When I was young, I completed all sorts of different personal development courses.

At 13 I did a mind power course and learnt how to visualize to create what I wanted.

At 15 I attended an Anthony Robbins seminar.

At 17 I attended a teenage development seminar called Discovery.

And when I left school, I did all sorts of courses ranging from doing stuff from primal screaming to meditation.

I even did a ten day meditation course where we woke up at about 4am each morning and meditated for ten hours a day.

That was tough.

The reality is personal development has become huge over the last few years. And I believe it’s a good thing.

At the same time, there’s no better therapy than going into your own business.

Think about it:

You’re faced with challenges every day.

You have to deal with disappointment.

You have to learn to communicate with a range of different people.

You have to “bust through” your limitations of what’s possible.

You have to learn to organize, sell, negotiate, write, deal with finances, and everything else.

You have to learn to manage fear.

You have to be disciplined and committed.

You have to learn how to manage conflict.

You never know what’s going to happen on a daily basis or how to deal with it.

And you are virtually forced to become more aware of yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses as a result of all of this.

Personally, I see anyone with the courage to go out and start their own business as a hero.

And today I think we should all give ourselves a pat on the back for having the courage to go outside the realm of what we have to do and be committed to creating the life of our dreams.

I’ll leave you with the comment from Dead Poets Society:

Carpe Diem. Sieze the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary.

Editor’s Note: Also published here.

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Scott Bywater is a direct mail copywriter and the author of Cash-Flow Advertising. To get access to his highly prized complimentary copy of ’7 Ways To Get More Customers” (valued at $29.95) and to join his controversial and insighful “Copywriting Selling Secrets” newsletter where you’ll uncover the truth about why most ads and sales letters don’t work (and how to make yours stand out from the rest) head on over to his web site at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au

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