So you're a self-improvement junkie....are you making the most of your habit?

Every year nearly $10 billion dollars is spent on motivational or self improvement programs, products or services.

How much do you spend each year on self improvement products? How much of it do you implement each year? How many books do you buy that never get read and instead stack up on your night stand like a little army of guilty reminders of the work you still have ahead of you?

I myself am guilty of standing under the bright lights of the bookstore; being drawn in by the glossy covers and the promises of greater self-awareness and discovery only to bring them home lovingly stroking the dust jackets and never touching the pristine pages with my eager fingers.

So, why is that? Is it that it seems like too much work? Is it that I am afraid of the journey ahead and am not sure where to start? Am I worried that the time might not be right? Or am I just lazy? Does it make me a more interesting person to have these glorious images on my shelves?

Here is what I have learned for myself:

1. Only by one book at a time. They really aren't going to run out of the latest best seller if you haven't completed your current read. By staying with one book until the end you are more likely to stay focused on the current message and more likley to have the takeaway you need in the moment.
2. Look for the one thing you can take and incorporate into your life today. It is difficult to maintain focus with so many great options - it becomes tempting to try and do it all. Remember all the cliches, "Rome wasn't built in a day," "you crawled before you walked." You've got the idea.
3. If a particular section of a book isn't resonating with you - flag it and come back. One of the first self - improvement books I ever read was Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins and I was stuck on the 3rd chapter and couldn't get past it. One afternoon I took a binder clip and just tied it up and went on to Chapter 4; gained momentum and arrived at the end of the book. I don't know if the 3rd Chapter was too close to me at the time and I didn't want to 'deal' with it - but I do know the decision to flag Chapter 3 and come back to it gave me one of the greatest reads of my life. Otherwise I could have ended up with another soldier reminding me that my giant was still sleeping.
4. Ask other people close to you what they are reading for personal development and why they like it. This could help you find some real gems that aren't part of The New York Times best sellers list.

One hundred percent success rate against adversity.

We all know that our lives can be challenging. Sometimes we sabotage ourselves and our future, sometimes life gets in our way. Yet when you really think about it we are all 100 percent successful at overcoming adversity. Right?

Of course we are. Sometimes in the moment the outcome isn't what we envisioned or hoped for; however if you take a moment to reflect - the simple act of moving past the challenge and being in a different place in life means you overcame....right?

I have heard some of the most highly regarded practitioners in the self improvement industry say that everything happens for a reason. One thing I have learned over my life is that when in the moment of adversity it likely feels like the end of the world, the reality is further down the road when I reflect on that situation I more often than not see that it was a tremendous opportunity for my personal or professional growth and provided for an opportunity I never would have seen.

So are you facing a particular challenge right now? What do you think your lesson is in the moment? What opportunities do you see as a result of where you are right now? Are you trying to figure it out on your own or have you called in reinforcements?

My good friend and colleague Betsy Talbot recommended to me some time ago to put together a "Board of Direction", as she describes it as "a group of peers who help you flesh out ideas and problem solve, giving you honest feedback when you need it most."

Make a commitment to identify what is standing between yourself and the success you desire. Call a meeting of your Board of Direction - present to them the challenges and opportunities you see ahead of you - ask for their feedback. Create an action plan and share it with those you know support you and wish for you all the success you deserve.

Remember obstacles are really opportunities in disguise.