Des McCabe
  • Books
  • Exercises

600 Personal Development Exercises

do one a day - every day!

What's your bigger picture?

7/28/2021

 

BIGGER PICTURE

​Business owners typically spend
over 95% of their energy
on business growth activities.
They spend less than 5% of their priorities.
We end up working 'for' the business
rather than 'on' the business.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. How much time do you spend working on your job and how much time on your personal priorities?

Picture
Day 491 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Purpose of Work?

5/3/2021

 

THE PURPOSE OF WORK

The purpose of work
is not to make money,
build a business, deliver a
service or sell products.
These are simply activities.
 
The purpose of work
is to help others,
by giving of who we are,
so that we can all
grow together, now.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are your work activities? 
2. What is the purpose of the work that you do? 


Day 405 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Are you leaving Caterpillar Tracks?

4/24/2021

 

CATERPILLAR TRACKS

I am a caterpillar among
millions of caterpillars.
Some of them talk of breaking free
and living in a different way.
 
But I have much to do
as a caterpillar.
All talk of freedom and flying
is for butterflies.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When and how are you going to become a butterfly?

Day 396 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Workplace of the Future?

3/31/2021

 

THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
 
I remember the fields
and the farm,
where my grandparents
used to work.
 
I remember the factory
and the garage,
 where my parents
used to work.
 
I remember the offices,
hotels and training centres,
where I
used to work.
 
I remember the Internet,
phones and homes,
where we all
used to work.
 
And now our children live
in a different way,
where they can choose
to  make their life work.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your life's work?
​2. How is your way of work evolving? 
3. How are you being proactive rather than reactive in doing the work that is important for you? 


​Day 372 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Personal Strategy?

3/27/2021

 

PERSONAL STRATEGY

When you fill in
your daily planner or
write your to-do list today,
don’t start with activities
and things to do.

Start instead with times
of quiet and nothing to do.
Plan these first into your day
and let other actions fit
around these quiet times.

We can look after ourselves
as we move from one 
activity to the next.
Let us not be a slave to time
but allow time to work for us.

It’s all about personal strategy.
For although we all need
to work in the business,
we also need some time
to work on the business.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When will you work on your Personal Strategy today?

​Day 368 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are Workpieces?

3/16/2021

 

WORKPIECES

Over the last thirty years
we have moved from Lifelong jobs
to Portfolio working to Workpieces.

Our​ Workpieces are the way that
we use our time. We do freelancing, we
sell online, we create and make, we have
part-time jobs, and we do ad-hoc work.  

Some of our workpieces pay us money
and some don’t - like minding our kids,
home-schooling, helping  others, 
or looking after an elderly relative.

But everything that we do is a workpiece,
including  social media,  watching sport
or the latest box set!  They are all the ways
we use our time,  at whatever age we are,
and whatever our situation.

Workpieces are proactive rather than
just reactive. They call on us to
unleash  our skills, experience, knowledge
and passions to explore and be more.
To  do what  we really want to do.

Homeworking has now taken us  out of
the office. Couples manage their workpieces
and income based on their needs and plans.
Individually and collectively, we  are
taking more control of all that we do.

As our lives change and develop, we need
to constantly re-evaluate and re-balance
our workpieces as best we can,
not just for income, but as the framework
of our overall health, wellbeing and
life development strategy.

Our workpieces can help us to achieve and
become all that is important to us.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Write down all of your workpieces.
2. Which workpieces that you would like to see, are missing?
3. Which workpieces would you like to change? ​


Day 357 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the best definition of Work?

2/22/2021

 

WORK

Work is simply a method
of engaging in prayer.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your work all about?
​2. What would you really like to work on? 


Day 335 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Perfect Library?

2/15/2021

 

 GLASS BOOKCASE

He must have been a senior lawyer
or perhaps a judge.
The extensive law library housed
in a beautiful glass bookcase
across three walls of his study,
bears witness to a serious role and
a long commitment to his work.
His large oak desk still has the
files of papers he was working on.
 
He died two years ago
and his ground floor apartment
 remains largely untouched,
although the conservatory wall
is in need of some paint.
We view the property as potential buyers
and see family photos of a grandad,
and a bedroom left as if it was
 just tidied up for our viewing.
 
His home is full of outdated furniture
and we learn that,
after our judge  lost his wife,
he lived on here for years,
immersed in his retirement.
This flat will be sold and cleared out,
except for the glass bookcase,
which I think, will  remain,
waiting for new books to arrive.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What books would you treasure and keep in your glass bookcase?
​2. What in your life, is your long term commitment to?​


Day 328 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Work that we should be doing?

2/13/2021

 

ENERGY SWITCH
 
Don’t get consumed by it.
Don’t get overwhelmed by it.
Don’t give all of your thoughts,
energy and time to it.
 
It is passing through.
It will soon be gone.
And you have more important
work to do.
 
Switch your thoughts, energy and time
to activities worthy of your gifts,
your generosity and your love.
For this, by far, is the best deal.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What is consuming your energy and taking up so much time, that you do not need? 
2. How can you make better use of your gifts, your generosity and your love?  


Day 326 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can we create a successful Daily Routine?

1/16/2021

 

DAILY ROUTINE

During lockdown
one day can seem much
the same as the next day.
 
It may be helpful to create
mini projects and activities,
and not just daily to-do lists.
 
So plan a two day project.
Create a three day initiative.
Set up a five day activity.
 
In this way, we can move
not from day to day, but
from success to success.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What projects, initiatives and activities are you working on this week? 


Day 298 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Spirit Merchant?

1/12/2021

 

SPIRIT MERCHANT

My Grandfather owned
a Pub in Ireland.
In his day, he was called
a Spirit Merchant.
 
When I helped behind the bar,
he told me how we
are all connected to love,
through a Spirit of kindness,
and a Spirit of joy.

Through a Spirit of friendship,
a Spirit of compassion,
a Spirit of caring,
a Spirit of humility, and
a Spirit of resilience.

Through a Spirit of helping,
a Spirit of humanity,
a Spirit of determination,
a Spirit of gentleness, and
a Spirit of gratitude.

He smiled as he told me,
that, in every moment,
in every day,
love is with each of us.
For we are all working
as Spirit Merchants.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Can you see behind your role or job title to what you really are, and what you really do? 
2. What spirits do you serve as a Spirit Merchant? 


Day 294 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Social Architect?

1/3/2021

 
​
ARCHITECTS


We are all social architects.
We build the future each day
through our interactions with others.
We can create our dreams and
we can offer encouragement.
We can help others to dream.
 
We are all social architects.
This is our vocation given to us
when we were born,
to make the world a better place.
And so, every day we awaken
to this opportunity and invitation.
 
We are all social architects.
We use our skills, gifts and talents,
our knowledge, contacts and experience,
our links, friendships, and relationships
to build projects and initiatives
and construct a better future together.
 
We are all social architects.
Take your role seriously.
Have your plan and act every single day.
Be ambitious for a better world.
A kind and safe place where
we can all live in peace and joy.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are you designing at the moment as a Social Architect? 
2. Who is on your building team? 


Day 285 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What does a Green Light mean for you, personally?

12/12/2020

 
​
GREEN LIGHT


Now is the moment.
Not later.
Not next week.
Not next year.
 
Now is the time.
To start.
To do it.
To make it happen.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Are you ready to move?
2. What exactly is holding you back from being your total real self? 


Day 263 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Do people Malfunction?

11/24/2020

 

MALFUNCTION

The opposite of love is unlove.
It is when we move away
from our true nature.
It is when we create
a situation within ourselves,
which is not aligned
to our true being and
what we will become.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What does 'unlove' mean to you?
2. When has 'unlove' been relevant in your life? 


Day 245 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can we Keep Going?

10/23/2020

 

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

Sometimes you start something,
with a sense of optimism and belief.
It’s part of your great plan.
 
Others are enthusiastic
and encourage you.
You are on a roll.

After a while, it gets tougher,
others lose interest,
but you keep going.

And then, there comes a time,
when others say maybe you should stop,
Or, that it is not working.

 They question your judgement,
and what you’re doing.
But you keep going.
 
And then you struggle.
It’s just tough
to keep going.

For the energy
that started this enterprise,
has virtually dissipated.
 
And yet,
some reserves kick in
and you muddle on.

You feel it is part of something
that is worth sustaining,
no matter what others say.
 
For maybe,
the enterprise is
about more than the effort.

​about more than the output,
and about more than you
can ever imagine.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 
​1. What have you started as part of your great plan?
2. Read 'Enterprise Development"every time you stumble and then keep going, no matter what.
  
​

Day 213 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Business model?

9/17/2020

 

MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING
 
I met Fred for the first time today.
He was passionate about trying to encourage me to join
his multi-level marketing scheme in crypto currencies.
I was puzzled because Fred clearly had more money than he needed.
He’d been successful in many other ventures.
And he was well into his 70s.
 
I marvelled at Fred’s sense of drive,
 his relentless passion and his total focus on building his team.
 ‘What drives you?’, I asked.
He said that when he was younger he was told
that he needed to have seven streams of income.
He only had six. And he laughed.
 
How could somebody be totally focused on building wealth?
 He was travelling the country attending meeting after meeting,
promoting all the time and in every single conversation.
He was a true MLM specialist,
living and working with everyone in his downline.
‘But, surely life must be about more than money?’ I asked.
 
Fred smiled and continued ‘My aim is to generate opportunities
for people to help them to fulfil their plans and their destiny.
I also spend my money
in ways that others don’t know about.
You see, each of us must find our own  way
and then give our all to that.’

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your business?
2. Have you found your way?
3. How does your work help to deliver all that is important for you? 

Day 178 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How visible is your Determination to others?

5/13/2020

 

DETERMINATION
 
Early this morning as I sat in the woods
I spotted a young woman jogging in all her gear.
She was pushing her pram and baby
in front of her as she ran,
maintaining a steady pace.
I thought to myself ‘what determination!’
 
About ten minutes later she approached
where I was sitting reading.
I looked up and said
‘I think you’re marvellous!! Absolutely amazing!’
She looked at me, laughed and said ‘thank you!’,
without changing her pace.
 
Sometimes when we try
to get across the true meaning of a word,
the definition is not enough and
an image can perhaps capture it better.
‘Determination’ for me will always be
a young woman running with her pram.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What does determination mean to you? What's your image?
2. How is your determination made real and visible each day? 


Day 51 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Personal Interest Rate?

3/27/2020

 

INTEREST RATES

What’s your level of interest
in the job that you do?
Do you give your best in every situation
and to every person?

Do you encourage, motivate
and inspire others?
Are you positive.
enthusiastic and helpful?

Do you always give 100%
to the work that you do?
If we can increase our interest rate,
we’ll all enjoy greater returns.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 
1. Where are you investing your time, energy and experience? 
2. What are the key relationships that you want to invest more into? 
3. How will you measure your returns? 


Day 4 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

    Search all of the Exercises


    View our 24 Categories

    All
    Business
    Career
    Christmas And New Year
    Collaborative Working
    Creativity
    Daily Routine
    Dying
    Education
    Future Planning
    Gratitude
    Happiness
    Harvesting
    Inclusion
    Inner Learning
    Kindness
    Leadership
    Life Journey
    Love
    Peace
    Personal Effectiveness
    Purpose
    Spirituality
    Wellbeing
    Work


    Picture

    Leave your 
    feedback

    Linkedin
    ​Instagram
    ​​Facebook

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Don't miss
    ​a day ...

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020


Personal Development Exercises - 24 CATEGORIES
​Work
Business
Gratitude
Daily Routine
Spirituality
​Kindness
Love
​Leadership
Harvesting
​​Inclusion
Gratitude
Happiness
​Creativity
​Purpose
Inner Learning

Collaborative Working 


Wellbeing
​Education
Future Planning
Career
Personal Effectiveness 
Dying
Life Journey
Christmas / New Year







​
Resources
Contact Us


Picture
Picture

Copyright © ​Des McCabe 2010-2022  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 
  • Books
  • Exercises