| Every week, I hear from people with the same Self | | | | benefits of working with a trained professional far |
| Improvement questions: Where should I go for help? | | | | outweigh the costs and the risk.13. Therapists |
| What should I do? Who should I listen to?This article | | | | (Professional Counselors, Psychologists) |
| is designed to help you explore all of the people, | | | | 14. Personal Coaches, Life Coaches |
| places and things available to help you improve your | | | | 15. Clergy (i.e.--Priest, Minister, Rabbi) |
| life starting today.Right off the bat, I want to share | | | | 16. Accountant, Attorney, Stockbroker, Financial |
| with you some very good news: There are literally | | | | Planner |
| DOZENS of places to go and people to talk to when | | | | 17. Self Improvement Experts (Tony Robbins, Dr. |
| it comes to Self Improvement. The only problem is | | | | Phil) |
| that it can difficult to comprehend and evaluate all of | | | | 18. Librarians |
| these options. That's why I've compiled a complete | | | | 19. Personal Trainer |
| list of 31 Self Improvement resources. Consider it a | | | | 20. Doctors and Other Health Care Professionals |
| brainstorming session to help you think about and | | | | 21. Employment Experts (Job Placement Experts) |
| understand all of the different choices available.I've | | | | 22. Psychics, Spiritualists, YogisORGANIZATIONS |
| divided the list into five sections, and for each | | | | (23-25)I am using the term "organizations" in a very |
| section, I include the pros and cons of using those | | | | broad sense. These can include non-profit and |
| particular resources. Basically, I want you to use this | | | | for-profit organizations and both professional and |
| list for two reasons:-- To get you thinking about all of | | | | social organizations. The biggest benefit that many of |
| the different resources available to you, and-- To get | | | | these organizations provide is the ability to work |
| you thinking about their advantages and | | | | with, network with, and share experiences with |
| disadvantages, so you can appropriately choose the | | | | people in the same boat, on the same mission, or |
| right one(s).So, how many of these resources have | | | | with the same problem. These organizations |
| YOU used to improve your life?YOUR IMMEDIATE | | | | frequently have "trained professionals," often have |
| CIRCLE OF CONTACTS (1-4)As a general rule, the | | | | people who are our friends and family, and use |
| people in this group are more likely to give you | | | | "Known Information Resources" to help each of us |
| personal attention, and they are more likely to | | | | grow. These types of organizations are not for |
| sincerely care about your needs. There are two | | | | everybody, and the benefits that you get back are |
| things to look out for, though. These people are not | | | | tied directly into what you are contributing. The |
| necessarily experts in the areas where you need to | | | | wrong group could be a waste of time, but the right |
| improve, and they might have their own agenda. But | | | | group could change your life forever.23. Non-Profit |
| they are generally easily accessible and can be great | | | | Support Groups (i.e.--AA, Child Support Groups) |
| resources.1. Your Friends | | | | 24. Social and Professional Organizations |
| 2. Your Family | | | | (i.e.--Toastmasters, MENSA) |
| 3. Co-workers | | | | 25. Spas, Health Clubs |
| 4. Your Employer (boss or manager)INFORMATION | | | | 26. Personal Support Network (Master Mind |
| RESOURCES (5-12)There is an unbelievable wealth of | | | | Groups)OTHERS POTENTIAL AREAS (27-31)The |
| information out there to improve your life. On the | | | | above areas covered countless resources to improve |
| Internet alone, there are over five million websites | | | | your life. Here I have included some additional areas |
| with the exact phrases of "Self Help" or "Self | | | | that others have found helpful in the past. As you |
| Improvement." On Amazon.com, there are over | | | | can see, there is a tremendous amount of overlap |
| 190,000 books with references to these topics. | | | | between the different resources.27. Free |
| Almost all the information you are looking for can be | | | | Government Resources (Hotlines, Brochures, Help |
| found here, but it could take hundreds of lifetimes to | | | | Centers) |
| find the right information for you. Which of these | | | | 28. Inner Guidance (Asking and Giving Yourself Help) |
| resources do you currently use to help you improve | | | | 29. Pets for other wisdom (Great listeners) |
| your life?5. Internet Websites | | | | 30. Mentors |
| 6. Books (Library, Bookstore) | | | | 31. GodNow that you have gone through the whole |
| 7. Seminars, Retreats | | | | list, I have an assignment for you. I want you to |
| 8. High School, College or Continuing Education | | | | evaluate each of the areas above and try to |
| Courses. | | | | determine which of these has helped you the most in |
| 9. Audio Programs | | | | the past. Then see which resources you can use to |
| 10. Television and Video Programs | | | | make your future a bright one.FINAL NOTEFor those |
| 11. Radio | | | | of you who want to additional resources right away, |
| 12. Other Media, Magazines, Movies, MusicTRAINED | | | | we have written a comprehensive book, entitled:"Self |
| PROFESSIONALS (13-22)A trained professional can | | | | Improvement: The Top 101 Experts That Help Us |
| help you survive and thrive in many areas of your | | | | Improve Our Lives"This book is a groundbreaking |
| life. Many have worked with people in your exact | | | | 460-page comprehensive resource with detailed |
| circumstances and helped them find the answers | | | | information on the top 101 experts, their insights, |
| they were looking for. As a general rule, professionals | | | | their messages, and their products.You can learn the |
| can provide you with more objectivity than you | | | | secrets of Tony Robbins, Dr. Phil, Zig Ziglar, Deepak |
| would get from a friend or family member.One of | | | | Chopra, Stephen Covey, Wayne Dyer, Dale Carnegie, |
| the challenges of working with trained professionals is | | | | plus 94 more in this epic 460-page book on Self |
| finding one that is suitable for you. It is important to | | | | Improvement.To get complete details, visit |
| find the right type of trained professional | | | | COPYRIGHT (C) 2004 by Self Improvement Online, |
| (i.e.--therapist or personal coach) and then the best | | | | Inc.David Riklan is the founder of the #1 Rated "Self |
| person based on your background, needs, and | | | | Improvement" site on the Web. He creates |
| personality. Trained professionals can be very | | | | resources, such as his e-book, E-Course, & FREE |
| expensive to work with and in some instances have | | | | newsletters to help you achieve success. |
| a stigma attached to them. But in many cases, the | | | | |