Today I’m very happy to introduce the first ever ‘Personal Development Face-Off’. The idea of this series is to pick the brains of some of the most knowledgeable figures in the personal development industry and see what they have to say.
As an added bit of fun, it would be great if you could vote for your favourite answers in the poll below. In this first round (with many more to come) we have Alex Shalman and Tim Brownson.
First of all, I have to thank Daniel from DailyBlogTips for the inspiration to run this series. I’ve been in touch with a large number of people in the industry so this could turn out to be a great source of fresh, useful and practical advice.
Alex Shalman runs one of the web’s most popular personal development blogs, with almost 4,000 subscribers and hundreds of articles about happiness, health, finances and more.
Tim Brownson is a Life Coach, an NLP Master Practitioner and also a certified Hypnotherapist. Tim, like Alex, also creates some excellent videos that I have found invaluable.
Questions & Answers
| Alex Shalman | Tim Brownson |
| What is your most effective productivity tip? |
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| Many people get caught up in urgent, yet mundane tasks, such as filing, answering e-mails, going to meetings, and cranking widgets. Spend less time cranking widgets, and spend more time doing tasks that will get you closer to completing projects and to accomplishing your life goals. | To spend 10 or 15 minutes at the end of the work day thinking about what I want to get done the following day, and then writing it down. Also keeping a pen and pad handy if I think of anything during the night. |
| To you, what is the meaning / purpose of life? |
|
| Life is a game, and as such, we need to know the rules in order to be successful. To learn, we must be students of life, and we must constantly seek new challenges to keep the game of life fun. | To live in alignment with your values, do no harm and leave a positive legacy in whatever forms that takes for you. |
| What advice would you give a shy person who wants to become confident? |
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| The difference between shy and confident is a simple paradigm shift, and to know the big cosmic goal. While you’re running around worrying about what other people think of you, they’re running around scared about what people think of them. | Firstly, I’d need to be sure they wanted to change and didn’t just think they should change. Then I’d recommend they hire a great NLP guy and work on the sub modalities of the shyness. In other words, how are they coding social situations that cause shyness at a representational level (what do they see, hear, taste, smell, feel etc). Is confidence the opposite of shyness though? There are some very shy people that are confident in themselves. |
| How would you encourage someone to stay focused on their goals? |
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| Make very sure that you really want to accomplish these goals for yourself. Start thinking backwards from the time you intend to accomplish the goal, to the present moment, slowly mapping out which milestones you need to reach by a certain time. Discipline yourself to meet each small milestone. | Understand their values first and foremost and make sure the goals sit within their value framework because if they don’t any advice is useless. Will power is a myth, they need motivation. Forget about money, forget about material stuff, what does achieving that goal REALLY give them? That is the thing they want to be thinking of when times get tough. |
| What is the main criteria for a successful relationship? |
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| There are two. You must be kind (and everything that goes with that such as taking care of each other, being giving, being a good listener) and you must have life goals that are not contrary to each other (such as knowing what kind of lifestyle you both expect, where you will live, how much time you will devote to family, how many kids you will have). | Compromise and a willingness to accept that you can be wrong even when you’re right. |
| How can people remain financially stable in this economy? |
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| By living below their means, by concentrating on creating value instead of chasing money, and by realizing that it’s better to work for your own profit (be your own boss) instead of trading time for money (earning your boss a fortune). | Spend less than they earn. |
| If you could only share readers once sentence of wisdom, what would it be? |
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| You are the creator of your reality, despite uncertain events, and as such it is important for you to take responsibility, define the path you would love to pursue, and throw yourself into it passionately. | Practice peace of mind, everything else will follow naturally if you have that. |
| Define the reason for your success in one word. |
|
| Growth | Belief |
Vote for Your Favourite
Update: Voting is now closed, congratulations to Alex
Interesting idea! I like seeing the different opinions side-by-side. I particularly like Tim’s “Practice peace of mind” answer.
Hey Roger!
Thanks a lot, I’m glad you like the series idea
Hiya
What a great face off. IMO Tim set the pace with his first 3 answers with Alex chasing and pacing with the next 5.
Beyond that there is some good info to reflect upon. Especially the shy person, goals, wisdom and relationship questions/answers.
Thanks
Jens
Thanks a lot Jens, it looks like Alex has taken an early lead in the voting
You’re welcome, thanks for your comment!
Ouch, this is tough, given that in a lot of cases, they’re saying the same thing but in different ways. Hmmm!
Great idea Glen and I think it would be brilliant to do a follow up and comment on each others answers. Some of Alex’s were interesting and caused me to pause for thought.
Hey Tim, thanks a lot. I’ll definitely look at ways I can extend the idea for those who have taken part after a few more rounds have been done!
@Joely Black There are only so many fundamentals, so it makes sense to have similar answers for these questions (as subjective as they are).
Thanks for getting this up Glen, this is really fun.
@Tim Brownson – ditto
You’re welcome Alex, thanks for taking part!
I like this idea a lot
Tim gets my vote because of the language he uses, its more my cup of tea.
I’m really glad you like the idea Claire, I wasn’t sure how well this was going to go down (you have to test these things)
Thanks for your comment and vote!
Great idea.Last answers were the ones that made decide.Good questions
Thank you Patricia, look out for more every Monday!
I love Alex Shalman’s take on how to remain financially stable! Thank you for this article.
I appreciate the perspectives of Both Tim and Alex.
Really cool.
Way cool Glen! I love both of these guys, but I liked Alex’s last answer “Growth” better. Then I got to thinking. Does Tim’s belief lead to his growth? hmm…
I like the format. I like the questions. I like the answers. Both you and Tim gave good answers/advise. I voted for you because I know you best. My real vote is a tie.
Hey Cindy, I think you are referring to Alex, not me?
Having two answers to one question is just enriching, it`s like investigating from two great, different books! I liked tim`s answer of his reason for success better, but i`m a follower of both of them now. you have some pretty great ideas, glen!
Rose, thanks a lot, I’m glad you liked the post. Feel free to submit a question for future rounds of the series
It was great to see the opinions offered in this format. I’ve not heard of Tim before; but, I’ve read Alex for many months. What I’ve liked about his advice in the past is what I liked about his answers here … they call for action. His words have urged me into action and my life has improved as a result. This I feel is a true measure of the value of advice … does it spur a person into a path of positive action.
Hey Joe, thanks for stopping by. If you’re new to PluginID I would love it if you came back for future updates!
Tim and Alex are both great guys who I’ve been in contact with for quite a few months, so I really appreciate their involvement. Great comment, I like your viewpoint!
Wow what a great concept. It was fun to read the side-by-side comparison. Of course most of these questions can be answered differently and still deliver different messages to different people. That’s why it’s so useful!
It was a tough call to make a choice though.
Hey Nathalie, I’m glad you liked the concept. You’re right, this does allow for multiple unique perspectives but still packed with a lot of value.
Thanks!
What an interesting format! I’m actually not entirely sure I like the idea of pitting one against the other, like there has to be one winner and one loser. I want them both to win! But I liked seeing their different answers to each question. And I’d much rather vote for something like this than American Idol!
Hey Hunter, it’s not to be seen as something too serious, more so just something interesting and getting to see what each person says for the same question.
Awesome, that was the intention!
I like that quote a lot. How much energy do we waste trying to go against the rules of life? I think we need to focus on what those rules are and follow them.
It does not mean accepting what is unacceptable. If I feel something is wrong, I can do whatever I can to protest, but in the end I must understand what the rules are and follow them.
I believe this is a good road to success.
This is good stuff. I enjoyed reading the answers from these top guys. I gave the edge to Tim but they were both brilliant.
Hi Glen, this is an unique post, a great concept to confront two people to give each others’ opinion like in the tv show.
Once again, great Glen.
Hi Glen,
This is a unique post! I believe you are the first one who started this type of interview face off in the personal development blogosphere. Great job!
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
I follow both of their blogs. Alex and Tim are equally awesome! I hope it’s a draw.
This is GENIUS!
I would have to agree with Tim’s suggestion about commenting on each other’s answers.
If they agree, they can build on each other’s thoughts and if they disagree, we’ll get greater insight and perspective on the topics they deal with..
I look forward to more rounds of these
Hey Haider, awesome!
I’ll try and think of the best way I can to incorporate some more discussion into this!
It is more that I agreed with Tim because of the ‘wiser’ ways of the answers … And Alex ha put it across in a more passsionate way… May be Alex will be speaking like Tim as he ages…
Both of them have replied in such positive notes …. and no wonder all the readers have really benefited by them…
Thanks
Ms Vedapushpa
India
Oh… yea…. personal development bloggers are like wine
More like diamonds. Time is only one factor in their formation.
Pressure (effort) and heat (passion) are also needed for their development. Since you’re a mutant, I wouldn’t worry too much..
Tim is certainly wise and witty, but I wouldn’t attribute these qualities to his age..
I hope you haven’t all forgotten that Tim is, infact, 21?
LMAO – I just saw this come in via e-mail and I had to laugh.
I must be a true vintage then Alex because I seem to have 15 or 20 years on most of the guys writing this stuff
I’ve just linked back to this from a post I just published Glenn and I’ve loved following the comments. I’ve asked my readers to vote and I honestly don’t care who they vote for. There’s no right or wrong.
I’m keen to write a follow up though because I feel I left some of the reasoning out of my answers and without it they look a little minimal to say the least
Glen, I think you could have a monster on your hands with this series. It could almost be a blog in it’s own right with the follow up discussions it could generate. I wonder how I would have answered if I’d seen what Alex wrote first?
Hahaha I’m literally laughing out loud to all of this. I love it.
I gave you one vote each via the poll daddy back end so I have no favourite
. I understand that you would like to clarify some points, however I think that this minimal approach makes people get the point and leaves for some more direct advice people couldn’t get elsewhere.
I have around 6 more bloggers who have participated so far, some with the same questions, some with other questions. However, they hadn’t see the answers you guys gave before giving them.
I’ll try and think of a way to generate some more input from you guys, as always, I want to be a bit creative
Whew, that was a tough face-off!
As much as I usually love your writing, Tim, and even though I liked your language better… Alex snatched my vote with the last couple of answers
(I really liked your “spend less than they earn” though :p)
I loved Tim’s responses,plain language, nothing too ambiguous or trying to seem intelligent, especially the criteria for a successful relationship.
However, I see from Alex’s website that he is asking people to vote for him. Isn’t that a little against the spirit of the article , it is just for fun!
Hey Helen, I see you have the same surname as Tim, coincidence?
Both Tim and Alex have asked for a vote on their websites. Yes this is just for a fun, but I’m sure there’s a bit of pride in it as well. I hope that whoever came to the site actually voted for the answers that they found to be the most helpful
ROTFLMAO – I highly doubt that’s a coincidence. Especially as my wife’s name is Helen too, but if it is, I’m buying a lottery ticket this weekend.
I’ll ask her when she gets home from work and severely reprimand her with a good thrashing if I find she’s been fooling around in such an outrageously pro-husband manner.
As a point though Glen, I certainly haven’t asked anybody to vote for me on my site or on Twitter. Here’s what I actually said:
First up is yours truly and Alex Shalman. At the time of writing Alex is giving me a good old-fashioned butt kicking. Because I’m losing I feel honor bound to say all the answers are subjective and to vote on such a thing is ridiculous. If on the other hand I storm back and ‘win’ I will delete this last bit and puff my chest out with pride. Seriously though, vote for whomever’s answers resonate with you the most, there’s no right or wrong and I’m I’m sure I’ll recover from ‘losing’
Hey Tim,
I’m not judging anyone if they have asked for votes, I didn’t say it wasn’t allowed and I’m happy for people to help spread the positive messages that both of you are sharing.
My comment simply meant that both of you had blogged about it, not just alex.
In my opinion, Tim’s approach is more “mature”. I would say he is coming from a place of more experience and success, and I recommend his answers any day. Thanks for sharing this!
Glen, it’s really an excellent idea. Learn a lot from them, and see how different perspective goes face-to-face. My vote goes for Tim, though… especially for the peace of mind answer.. that’s really an AHA moment!
Great idea Glen, I will keep an eye on this series. I voted for Alex, but I really liked the part where Tim talked about alignment for values.
Thanks Ivan, your favourite blogger has already taken part so his answers will be available in the next few weeks
Glen, this is a great idea. It was enjoyable, fun, enlightening, thought provoking, and more. Personally, I thought it was good that Alex and Tim didn’t see each other’s answers. Hey, it was so close for me and I was so into this that I had to pull out a scrap piece of paper to mark my scores; and even went through it a few times. (I know it wasn’t of a real serious nature.) Even though I like both Alex’s and Tim’s answers, for me it seemed it was the words they each chose to express their answers that was ultimately the deciding factor. With the last answer, I tend to side with “belief.” However, I also whole heartedly believe “growth” is very essential. So, only by a hair, and because there are not any loosers here, 1st place to Alex and 2nd place to Tim.
Because of your previous reply above Glen, as a suggestion, perhaps you could continue this to whatever amount of rounds you would choose and then divide the 1st and 2nd place winners into two separate groups. Have them do another round of different types of questioning.(Of course, you would need to have some sort of cut-off point for voting purposes.) Continue doing this until you have one-1st place winner. To explain-Lets say you went 20 rounds. At the end of the 20 rounds, you would then have 2 groups of 10. Then you would have the 1st place winners from rounds 1 and 3 face off, 2 and 4, and so on, just to mix it up a bit. You could do that on one day of the week; Monday. Then maybe on Thursday you could take the 2nd place winners and have them do a face off. After everyone involved had say 2 chances, then you could start your process of coming up with a finalist 1st place. This is merely a suggestion and hope my explanation makes sense to you. It could ultimately, if you were to allow it to of course, turn into something very significant. It would take on a life of its own; could get really deep.
I look forward to see how and what path you decide to take this. I’m sure it will be very interesting. Well done Glen!
Hi…
It was a very good ‘Face-Off’, and both of their answers were thought provoking.
I think that in subjects like self development, it is much better to not have any ‘winner’ as such (even in a non-serious way) and just summarize what people found best in each one’s answers and leave it at that.. Maybe we can add the number of votes to add ‘spice’ to it, but no pie charts and no ‘congratulations to X’ are needed I think…
Just a thought, I hope you understand.
Thank you for your excellent blog by the way.
Tim Brownson!
Really liked his thoughts.