Day #26 - ....Priceless

Theme

....Priceless

Description

Invest in Yourself

Part of the dictionary.com definition of the word investment: to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something; (origin 1525 Medieval Latin) “to clothe”; related words = commit, empower, endow

“Investing in yourself is very different from investing in external assets. It doesn’t follow the same pattern and it surely doesn’t offer you the same compensation. Whenever people are investing money they expect in return money. Well, it’s completely different when you invest in yourself. You don’t get back money. Usually, you get back an improved version of yourself."  http://www.dragosroua.com/how-to-invest-in-yourself-and-why/

To Do

Identify, appreciate and cultivate your unique assets and strengths

Nourish Yourself

Most sources on this topic state the repeatable obvious: Eat, Exercise and Sleep WELL

Get Up & Go!

I found it encouraging that these same sources also emphasized the importance of fostering relationships with everyone from your betrothed to the bag boy at the market.  So exercise your love muscle and winning personality :)

Tools

Your inherent assets that deserve not only noticing, but cultivating. The beauty of loving and valuing and investing in yourself is that you actually benefit others! 

Tip

The Six Secrets to a Rich Life: http://www.goodadvicepress.com/23iiy.htm

• Make Your Own Lifestyle Decisions
• Put Your Family First
• Wherever You Work, Be in Business for Yourself
• Make the Most of the Money You Bring Home
• Turn Your Debts into Golden Investments
• Map Out Your Own Financial Future

Don’t Worry About Not Investing http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/build-your-future-invest-in-yourself/

When I first got into the idea of investing my time, I obsessed over whether I was investing enough of my time into things that mattered.

Don’t. Time spent worrying is time spent not enjoying your life – which is what you should really be doing in the first place.

As long as you’re using your time well to enrich your skills, knowledge, and your relationships, while keeping your health well, you’re fine.

In fact, this gives you an excuse to have more fun and be more social, since you’re now investing in your relationships instead of thinking of it as “spending time with my friends that I could spend working.”

As long as you don’t think of investing as work, you’re on the right track. After all, this is all meant to be fun, not something to labor through.

Tweak

Make a point to do one thing, no matter how small, for yourself daily! And by all means write it down in your journal 

Question

What do you consider to be your most valuable asset? And why?

Thoughts

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” - James Allen

“Take a coin from your purse and invest it in your mind. It will come pouring out of your mind and overflow your purse.” - Benjamin Franklin

“Don’t go through life, GROW through life.” - Eric Butterworth

“If you want to be truly successful invest in yourself to get the knowledge you need to find your unique factor. When you find it and focus on it and persevere your success will blossom.”

 - Sidney Madwed 

“Invest three percent of your income in yourself (self development) in order to guarantee your future.” - Brian Tracy

Tidbit

from http://www.thesimpledollar.com/category/investing-in-yourself/

Why is investing in yourself more important than investing in your career? There are several strong reasons.

First, you retain that personal value regardless of what happens in your career. Let’s say you work for ten years at a company and it goes under. If you spent all of your time investing solely in your career, you’re likely up the creek. If you spent your time investing in yourself, you’ve got the personal assets and contacts needed to quickly move on from there.

Second, investing in yourself often overlaps with career investment. For example, look at making contacts. Having a huge network of people can help you in your current career, but can help you greatly in making the leap to something completely different. My own personal network of people was key in enabling me to leap from my old career to my new writing-oriented career.

Third, it greatly expands your potential horizons and hands you countless little opportunities. If you’ve built value in yourself, you don’t have to spend your time merely looking straight ahead at the next move within your career path. Many, many other avenues open up to you – sideways leaps within your career to something different, perhaps a giant leap in your current career, or a jump to something entirely different. If you’ve made yourself valuable, those alternative choices open up.

Fourth, it allows you to center around the true values in your life. Investing in your career means you stay late at the office every night so that you have the best chances of advancing in your career, Investing in yourself means you do what’s most valuable to you – spending time with your family, building a larger network of people, improving yourself, and learning new things.”

Treat

Spend some money or time on yourself... no buts!  Do something to enrich your life: take a trip, enroll in a class -- language, dance, cooking, voice, you name it, get a mani/pedi... just do something to value yourself as much as you value those around you

Blogs & Articles... and books

Build Your Future -- Invest in Yourself: http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/build-your-future-invest-in-yourself/

Invest in Yourself: http://www.self-discovery-for-you.com/investinyourself.html

Invest in Yourself and Make it Happen: http://www.briankim.net/

Investing in Your Most Valuable Asset - Invest in Yourself: http://genxfinance.com/investing-in-your-most-valuable-asset-invest-in-yourself/

 

In Sum

without doubt the best way you can increase your estate and worth is by investing in your most precious asset, yourself... an investment that will bless all with whom you come in contact