Brent Darnell focuses on people skills in construction, making the case that our profits correlate directly with our ability to communicate and influence others. I like Brent and think he’s a man of integrity doing work he’s passionate about. So I was happy to see that Engineering News Record named him one of the top 25 newsmakers for 2011.

Brent has a construction management background, but now works as a speaker, author, personal coach and teacher. I encourage you to purchase his book The People-Profit Connection.

I know you’re busy. I know that Spring calls you to all sorts of activities in addition to a demanding work schedule. Yet I challenge you to remember the value of investment. Just as saving some money every year, due to the beauty of compounding interest, leaves you with lots of money after a few years (which pass so much quicker than you could imagine). So forcing yourself to learn new things each year, i.e. improving your skill set, compounds your value and your joy. Please consider putting a priority on your own training…intentionally learning new things every year.

If you haven’t read my book Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life!, that’s another resource you may want to consider. You may download it for free. Or take a class online, or sit and write, or take some time to think deeply about where you are and where you want to be. But please learn to see yourself as worthy of the investment of regular training and self-improvement.  Don’t get to the end of your life and realize you focused on all the wrong stuff.

Right now, commit to doing something that will take you out of your comfort zone and improve your understanding. Put it in your to do list and get it done, just like your other important tasks.