Now is a great time to review your goals and plans to finish out 2015 strong.  What are you doing now to plan for 2016 to help you LEARN, GROW, ACHIEVE and PROSPER?

This month, the focus of my note will be on one part of our motto – LEARN.  Remember, to LEARN is to gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery through experience or study.

You have probably heard the quote, “Experience is a great teacher.”  Many of us have learned throughout our lives from both personal and professional experiences.  The problem with learning only from experiences is that you can’t plan for or control all your experiences.  So while we will still learn a great deal from experiences, the best way we can truly plan for learning is to study.

Wait, did Celeste just tell me to study?  Yes, I did, however I’m not telling you to go back to school or to study for a test.  But I am going to ask you to be a student of you – to improve and invest in YOURSELF.  This time, you are the subject, and you get to create your own lessons.   And here are a few easy tips for ways that you can do just that.

• Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and decide on a topic for improvement. It doesn’t have to be a big thing like learning how to use accounting software, but it could be something as simple as learning how to use Tax Pocket (taxpocket.com) to keep better track of your expenses.  Step out of your comfort zone and tackle that area that has always stumped or challenged you.

• Find the learning resources. Depending on the topic, your resources may be as close as online or only as far away as the public library. Here are a few suggested ways to learn:
  • Read a book (or listen to the book on CD) – One of my favorite books is Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. Challenge yourself to read one book a month.
  • Attend a conference – Most industries have an annual conference where you can learn about current trends in your field.
  • Take a course – Many folks avoid public speaking, for example, but to build your confidence, why not take a public speaking course at a local community college or online? Haven’t heard about online learning?  Check out courses, many for free, at sites like Coursera.com
  • Consult with a professional – There are many experts who can teach you by working with them. A couple that you might not initially consider are a professional photographer and image consultant.  I’ve learned a great deal of personalized information from both of mine.
  • Join a Mastermind group – Working with a group affiliated with a business coach can help you identify areas for improvement and the group can grow together. I would love for you to join my group so we can learn from each other!

• Make a commitment to learning as an investment in yourself. Schedule for learning time weekly on your calendar, and keep the appointment with yourself to invest in yourself just like you would a meeting with a client.

When we LEARN, we then have the opportunities to GROW, ACHIEVE and PROSPER.  This journey to success is worth it, however sometimes it can be quite challenging.   But you don’t have to make it alone.  At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I teach my clients these very strategies that are need to build a Legacy Business and live their best life, at and outside the office. If you’d like to “Double Plus” your income this year all while creating a lifestyle that allows you to spend time doing the things you love with the people you love most, contact me today.