Personal Development: Pt 1 - The What
Nancy 
"An investment in your personal development is the best investment you can make." — Jim Rohn
The phone vibrated on my desk.
A Messenger notification lit up the screen: "Hey, it’s Wally, reaching out to grow my network. Let’s connect."
Slightly distracted, I glanced away from the desktop, where boxes of unfamiliar friendly faces filled the Zoom screen. The virtual training was wrapping up, and we were sharing contacts for future connections.
I replied to Wally's request with, "Thanks, looking forward."
The Zoom call ended, but the Messenger typing bubbles continued popping up.
After briefly answering the first two or three questions, I began to feel uncomfortable.
I didn't want to be rude, but I had zero capacity for more chit-chat. Zoom fatigue is real; my body was begging for a stretch. I was thirsty and hungry.
Then came the inner dialogue: "You're not obliged to continue an unplanned, untimed conversation. Can I just end this without seeming rude? This is a stranger..."
Then, I pulled the plug: "Hey, nice connecting, but I can't chat further now. Gotta go. Cheers."
Whew! *Deep breath moment.
Wally replied, "OK, take care."
With that, I 👍🏾, deleted the chat, and bounced.
No big deal, right?
Except for a confession: as a recovering people pleaser, I sometimes still struggle with saying 'no.'
In the past, I would have kept chatting far longer than intended, then felt annoyed about the lost time and frustrated with myself for not speaking up sooner.
Not this time.
This time, I ended the conversation without needing to apologize because there was nothing to be "sorry" about. To be fair to Wally, in hindsight, I was probably a tad curt. After all, I did say "looking forward," but the timing was off.
Perhaps a mutually scheduled call would work better at some point. Let’s see.
So, what do networking and being a recovering people pleaser have to do with today's post?
A lot.
See, that moment wasn’t just about awkward messaging or Zoom fatigue; it was a real-life exercise in time management. I set a boundary, communicated it, and managed my energy. Skills I’ve been cultivating over time.
A very casual story to demonstrate how personal development isn't abstract theory. It's about showing up for yourself, your work, and the people around you with wisdom and balance.
Years of saying yes to everyone and everything despite limited capacity is a hidden cause of burnout that we don't talk about enough.
So today, as I stared at the computer, wondering what to write about after the summer slowdown, it occurred to me that I've never specifically addressed personal development! Ironic, because that's the theme of this website.
Given the broad scope of personal development and my preference for long-form writing, it makes sense to explore the What today, then do a Part 2 with Why and the How of self-growth.
Let's dive in. As always, take what resonates, question, or leave the rest.
THE WHAT
Personal development isn't a single skill or a weekend workshop we tick off the list. It’s an ongoing growth mindset. A process that nurtures how we think, feel, and show up. Sometimes, it looks like going after your goals. Other times, it’s asking for help or having the courage to have uncomfortable conversations. It shifts with life and work, but the thread is always the same: inner self-growth that benefits our private and professional lives.
To Be Continued
In part two, we will look at why personal development is crucial and some practical how-tos, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, feel free to share your thoughts below. I always read them and enjoy seeing your take on the topics.
Thanks for being here today.
P.S. Names have been changed to protect the innocent :-)
Recommended Resource
Watch this short related video.
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