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600 Personal Development Exercises

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What is your Homework?

7/22/2021

 

HOMEWORK
 

One of my colleagues always
clarifies with me at the
end of the call, as to
what her homework is.
But she is not asking me
to give her homework.

She is reflecting on the
pages of notes that
she’s already taken, and
the information we have discussed.
She is processing what she
needs to do next.
 
After every conversation
and every interaction,
we too,
also have homework to do.
If we could just take a moment
to clarify, and write it down.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your homewotk from the last two conversations that you had?
2. What is your homework from this interaction?
3. How will you make sure you do not miss your homework in future? 

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Day 485 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What's your take-away?

7/9/2021

 

TAKE-AWAY
​

A popular Coaching technique
is to ask at the end of the conversation,
'What has been the biggest 'take-away'
for you from our session?'
In other words 'What is clearer for you?' or
'What is your priority for moving forward?'

We can reverse this, and ask ourselves
after every meeting or conversation
'What was my biggest take-away?'
'What have I learnt?'
'What is my key action point?'
And write down our take-away notes.

This is a practical way of harvesting
from all our activities,
as we go through our day.
In this way, we become our own Coach,
gathering value from every meeting,
every activity and every conversation.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What's your take-away from this exercise?
2. Get a 'take-away' notebook so that you gather value from every meeting, every activity and every conversation.

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Day 472 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What should you write first in a new notebook?

4/27/2021

 

 A NEW NOTEBOOK

It’s always a strange feeling
starting a new notebook, and
writing on that first page.
 
It’s like a new baby,
full of potential and ready
to tell all her stories.
 
It’s the same routine for both,
daily feeds and each day,
a new chapter unfolds.
 
Your notebook and your baby,
both reflections of you
in their own way.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Is it time to start a new notebook?
2. Are you ready to capture all that is happening within and around you?
3. What will you write first in your new notebook? 


Day 399 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Can we Be Always Beginning?

3/24/2021

 

BE ALWAYS BEGINNING

You have a lifetime
of experience and
no past to carry.
Be always beginning.
 
You have a lifetime
of learning and
everything to understand.
Be always beginning.
 
You have a lifetime
of knowledge
with wisdom yet to arrive.
Be always beginning.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are you beginning? 
2. Think about all aspects of who you are - your experience, your learning and your knowledge. Where can you begin again with each of these? 


Day 365 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can each of us add value that lasts?

2/17/2021

 

VALUE ADDED

When we go through our list
of previous jobs and roles,
we tend to think of the title,
responsibilities and payment.
 
We may even reflect
on the people we worked with
and some of the work we did.
 
And if we keep going
we get to that same point
in every role, and hope that
we did something good,
something that lasts.
 
We also realise that our presence
becomes embedded as value added 
in the lives of others,
who after we leave, take their turn
and make their contribution.
 
So remember, our job outcomes
are realised long after we are gone.
And when we look back we see that
we did something good,
something that lasts.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Who did you add value for?
2. How are your job outcomes growing in each role or job that you had? ​


Day 330 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Why is a Journal so Important?

1/20/2021

 

​JOURNAL

A new notebook.
A new chapter.
A new beginning.
 
New thoughts.
New words.
New writing.
 
A fresh start.
A different path.
A day in my life.
 
An amazing journey.
An unfolding story.
An everlasting process.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Get a Journal.
​2. Write in it every morning.


Day 302 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What Book have you not read for years?

12/14/2020

 

LENDING LIBRARY

Go to your bookshelf.
Look through your collection.
And choose a book
that you haven’t read for years.
 
Go to your past
and rediscover this time.
And bring it forward, anew.
To all that is now.Go to your bookshelf.
Look through your collection.
And choose a book,
that you haven’t read for years


Go to your past
and rediscover that time.
Then bring it forward, anew,
to all that is now.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Go to your bookshelf and read something from a book you had a few years ago.
2. What does this say to you now? 


Day 265 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is our Gift to the World?

11/25/2020

 

​MULTI-STORY

We choose how to spend our time,
how to live our life and
what our priorities are.

It is these choices,
that create the picture, or canvas,
that captures all that we are.

And sometimes we make
the wrong choices and the wrong decisions.
But we can start again.

We can paint over our canvas.
We can make new decisions,
better choices.

So, many layers and stories
are built up over the years.
All is embedded on this one canvas.

This is our gift to the world,
enabling us to leave behind
all that we are.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What does your canvas show at the moment?
2. What layers have been covered over? How many? ​


Day 246 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Can I be a one-person Production Company?

11/18/2020

 

PRODUCTION COMPANY 

 From the words that you write
these are lines to be spoken.
There are songs to be sung
and thoughts to be owned.
 
There are moments to be savoured
and truths to be uncovered.
There are ways to be taken
and a life to be discovered.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What words are you writing?
2. Begin to keep a journal, capture your thoughts every day and create you own  production company.


Day 239 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How does a Combine Harvester work?

11/11/2020

 

COMBINE HARVESTER

Our personal harvesting
is an ongoing, everlasting,
outpouring of our experience,
knowledge, expertise and love.
 
Our collective harvesting,
is a daily torrent
of all that we need for ourselves
and the world, now and forever.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are you harvesting each day?
​2. How are you using your experience, knowledge and expertise to build love?
​3. How are you encouraging others to harvest?
4. What are you building together through collective harvesting? 


Day 232 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

​What Boxes do you put things in?

10/22/2020

 

SORTING CENTRE

Life doesn’t come in
ready-made boxes.
Everything is not sorted for us
like a ready meal.

No, bits and pieces arrive
as demands are made,
responsibilities press on us and
work need to be done.

And alongside all of this
we have our own personal thoughts,
our hopes and worries, and
our memories and disappointments.

Yes, life comes at us
in a real mixed up way.
And our task is to sort this
and try and make sense of it.

So when people say to me
'Are your writings religious?' or
'Are they about business and work,
or about personal development?'

 'Are they about spirituality,
or more about love and kindness?'
I think that they are really
asking the question of themselves.

In which box do I put this?
Please place it anywhere, if it helps you.
I don’t mind, for I’m just passing on
the mixed-up thoughts as they come.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 
1. Which box do you place this perspective in?
2. What is your favourite box - and your least favourite box?


Day 212 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Do you Talk to Yourself?

10/15/2020

 

DICTATION
 
In this moment
a thought is born,
and the idea comes.
The words flow
and the writing
takes shape.
Ready to share.
 
Every moment
holds a thought,
so let your ideas come.
Let your words flow
and your writing
take shape.
And get ready to share.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 
​1. Start a journal today. Capture your thoughts throughout the day. Write in your journal  every day.

2. Review your writings once a week. What do they tell you?


Day 205 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How do I set my Hourly Rate?

9/3/2020

 

HOURLY RATE
 
Don’t just work for money.
Work for the asset
you can create from that time.
Think of the conversation, the experience,
 the new knowledge and the case study
and the learning you have just received.
 
What can you pull out
or ‘harvest’ from this time at work?
What have you learned? Who have you met?
What were the points of interest?
What is new or different
that you can share with others?
 
We work to be better equipped
to advise, train or help others.
We work to develop and build
upon our expertise or key message.
We work to collect new information
for our next book, or service or product.
 
So, don’t sell your time just for money.
Explore the potential in every situation
at work and play, and harvest from this.
After your work has finished write down
all that you have been given,
 for this is where the real value is.
 
Your hourly rate
is  measured not just in money.
 Your hourly rate is measured by
all that your work contains, how much
you harvest and then what you share.
This is the gift you must not leave unused.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What can you harvest from your work and play yesterday?
2. Where was the real value? 
3. Remember to harvest every day - and capture all that you have been given. 


Day 164 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is our Message for the World?

8/27/2020

 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Uncover your message.
Write your words.
Capture your stories.

Keep a journal.
Update it each day.
Include your case studies.

Harvest all that you are.
For the world needs
your grace and your love.

Start a blog.
Post your updates.
Publish your books.

Create your courses.
Record your podcasts.
Make your videos.

Share all that you are.
For the world needs
your grace and your love.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What have you seen and learned over the years?
2. What are your messages for the world? 


Day 157 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Is Life one long Sentence?

8/25/2020

 

LIFE SENTENCE
 
In this moment
a thought is born
and the idea comes.
The words flow
and the writing
takes shape.
Ready to share.

Every moment
holds a thought.
So let your ideas come,
your words flow
and your writing
take shape.
You’re ready to share.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Create a moment each day just to catch your thoughts.....
2. Remember, our thoughts are unique and they are our treasure. How can we share these? 


Day 155 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What will you say to Yourself today?

7/24/2020

 

DAILY BLOG

Start your daily blog today.
Grab a notebook.
Put day one on the first page.
And write something.
 
This is a blog for you,
not for the world.
Not for marketing your products
or promoting your expertise.
 
This is your daily feedback,
conversation and notes for yourself.
It’s your life training manual.
To underpin all that you do.
 
These are the words that tell you
what’s really happening around you
and within you.
It’s only for you.
 
And as you build your blog
day by day
you will see themes develop,
ideas flourish and a plan emerge.
 
You will build a greater sense
of who you really are.
Every day write your blog.
Grab a notebook start today.
 
It is here where seeds
can be planted and flourish.
For if you write it down
It can become real.
 
Capture what’s happening
or isn’t happening.
Capture all the joy and gratitude
and all that causes you pain.
 
For your daily blog
is an ongoing conversation
with all that really matters.
Start your daily blog today. 

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What would like to say to yourself today? 
2. And how will yourself respond?
 


Day 123 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What will you Harvest from today?

5/9/2020

 

HARVEST
 
Every conversation is a story.
Every person we meet is a case study.
Every situation offers options.
Every thought can open a new door.
Every job teaches us new skills.
Every task produces opportunities.
Every memory holds real treasure
for we grow through all things.
 
Every moment holds an asset for us
enabling us to make sense of life,
helping us with  a different perspective
and to find our best way.
So, do not forget your stories,
please write down your case studies,
explore all of your options and open new doors.
Harvest all that you are today.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Begin to build your 'harvest' files and folders on your computer or laptop. Start to collect all your experience, notes, writings, reports, ideas and stories together into relevant folders. Begin today. 
2. What will you harvest from yesterday and today?
3. Devote some time to harvesting every day. Look at what is emerging for you.....


Day 47 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can I build Real Wealth?

4/3/2020

 

WEALTH CREATION
 
The contract for sharing
called the seller and buyer
is flawed because it involves
the exchange of money.
 
This excludes so many
who may wish to benefit
from your products,
services or experience.
 
People may never know
the value of what you can offer
or simply may not
have the money to buy.
 
They may live in
other parts of the world
where the cost of your expertise
is beyond their reach.
 
Give away your stuff for free,
build real relationships and
create a sharing global economy
where all can participate equally.
 
For your real wealth lies
not in limited financial transactions
but in the spread of your gifts
outwards and onwards for ever.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 
1. What are the three greatest gifts (knowledge, experience or expertise) that you have been blessed with?
2. How can you begin today to share just one of these with others for free?


Day 11 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your perfect Job Specification?

3/28/2020

 

JOB SPECIFICATION

Your life is changing.
It will not be the same again.
You will not go back
to where you were.
 
You’ve already gone off
in a different direction
and are doing things differently.
Living in different ways.
 
Stop and take stock.
Capture what has been good
and cherish these things.
Do not lose what you’ve become.
 
A high price has been paid by many
for what we have been given.
We carry their dreams and go forward
as we build a different wa
y.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 
1. How has your life changed as a result of recent events?
2. What have you to cherish?
3. How will you use this learning and period of discovery to build a different way?


Day 5 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

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