Finding Your One Thing - Why The Personal Development Industry Is Exploding

The personal development movement has been around for , well, as long as people have been around. Whether the term is self-help, self-development, personal growth, or self-enlightenment, people have historically looked for different ways and different means to greater fulfillment. And they are willing to pay for it! How fast is this industry growing today? According to one source, in just the United States alone, people have spent an estimated

* 5 Billion dollars in 2000 * 9 1/2 Billion dollars in 2005 and will likely invest more than * 13 Billion dollars in 2010

This market has almost tripled in size over the last decade. One can see that our desire for being more and finding our one thing is growing at a phenomenal rate. So why now? What has driven people since the beginning of time to search for greater meaning in their life and why has this search exploded in the last few years? Part of the answer to the last question may be in this short clip from the 1991 movie "City Slickers", starring Jack Palance and Billy Crystal. ( Note: PG-13 language coming your way! )

Jack Palance's "Curly" laughs at Billy Crystal's search for meaning in his life. He suggests that if we find that "one thing" then everything else won't mean s*%#! Billy Crystal's character then asks the question that we all want to ask...."what's the one thing?" The answer: That's what YOU have to figure out. Talk about a tough task! How does one figure out their "one thing" in this age of information overload? Consider the sheer amount of data, information, advertising and messages that we are bombarded with on a daily basis. The Nielson Company has done research indicating that 98.9 % of households in the United States have a television. A recent Pew Research study noted that nearly 67% of all adults in the U.S. have broadband access in their homes. If that isn't enough, you can get on an airplane and fly virtually anywhere in the world to experience a different culture first-hand. A half-century ago, or even 15 years ago, we simply didn't have nearly this much information assaulting our senses. It can seem overwhelming just to get through your day being bombarded with all of those messages. So for many folks, cutting through all of that "noise" to discover what their true purpose is has led them to explore personal development.

So how DO you find your "one thing"? If we were all identical and operated the same way, then there would be one neat and clean process. However, like snowflakes, no two humans are exactly alike. There are many different processes, paths, methods and means to finding your one thing. Which one is right for you? Here is a simple tool you can use to provide you some insight and direction in finding your one thing. By reflecting back on your beginning in life, you will be able to tighten the focus on what is truly important to you and filter out much of the informational "noise" surrounding you. The critical point is to take the first step on your quest. Use the tool above, ask a friend or colleague for a recommendation or visit the personal development section of your local bookstore, but take action. If you need a little kick in the pants to get going, just remember Curly's words......" once you find that one thing, everything else don't mean s*$%!

Steve Sheeren has spent the last 15 years training and coaching individuals and corporations across North America to improve their mindset and skillset. He offers additional information, articles and resources on finding your one thing, including an alternative to working for somebody else.

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