Not sure how to invest in yourself? or what that even means? – let me explain…
If I were to ask you, what do you think the best investment in life is? Buying property? Investing in shares? – what would your honest answer be?
(aside from why are there 6 question marks in the first 2 sentences…)
Well, the truth can surprise you. The best investment you can make is investing in yourself.
Just look in the mirror and you’ll see the person who is responsible for your success. You are the key to every good decision that steers your life and career in the right direction.
If you work on becoming a knowledgeable, skillful, and resourceful person, you’ll get better at recognizing life-changing opportunities that lead to building your wealth.
You can set an unshakable foundation for building a happy and successful life by working on your personal and professional growth.
So, are you curious about what it takes to turn yourself into your single greatest asset? Or, do you want to develop an ability to earn more? Then, these tips on how to invest in yourself are exactly what you need.
Read, Absorb, and Apply
“Reading science, math, and philosophy one hour per day will likely put you at the upper echelon of human success within seven years,” advises Naval Ravikant, entrepreneur, investor, oh yeah, and a millionaire. As a man who managed to build wealth from the ground up, he knows what he is talking about.
If you’ve read any book from a successful entrepreneur, listened to their podcasts, or watched their TED talks, you can notice that consistent reading always pops up as a must.
It’s hard to figure out this world on your own. But the thing is that you don’t have to do it alone. Successful people around the world offer decades-worth of knowledge and experience crammed into a single read.
The sooner you recognize the importance of reading, you’ll demystify the essence of how to invest in yourself.
Read books, blogs, publications, and industry news daily. It will come in handy, believe me. By far the best book I’ve ever read on Investing, for example, is ‘The Intelligent Investor’ by Benjamin Graham – even Warren Buffet swears by it!
Even if you and reading aren’t on the best of terms, audiobooks have your back. There are tonnes of Audiobook providers out there but the most well known one is Audible. If you’re stuck for time, an audiobook can keep you learning even whilst you’re on the go.
In terms of what to read, you want to stick to the basics. Instead of burying yourself too deep in complex subjects, know a little bit of everything.
For example, covering the basics of Maths and Economics will skyrocket your ability for monetary investments.
However, adding checkmarks next to book titles won’t be enough. You need to apply what you learn. Take notes and regularly remind yourself of those crucial guidelines.
Develop New Skills
You’re never too old, young, or stuck to learn a new trick. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing the same job with the same set of skills for 20 years. You can always switch it up and work on adding a new skill to the list.
Why is honing new skills important, you ask? The reasons are many, but let’s summarise it to a few key points:
- keeps your mind active;
- helps you get a knowledge-based perspective on the world of business;
- opens the doors to new career opportunities;
- trains you to handle wide-range of challenges more efficiently;
- boosts your confidence to take intelligible risks;
- improves your adaptability;
Should I say more?
The value of embarking on a skill-developing journey is immense. Simply ask this question: why limit yourself to few skills when the world offers so many opportunities to versatile people?
Knowing how to invest in yourself is being ready to build relevant skills. Learn a new language, work on communication skills, give an IT skill, or whatever feels important for reaching your goal.
Luckily, we live in the digital era with a plethora of skill-boosting options. You can attend webinars, courses, or online conferences.
Online education is abundant, so you just need to decide what you want to learn, and begin your journey.
Get Yourself a Mr. Miyagi
Don’t kid yourself. Personal and professional growth isn’t easy. There will be times when you want to throw it all away and head to Hawaii to sell straw boaters. In those moments, a mentor can prevent you from buying the ticket and get you back on track.
A mentor or business coach is an experienced professional who can educate you about smart business steps in the niche of your choice and motivate you to stay persistent. Besides passing their words of wisdom, mentors can help you connect and network.
To find a mentor you’ll need to:
- Set your goals and the niche you want to target
- Research successful people in that niche (if you don’t already know your potential Miyagi)
- Write an elevator pitch and reach out to them
Who says that learning how to invest in yourself has to be a lonely venture? Having someone to guide you and support you can help you achieve new levels of success much faster.
Step Away from Your Work Comfort Zone
Remember our talk about developing skills? Well, this is where that talk continues. In addition to passive listening, you want to “get your hands dirty” to master the skills you need.
Working different jobs can teach you a lot. For example, Robert Kiyosaki, the author of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” got a job in sales at one point. He had no interest in building a career in sales. But, he had an interest in acquiring that vital skill.
Every job brings you an inside look into a new world. Let’s say that you want to open your business. Working a few months in marketing can ensure that you lead your future marketing team with expertise.
Remember that knowing the theory doesn’t make you the master of practice. To understand the strong and weak sides of different business segments, you need to immerse yourself in them.
Invest in Yourself and You’ll Be Investing in a Promising Future
Do you know how you become an overnight success? You work, struggle, and learn how to invest in yourself for years and years before that “overnight wonder” happens.
No one achieved success without working on improving their abilities and knowledge. The sooner you start thinking about how you can get to that “new and improved” version of yourself, the better.
That’s what these tips are for. They are here to remind you what you should add to your to-do list if you want to witness some positive change in your life so, let the self-improving journey begin!