Investing in Yourself: The Highest Yield Strategy
When we talk about investing, our minds often drift towards stocks, real estate, or businesses. While these are crucial aspects of building wealth, there’s one investment that stands out above all others: investing in yourself. Investing in yourself means dedicating time, resources, and effort towards your personal and professional growth. It includes acquiring new skills, expanding your knowledge, and improving your health and well-being.
Psychologists Edwin A. Locke and Gary P. Latham found that when you set challenging goals boost your motivation, improve your health, and gives you a better mindset. Goals give you direction and purpose, making you feel like you’re on the right track. And as you move closer to achieving them, you feel a sense of accomplishment that adds a big dose of happiness to your life. Chasing after goals that involve your personal growth, whether it’s financial literacy, becoming a better parent, or advancing in your career, is best. Why? Because it’s a journey that never really ends. No matter how much you’ve grown, there’s always more to explore and learn.
This may sound controversial but I believe that personal growth is the center of our happiness and fulfillment. When we stop pursuing it, we become bitter and immobile.
It's probably the only type of investment that never loses value, unless you fail to use it.
Your knowledge and skills stay with you, no matter the state of the economy. The only time it loses value is if you pursue it but don’t apply it in your life. That’s an execution problem. Learning new things and improving skills—whatever your goals might be—enhances your ability to serve others better. In today’s world, your value is directly related to the value you can provide to others. In the end, you not only become a better individual but also improve the lives of the people around you.
Personal Growth and Life's Purpose
Research by psychologists such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers suggests that self-actualization, the process of realizing one’s full potential, is closely linked to finding meaning and purpose in life. Every challenge you overcome, every skill you acquire, and every lesson you learn contributes to your evolution as a person. You’re uncovering layers of potential and discovering new avenues for expressing your unique gifts and talents. That’s why I always begin with this whenever I teach or coach someone because I know pursuing it last a lifetime and provides the highest return.
Redefining Retirement: The goal is NOT to retire and do nothing
I’m not sold on the traditional notion of retirement. Sure, the idea of kicking back on a tropical island sounds tempting at first, but let’s be real – spending the rest of your days sipping cocktails by the beach gets old fast. Retirement from the hustle and bustle is the goal. As you get older, you become wiser. Sleepless nights, poor food choices, and unhealthy habits might be manageable when you’re young, but they catch up with you as you age. My definition of retirement is leaving behind that chaotic lifestyle and entering a phase where you’re financially smarter and can pursue what truly excites you each morning. It’s about spending time with the people who matter to you, engaging in activities that help you grow, and building valuable relationships. Retirement is never about inactivity—it’s the start of something new, a new phase.
LET'S TAKE ACTION!
#1: Start by focusing on what you see first. Sometimes, seeing is believing.
Let’s start by tidying up your space. It doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. Just make it a habit to put things away when you’re done using them, keep your workspace neat, and maybe give your wardrobe a little organizing love. Once you’ve cleared away the clutter you can see, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and readiness to tackle the next steps.
Now, let’s talk about taking care of yourself physically. Maybe you want to get stronger or just dress in a way that makes you feel confident. These are tangible goals you can work towards, and seeing progress in these areas can be really reassuring.
#2: Just like Nike says: Just do it
We all know how easy it is for our minds to trick us into delaying things. It’s like our brains are wired to stick to the same old routine, with the same familiar faces and triggers. But when change comes knocking, our minds might resist, trying to hold onto what’s comfortable. That’s why it’s so important to push past that resistance and just get started. Don’t overthink it—just do it!
#3: Doing it on your own is okay, but it'll be faster if you have a mentor
Making progress on your own is possible, but having a mentor can significantly accelerate your development – after all, two heads are better than one. When we entered our ATM business, the industry was fairly new and no one has the experience to help us navigate the complexity of the industry. It was so long ago that the idea of a business mentor wasn’t even a normal thing. We would have wanted a mentor as it would have cut years, if not a decade, off of our learning curve of growth…and frustration.
By going through the trial and error process ourselves, we were able to learn from our mistakes and develop a unique understanding of the ATM industry. This experience has given us the expertise to help newcomers skip the same mistakes and start strong. We’re now able to guide others and provide them with a solid foundation for their business.
Having a mentor is like having a partner who has already walked the same path. They can help you avoid detours and stay on track to achieve your goals. And it’s not just about business – having mentors in other areas of your life is also important. Today, we have mentors for fitness & health and finances, offering wisdom beyond our own knowledge. Having them in our lives, we gain new perspectives, improve our quality of life, and pursue our passions with greater confidence.
"Remember what Warren Buffett once said: 'The best investment you can make is in yourself.' So, take the time to focus on your growth. Trust me, the rewards of investing in yourself will last a lifetime, enriching not only your own life but also the lives of those around you."
