**_“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”

—William James_**

Most of us attend conferences like ATD’s International Conference & Exposition for career growth or to help us succeed on a new project or job responsibility. Having specific goals for conference attendance is smart—otherwise, we become “the kid in the candy store,” and it’s hard to focus. But this year, I challenge you to think more broadly—and personally—about your conference goals. More importantly, I encourage you to make personal growth a priority. 

When I talk about personal growth, I mean activities that help us improve awareness, develop talents and potential, and enhance our quality of life by realizing our personal goals. Personal growth obviously benefits us and our families, but it also can help us take charge of our career and better align it with our personal life. Consequently, personal growth is a journey, and for most of us, it’s never complete. 

Just like career goals, personal growth requires focus. Failure to focus on personal growth can result in an unbalanced and potentially unfulfilled life. 

At the ATD 2015 International Conference and Exposition, Dennis Mankin and I are leading a session, A Simple 7-Step Method to Attain Success at Work and Life. The purpose of this session is to give attendees the time and tools to consider their own personal growth.  The session pairs proven practices in psychology and performance improvement to help attendees make their wishes a reality. 

Session content follows an easy-to-use process we call the WINNING Method. The WINNING Method is a systematic, holistic process to help you define, plan, and achieve personal growth and professional success. It is not a “one-pill-for-all” process. Instead, it is uniquely focused on you—the results you want, the roles models you choose, the outcomes you define, and the goals you set, bounded by the realities in which you live and work. During the session, we will provide an overview of the WINNING Method and introduce you to tools and tips you can use to improve your ability to attain the success you want. 

Bottom line: Take time for yourself and your personal growth. If you’re not devoting a minimum of 10 percent of your time to personal growth and goals, you’re not taking full responsibility for your life. The benefits are many, including a greater sense of control over your family life, your personal skills and goals, and your future.  

Come join us at session TU416 to either get started with making your personal growth a priority, or to learn new tools and techniques to help you achieve the success you want—both at work and in life!