a series of good decisions made consistently with a Hedgehog Concept. Which is supremely executed, accumulating one upon another, over a long period of time.

4. What is your question to statement ratio? Aim to double it. “The future belongs to the curious, the ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it, question it and turn it inside out.” – unknown. The essence of this, is to be curious and ask more questions than making statement.

5. What is your question to live by? that would go to the top of your to do list? “Honesty and integrity are by far the most important assets of a human.” Zig Ziglar

6. Create a stop doing list and commit to it. As the norm we usually have a ‘to do list’ but often, never have “a stop doing list”. A stop doing list are a list of things that detracts you. Let you lose focus or holds you back from progressing or achieving your dreams or aims. For example, getting addicted to watching TV or spending too much time on social media can be things you want to put a stop to so will be placed on your “stop doing list”.

7. Unplug yourself from the opportunities of life, that distract you. “All that glitters is not gold”. Is often used to describe things that seems to look good at the face but may not be good when looked at closely. This is also buttressed by the quote, “the grass is NOT always greener on the other side”. In other words, run from opportunities that glitter like gold since they may not be gold.

8. Find something for which you have so much passion for, that you are willing to endure the pain. For example, if your commitment is to keep fit. Then you must be ready to endure the pain of regular exercise.

9. Articulate the values that you will not compromise on. What are the personal values and principles that you will NOT compromise on? Ensure you express them, so you are known by them. For example, humility and indomitable will.

10. Prepare to live your best life, sometime within your old age, your best life is always ahead of you.

About James C. “Jim” Collins

He is an American researcher, author, speaker and consultant focused on the subject of business management and company sustainability and growth.

He’s authored book such as

• GOOD TO GREAT
• BUILT TO LAST
• TURNING THE FLYWHEEL
• GREAT BY CHOICE
• GOOD TO GREAT AND THE SOCIAL SECTORS ·
• HOW THE MIGHTY FALLS AND
• HIS LATEST BOOK IS BE 2.0 (BEYOND ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2.0)