Few days back, I briefly joined a discussion on this topic at ClubHouse between my two sessions. The title was quite lengthy, and I could stay for only 20 minutes, but I wanted to share what I remembered.
I realized that the biggest investment I made for myself was starting this blog nine years ago. At the time, I did not see it as an "investment." As I mentioned during the broadcast, sometimes we don’t take specific actions for investment reasons, but when we reflect in the long run, we recognize they were valuable.
I know my writing here has inspired hundreds on various subjects. Some people reached out to express their appreciation, and I am sure many others, who did not contact me, have also benefited, as it has had 1 million 850 thousand views to date.
So, what does it mean to invest in yourself?
For me, investing in yourself mainly involves reading, listening, and watching to enhance my skills, learn new things, and stay informed. I believe that gaining knowledge is essential. This can be done by listening to podcasts while exercising, watching a TED talk each morning, or reading books or magazines.
When I talk to the people I work with or candidates I interview, I often hear about those who dedicate time to reading books, while I don’t hear as much about others. Many discuss taking paid or free classes, whether online or in-person, to better themselves, but they are less frequent.
When you think about investment, don’t focus only on paid options. Today, knowledge is easily accessible with just a click, yet many people only attend work-required training sessions while secretly playing games on their phones.
The most concerning part, or perhaps the most eye-opening, is that I frequently hear people say, “I haven’t done much to improve myself. I wish I had started this sooner.”
Another issue is that many people seek motivation. We sometimes need external encouragement, but I believe discipline is more important. Investing in yourself isn’t something you can complete in a day and then feel satisfied.
Continuous growth, a desire for ongoing learning, and the discipline to apply what you learn are crucial for self-improvement.
Investing in yourself may also involve working directly with a consultant, subscribing to an audiobook service, training with a fitness coach, joining a book club, or even buying a new pillow for better sleep. The options are endless.