Over the last few years, I’ve become quite well-acquainted to the personal development world. I was first introduced to it when I started out as a Beachbody coach actually. It is considered one of the “vital behaviors” meaning an important behavior you do every single day. I thought reading these “self-help” books was the stupidest thing ever and was so embarrassed to actually tell people I read them, so I didn’t. I didn’t tell people I read them, and it actually took me awhile to finish the first book, You are a Badass by Jen Sincero.

But the funny thing is, the thing we’re typically most resistant to is the thing we oftentimes need the most. After that book, my perspective changed. I felt different. I started to crave those 10 minutes of reading and slowly, over I would say the course of a year if not more, I noticed changes in myself and how I saw the world around me. I began working on myself more and realized that I really was comparing myself to others, had a lack/scarcity mentality and truly cared what others thought more than my own opinions. It truly opened my eyes to a whole new world and way of living.

What I realized was, you don’t know what you don’t know. We all have to be willing to step outside our comfort zone, listen to others and learn from others who are more successful than us.

I want to share with you how personal development actually helps me to better serve my clients:

1. I’m a better human

   Seriously though. I have come a long way and honestly don’t think I could run my own business if I hadn’t started reading personal development/self-help type books. I am so much calmer, empathetic, compassionate, supportive, confident and empowered because of the things I’ve learned from personal development. I can handle stress better, and serve my clients with a mindset of things are happening FOR ME, not TO ME. So no matter what happens in my biz, or my clients biz, I can handle it much better than with the lack mentality mindset I had before.

2. Share key learnings

   I listen to podcasts and books from some of today’s top business leaders and take what I learn and implement it not only in my business, but my clients as well. I truly believe that in order to be successful in this life, and to have a business that stays relevant, you have to be a lifelong learner. You have to evolve and your business does too. There’s always things we could be doing better, ways we could be serving better. So therefore, I take what I learn whether it’s a skill or new program idea, or even just a shift in the way I look at a problem and implement it into my business and my clients - and oftentimes share what I learn with them too to help them grow.

3. SERVING not servicing

   I read a blog once that asked “Are you serving your clients, or just servicing them?” Wow, gut check, right? This made me think - am I just checking boxes to get stuff done, or am I building relationships, going above and beyond, thinking about their business needs and how I could help them improve and grow? We get our car serviced. We SERVE our clients by building a relationship - they are not objects that we service. Personal development has allowed me to ENRICH my life and my clients lives to be able to better SERVE them.

If you haven’t dove into personal development, I encourage you to give it a try. Below is a list of some of my favorite books if you want to pick one and start from there! If you are an avid PD listener or reader, what are some of your favorite books? Do you have one that totally changed your life?

Personal Development Book Recommendations:

• You are a Badass by Jen Sincero

• Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

• Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

• The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein

• Like she Owns the Place by Cara Alwill Leyba

• Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell

• Start with Why by Simon Sinek

• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

• The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

• No Limits by John C. Maxwell

• Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado

Top Podcast Recommendations:

• Goal Digger (Jenna Kutcher)

• The Life Coach School (Brooke Castillo)

• Rise (Rachel Hollis)

• Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations (Oprah)

• LITerally (Lacey Sites)

• Chardonnay and Slay Your Business (Jamie King)

• Style Your Mind (Cara Alwill Leyba)

Katelyn Hamilton is an Online Business Manager and Get Your Sh!t Together Strategist. She helps busy entrepreneurs organize, strategize and prioritize their business to go from overwhelmed to out-in-front.

After spending 6 years in the corporate world working with multimillion dollar companies, top-rated chefs and celebrities, she launched her own business to find more flexibility and freedom. She matched her corporate salary in just one year of starting her business.

Katelyn is also a soon-to-be wife, stepmom, dog mama of two furry friends, fitness lover, sports fanatic (Go Dawgs) and dreams of living at the beach.

Click here to book a free call to talk more about your business goals and to see if hiring an OBM is the right fit for you.