Tactical strategies for defining your purpose, value and vision to unlock your full potential and create the life you desire Ask anyone what “personal development” means to them and you’ll surely receive a vast array of differing answers. On the whole, some popular definitions regard personal development to be interchangeable with self-improvement, consisting of activities that advance a person’s capabilities and potential, build human capital, facilitate employability and enhance quality of life and the realization of dreams and aspirations.