Motivation Information

The 31 Absolute Best Resources for Self Improvement


Every week, I hear from people with the same Self Improvement questions: Where should I go for help? What should I do? Who should I listen to?

This article is designed to help you explore all of the people, places and things available to help you improve your life starting today.

Right off the bat, I want to share with you some very good news: There are literally DOZENS of places to go and people to talk to when it comes to Self Improvement. The only problem is that it can difficult to comprehend and evaluate all of these options. That's why I've compiled a complete list of 31 Self Improvement resources. Consider it a brainstorming session to help you think about and understand all of the different choices available.

I've divided the list into five sections, and for each section, I include the pros and cons of using those particular resources. Basically, I want you to use this list for two reasons:

-- To get you thinking about all of the different resources available to you, and

-- To get you thinking about their advantages and disadvantages, so you can appropriately choose the right one(s).

So, how many of these resources have YOU used to improve your life?

YOUR IMMEDIATE CIRCLE OF CONTACTS (1-4)

As a general rule, the people in this group are more likely to give you personal attention, and they are more likely to sincerely care about your needs. There are two things to look out for, though. These people are not necessarily experts in the areas where you need to improve, and they might have their own agenda. But they are generally easily accessible and can be great resources.

1. Your Friends
2. Your Family
3. Co-workers
4. Your Employer (boss or manager)

INFORMATION RESOURCES (5-12)

There is an unbelievable wealth of information out there to improve your life. On the Internet alone, there are over five million websites with the exact phrases of "Self Help" or "Self Improvement." On Amazon.com, there are over 190,000 books with references to these topics. Almost all the information you are looking for can be found here, but it could take hundreds of lifetimes to find the right information for you. Which of these resources do you currently use to help you improve your life?

5. Internet Websites
6. Books (Library, Bookstore)
7. Seminars, Retreats
8. High School, College or Continuing Education Courses.
9. Audio Programs
10. Television and Video Programs
11. Radio
12. Other Media, Magazines, Movies, Music

TRAINED PROFESSIONALS (13-22)

A trained professional can help you survive and thrive in many areas of your life. Many have worked with people in your exact circumstances and helped them find the answers they were looking for. As a general rule, professionals can provide you with more objectivity than you would get from a friend or family member.

One of the challenges of working with trained professionals is finding one that is suitable for you. It is important to find the right type of trained professional (i.e.--therapist or personal coach) and then the best person based on your background, needs, and personality. Trained professionals can be very expensive to work with and in some instances have a stigma attached to them. But in many cases, the benefits of working with a trained professional far outweigh the costs and the risk.

13. Therapists (Professional Counselors, Psychologists)
14. Personal Coaches, Life Coaches
15. Clergy (i.e.--Priest, Minister, Rabbi)
16. Accountant, Attorney, Stockbroker, Financial Planner
17. Self Improvement Experts (Tony Robbins, Dr. Phil)
18. Librarians
19. Personal Trainer
20. Doctors and Other Health Care Professionals
21. Employment Experts (Job Placement Experts)
22. Psychics, Spiritualists, Yogis

ORGANIZATIONS (23-25)

I am using the term "organizations" in a very broad sense. These can include non-profit and for-profit organizations and both professional and social organizations. The biggest benefit that many of these organizations provide is the ability to work with, network with, and share experiences with people in the same boat, on the same mission, or with the same problem. These organizations frequently have "trained professionals," often have people who are our friends and family, and use "Known Information Resources" to help each of us grow. These types of organizations are not for everybody, and the benefits that you get back are tied directly into what you are contributing. The wrong group could be a waste of time, but the right group could change your life forever.

23. Non-Profit Support Groups (i.e.--AA, Child Support Groups)
24. Social and Professional Organizations (i.e.--Toastmasters, MENSA)
25. Spas, Health Clubs
26. Personal Support Network (Master Mind Groups)

OTHERS POTENTIAL AREAS (27-31)

The above areas covered countless resources to improve your life. Here I have included some additional areas that others have found helpful in the past. As you can see, there is a tremendous amount of overlap between the different resources.

27. Free Government Resources (Hotlines, Brochures, Help Centers)
28. Inner Guidance (Asking and Giving Yourself Help)
29. Pets for other wisdom (Great listeners)
30. Mentors
31. God

Now that you have gone through the whole list, I have an assignment for you. I want you to evaluate each of the areas above and try to determine which of these has helped you the most in the past. Then see which resources you can use to make your future a bright one.

FINAL NOTE

For those of you who want to additional resources right away, we have written a comprehensive book, entitled:

"Self Improvement: The Top 101 Experts That Help Us Improve Our Lives"

This book is a groundbreaking 460-page comprehensive resource with detailed information on the top 101 experts, their insights, their messages, and their products.

You can learn the secrets of Tony Robbins, Dr. Phil, Zig Ziglar, Deepak Chopra, Stephen Covey, Wayne Dyer, Dale Carnegie, plus 94 more in this epic 460-page book on Self Improvement.

To get complete details, visit

COPYRIGHT (C) 2004 by Self Improvement Online, Inc.

David Riklan is the founder of http://www.SelfGrowth.com, the #1 Rated "Self Improvement" site on the Web. He creates resources, such as his e-book, http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/top101.html, E-Course, & FREE newsletters http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/newsletters.html, to help you achieve success.


MORE RESOURCES:

TVNZ

Titans’ Bulluck Finds Motivation in Adversity
New York Times, United States - 1 hour ago
By GREG BISHOP NASHVILLE — The space allotted to linebacker Keith Bulluck in the Tennessee Titans’ locker room is furnished like a studio apartment. ...
Lewis never lacks for motivation against Titans My Tennessean.com
Novacek's picks: Ravens will pull off lone upset KING5.com
Baltimore using history as motivation Niagara Falls Review
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Former U of I hoops stars could provide some motivation
Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - 20 hours ago
By Mark Tupper CHAMPAIGN — If the Illini basketball team needs any extra motivation for Saturday’s game against Indiana, coach Bruce Weber hopes it’s the ...
Illinois-Indiana Rivalry Renewed Saturday IlliniBoard.com
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CBC.ca

Defoe reveals Spurs motivation
The Press Association - 14 hours ago
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has credited Harry Redknapp and the club's fans as the key reasons for his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth. ...
Defoe fired by Tottenham ambition Independent
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Motivation goal-setting seminar Jan. 10
Caldwell Progress, NJ - Jan 8, 2009
Frank Williams will moderate a one- day motivational goal-setting seminar on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Court, Parsippany. ...


New Sampdoria Recruit Raggi Has 'Great Motivation'
Goal.com, Switzerland - Jan 8, 2009
"I have great motivation," he was quoted as saying by Calciomercato. "Samp is the perfect place for my revival." The defender could not put his finger on ...


Motivational tools have changed for area coaches
Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - Jan 7, 2009
By Randy Reinhardt The motivational powers of fear are immense. As a football player at Illinois Wesleyan, Dennie Bridges and his Titan teammates discovered ...


New York Times

Heisman jinx continues with Bradford
SBR Forum, Costa Rica - 13 hours ago
"I try to use anything I can as motivation," Tebow said. "I think every player does. You try to use that, everything they said, just everything as ...
Tebow's been waiting for this moment since he was a little kid Orlando Sentinel
10 Reasons Oklahoma/Florida will win ESPN
Gators post game quotes GatorCountry.com
USA Today - Tampa Tribune
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You Can't Afford to Break This Resolution
Motley Fool - Jan 8, 2009
But they don't expand their facilities to accommodate all those new members, because they know that motivation usually fades fast. Why? ...


Los Angeles Times

Ravens use an old motivational ploy: lack of respect
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jan 5, 2009
Respect is a motivational tactic as old as sport itself. Coaches and players portray themselves as unwanted, overlooked and underpraised. ...


Motivational group a boon to local women
The News-Press, FL - Jan 6, 2009
On Monday, Ninth Wave, a nonprofit motivational group for women, kicked off its 2009 motivational-speaking series at Designer Shoe Gallerie on Cape Coral ...

Motivation - Google News

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