“Let him who would move the world first move himself.” — Socrates
One of my favorite gifts to give is the gift that keeps on giving:
Personal Development
I’ve put together a comprehensive roundup of some of the best personal development programs that make great gifts for the holidays, or any time really.
These are some of the best personal development programs that have changes the lives of millions of people.
It includes the best personal development programs by personal development experts that have proven themselves time and time again over the years, including Brian Tracey, Jack Canfield, Jim Rohn, and Tony Robbins.
I wanted this list of personal development gifts to be especially useful, so I started with the “best of the best” personal development programs right up front.
These are the programs where people have truly, deeply, and profoundly transformed themselves, changed their lot in life, and discovered what they’re truly capable of.
Personal Development for Smart People
by Steve Pavlina
Start with the book on personal development. If you are going to dive into personal development, you really need a strong foundation rooted in the right things.
Personal Development for Smart People is THE book on personal development. It’s a principle-based approach to guide you on your personal journey of growth and greatness.
Read my Personal Development for Smart People Book Summary for a deep dive.
Audio Programs for Personal Development
The beauty of personal development audio programs is that you can listen to them in the background, as reminders, or play them to inspire you when you need it most.
The other beauty of audio programs is that you get to hear the person’s actual voice.
Their voice helps you build empathy for the information. When you hear a person’s voice, you connect and learn at a deeper level.
Insider’s Guide to the Art of Persuasion
by Dr. Rick Kirschner
Insider’s Guide to the Art of Persuasion (Audio), by Dr. Rick Kirschner: This is probably the most comprehensive and effective interpersonal skills and influence program there is.
It’s 6.5 hours (8 volumes, 32 tracks) of hard-core training delivered in a fun and simple way.
It covers scenarios like how to motivate people to change their minds and behavior, how to gain useful insights into how people think and feel, how to shape your ideas to speak to the interests and needs of others, how to deal with questions, objections, and outright opposition, and how to become more calm, confident, and relaxed when speaking up and speaking out.
Lead the Field
by Earl Nightingale
Lead the Field is a very simple program for changing your attitude.
Rather than think the grass is always greener somewhere else, you learn how to grow a greener field right under your feet.
It’s about leading from the inside out.
You can tell that Earl is speaking from a different generation, but I was surprised by how timeless his advice is and how he covers so much in such a compact way.
Personal Power II: The Driving Force!
Personal Power II (Audio), by Tony Robbins, is the program that really taught me how to model success, be more resourceful, unleash more of what I’m capable of, and continuously improve key areas of my life.
Personal Power II (Amazon.com)
The Great Work of Your Life
by Stephen Cope
The Great Work of Your Life (Audible), by Stephen Copen, is a deep dive journey into finding your true calling–your dharma, as the yogis say.
Copen guides you to finding your true calling by guiding you through the “Four Pillars of Dharma” and he brings them to live through real stories, including:
- Jane Goodall’s ability to follow her heart without question
- The little-known tale of Walt Whitman’s dharma discovery in the second half of life
- How living your purpose can be like training for the Olympics in the story of Susan B. Anthony
- Ludwig van Beethoven’s triumphs over childhood abuse, depression, and going deaf
- Gandhi’s transformation from tongue-tied youth to leader of the Indian independence movement
- Understanding how divine guidance works with the life of Harriet Tubman
- Additional insights and tales from the lives of both famous luminaries and everyday people
The Personal Mastery Program
by Srikumar S. Rao
The Personal Mastery Program (Audio), by Srikumar S. Rao, is one of the most powerful personal development programs I know when it comes to inner-engineering, building better habits, and changing how you respond to the world around you.
The Personal Mastery Program (Amazon.com)