When I first got in touch with personal development books and blogs, I think I was about 18 or 19 years old. By then, I’ve enjoyed about 15 years of regular education. It took a while to come to the shocking conclusion that none of the things I learned through personal development resources even remotely came close to what I’ve learned in school over those 15 years!

I asked myself: “What did I learn in school?” It all started at the age of four, when you learn to play, to read and to write. Then, you get into more advanced reading, math, geography, and of course gymnastics. After all, a mind functions better in a healthy body. We learn to be creative, get an occasional acting class,we went on school camp. We studied our history. Then it was time to go to high school. Modern languages (English, Dutch, French and German), ancient Greek and Latin, history, geography, economics, physics, chemistry, arts and music, biology, computer skills, gymnastics and yes, I was editor-in-chief of the school paper. We went abroad a few times, had drama class – believe me, there was more drama in the regular classes – and for a few years, we had a subject called sociology. For two hours a week. The latter came closest to what I later figured out was called personal development.

I dare to make the following bold statement: Our education system does not at all pay attention to active personal development. Yes, you can argue that being in school and engaging in social activities there contribute to personal development. You are right. Sitting in a bar every night is also a social activity. So is a visit to a psychologist. Get my point? As long as you get good grades, and don’t bother your teachers or fellow class mates, no one will ask questions. No one will expect you to develope beyond that. After all, good grades are all you need to get a good job, make money, and live a happy life. Doesn’t it?

There is something horribly wrong with our education system: It supports mediocrity! My best friend Danny Mekic’ quit highschool at the age of 15. He wasn’t a bad student. Not at all, even. However, he had another plan. He wanted to start a company. We happened to be in a highschool that had special classes for young athletes. They would get a programme that fits with their training schedule, and special support for those who would take part in international tournaments. Excellent! But someone who had the ambition to master the art of entrepreneurship had no other choice but dropping out. He didn’t fit in, and his ambition did not meet the mediocre standards of regular highschool education. Eight years later, he was elected the most successful young entrepreneur in the Netherlands and is one of the most developed people I know.

An overwhelming majority of people who have achieved something significant in their lifes, no matter if they bacame successful politicians, wealthy entrepreneurs, religious leaders or just people who are living the life of their dreams in any other way… they will confirm to you that apart from their regular education, the way they educated and developed themselves has been a major, if not a defining factor in their ability to manifest their success. Danny, and many other people I know have achieved considerable success, read about psychology, inform themselves about what’s going on in the world, dive into the why-questions, study the stories behind other successful individuals, read books about how to achieve goals, how to build successful companies, how to maintain great relationships…

If we want to get our society to a higher level in the decades to come, we need to embed personal development heavily into our education system. Until then, develop yourself! Read books, blogs, visit seminars, talk to people you admire. It will help you to get from where you are to where you want to be, no matter how ambitious your goals are.

How do you develop yourself? Leave a post in the comments field below!

Photo by A. Feldmann