Comments on: The Personal Development Dilemma Part 2: Publicly Announce Your Big Dreams or Keep Them To Yourself?

By: Life Coach

Life Coach — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:57:56 +0000

As an investment, personal development programs have the goal of increasing human capital or improving productivity, innovation or quality. Proponents see such programs not as a cost but as an investment with results linked to the company’s strategic development goals. Access to these programs is by selection according to the value and future potential of the employee, usually defined in a talent management architecture including populations such as new hires, high potential employees, key employees, sales staff, research staff and future leaders.

By: Seamus Anthony

Seamus Anthony — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:10:13 +0000

@Evan – Yes I find talking things out helps to clarify ideas and feelings etc too, and not to put too much credence of sexual stereotypes but the ladies in my life found it funny when I announced this as a revelation but a couple of years back. Of course they knew this all along! But to me it WAS a revelation even though I had heard the theory before as it had never really struck home until one day I started *gulp* expressing myself and wow! Suddenly I KNEW how what was bothering me rather than just knowing I was bothered. anyway I have gone off topic.
@Robin – I do feel that talking about your plans can rob them of their power sometimes that’s for sure. It depends whose listening I think.
@Aurora – as above!
@Dave – you have a very systematic mind, something I have long given up on trying to acquire! Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out to me – more than I did at 27.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:26:00 +0000

I got the advice “to keep it under the hat”. But I wanted to share my plan. And sharing got me good connections to people that already did something similar. So with my current plan, it was worth it.

I only share a plan that is definite and where I know that I do it, no doubt and nobody can discourage me.

There aresome people thinking I am crazy, I am just laughing at them. Maybe it really has something to do with the age ( I am 27), with the facts you mention above (security has I higher value etc.)?

I guess everybody has to ask himself:
- What happens to my reputation when the plan fails?
- Are I am comfortable with all the nonbelievers?
- Will the critisism strengthen me or weaken me?
- What happens if I change my plan midway?

By: Aurora

Aurora — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:37:32 +0000

i think it’s important to consider a) why you’re not telling others about your plans, and b) why you are telling – if you’re telling. lately i’ve been feeling especially protective of my aspirations. maybe they’re still incubating, so i don’t want to expose them to the elements for fear it would change their DNA makeup. in plain speak, i try not to volunteer the information if i sense it will only leave me feeling deflated. but to seek out like-minded dreamers, it’s worth it to take a risk sometimes.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:01:43 +0000

Hi Seamus

I’ve thought about this question for years (that’s how long I’ve had plans for, heheh). I remember someone saying once that if you tell people about the things you are intending to do, it sort of takes away the necessity to do them.

Also, my plans have tended to be a bit hard for the people around me to understand (except for Frank, now we have got together).

So all up, I make a point of not telling people about my plans – they can find out about them when I actually do them!

Cheers – Robin

By: donna

donna — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:24:57 +0000

I usually answer “as little as possible” or “nothing in particular, but I do it very well!”

By: Evan

Evan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:28:01 +0000

I’ve mostly talked to others about my plans. And ever since school I’ve been regarded as a bit weird.

Meeting incomprehension or disinterest helps clarify who I am doing it for. If it’s for me then I persevere.

Now being older I do let others know what my dreams and plans are. I’ll be fifty in a few months. As I’ve got older I’ve got freer of the opinions of others.

Talking about things I usually finds helps me get more clarity and insight too.

By: Seamus Anthony

Seamus Anthony — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:40:27 +0000

@Maria – yup I totally know what you mean. Sometimes it’s like I am living a double life: come-what-may-man at BBQs and obsessive careerist visionary in my own (on and offline) time. I am fairly sure that it’s been a good thing for me to do that for a while while I got clear but I am crystal again now and have been for a good three years so I am slowly but surely closing this gap.
@feedback secrets – It’s funny, my first response to you is to tell you just to tell what you are going to do and that they can like it or lump it. Easier advice to dole out than to practice though eh? (By the way – What’s your name Mr Feedback? You’ve got the photo on your blog, but your name is elusive!)
@Christopher – I don’t reckon the Universe needs you tell your dreams to somebody else to be aware of what you want. Having said that, my advice is still as above but again, easier said than done.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:08:48 +0000

On the one hand, I like to keep my goals to myself.
But when pondering topics such as the secret, I wonder if making goals public will actually be helpful. If “the universe” is aware of what I’m going for, perhaps it will help make them happen.

By: Feedback Secrets

Feedback Secrets — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:32:36 +0000

Honestly, I just faced this issue today with a family member and I am still feeling a little off-balanced by it.

I don’t if it’s better to tell or not to tell. I think the most important thing is to keep moving forward regardless of what people think.

Props by the way for having “ludicrous goals”, they are the only kind really worth having.