There is Always Room for Improvement

By Alanoud AlMadhi (@ALANOUD_auh)

Imagine yourself being given the task of, say, cleaning up a room. As you do so very diligently and thoroughly, you would receive one of two kinds of feedback; you would either hear a churn of “perfect!” or a grumble of “you missed a spot!”

The former comment is more likely to draw a grin on your face, and make you walk gracefully with pride for a job well done. On the other hand, so displeasing as the latter sounds, it will make you go back and revise your work, ensure you have done it right, and end with a promise to yourself to reappraise your efforts.

It is true there is a chance of you being disappointed or depressed of the thought that the person who gave you the task was ungrateful; but how much learning would you have received having heard the first comment?

Motivation is essential, as it tweaks you to become better, yet only for a while. It might get you moving forward, yet only for a few steps. After all, a breeze does not take you as far as a fierce wind can.

When asked about the principles of success that would turn an individual’s life around, Jim Rohn, one of the most iconic personal development philosophers, said: “Number one; become a good student”.

Part of the deal of becoming a student is being criticized, pushed, and underestimated; whether that was from your teachers or your colleagues. No matter what the situation is, your main goal should always be to continue learning. That is, by taking the constructive criticism as a request to perform better, taking the push as an encouragement to work harder, and believing that the underestimations are challenges to explore more.

Allow me to share with you a moment of ignorance that led me to realizing the importance of continuous learning. I gave a speech once that was deemed “perfect”. I remember feeling very proud of myself, believing I reached the highest level of mastery in Public Speaking. So immersed in my self-regard, I told my father about it, expecting him to shower me with complements. However, he handed me a book instead called “How to Develop Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking” by Dale Carnegie.

The message he was trying to convey was too embarrassing for me to grasp at first. Just when I thought I knew it all, something popped up to prove me wrong, as the book contained an advice that later greatly improved my performance.

Having said that, it was not about the fact that I was not good enough, but the chance that I could be better. Moreover, even if I believed I have reached the peak of the mountain I am climbing I should have known there is always a higher one to reach, and beyond the sky could be my limit.

It is good to be proud of yourself, of your achievements, and of the knowledge you have gained, but do not let that pin you down and make you settle. Be willing to take a harder look at yourself so you could see the room of improvement in whatever you do or try to accomplish.

Continue learning, as it would be fun to know how far you could reach.

22^nd Issue – January 2012
Here We Start – Art of Living 101 – Beyond Inspiration
Blunders of a Wanna Be Entrepreneur – Community Talk – Scenes from Life
Sense and Sustainability – Too Blunt For Words – To The Point