The Best Investment You Can Make
Updated: Jun 3, 2023
*Not financial advice - your money, your choice*
In today's fast-paced world, investments in securities (particularly shor term investments) appear to be a crucial aspect of our lives. Everyone wants to invest in the hottest stocks, areas for real estate, HYSAs, or cryptocurrencies, hoping for a substantial return on their investment.
However, there is one investment that is often overlooked; investing in oneself.
Education is, in my experience, one of the best if not the best investments that one can make. While financial investments are essential, they are subject to market fluctuations, and some higher-risk investments (like crypto) can evaporate in an instant.
Commencement at Seattle U during The Virus, circa 2020.
Spending time on education, gaining knowledge, and learning new skills is a lifelong investment that can never be taken away. And, even better, it compounds on itself. The more high-value skills you learn the more your earnings potential increases. Even with skills that don’t appear to be ‘high-value’ still, increase how interesting of a person you are through life experiences.
When you know how to do something and do it well, be it video editing, data analysis, selling houses, or doing sick backflips, you can take comfort in the fact that if everything came crumbling down you could use what you know to do it again; better and faster.
In today's rapidly changing world, industries and job markets are continuously evolving. Technology advancements have and continue to make many traditional jobs obsolete, making it challenging to predict job security. By investing in education, you can gain knowledge and skills that are adaptable and can be transferred across multiple industries, making you a more valuable asset to any employer or client.
Education is also an investment in personal growth and development. Learning new skills, expanding knowledge, and pursuing passions are all part of the lifelong learning process. Not only does education provide an opportunity to acquire new skills and knowledge, but it also helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities (divergent thinking), which can be applied in all aspects of life.
Finding pleasure in the journey of learning can also be a source of fulfillment and happiness. Learning allows you to explore new ideas and interests, meet new people, and expand your horizons. Whether it is learning a new language, taking a cooking class, enrolling in a university program, or taking an online course, investing in education can bring immense joy and satisfaction (and ROI if that’s what motivates you).
Mentorship is another powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Having a mentor can provide guidance, support, and motivation, helping you navigate challenges and overcome obstacles. Mentors can share their experiences and expertise, condensing their learnings and making it possible to avoid the same mistakes. They can also provide constructive feedback, and help you develop new skills. Having a mentor can also provide opportunities for networking and career advancement, as they can introduce you to their network and help you make important connections.
It is essential to note that investing in education does not necessarily require a significant financial investment. While formal education, such as university programs, can be expensive, there are many affordable options available. Online courses, books (from libraries especially), and workshops are all excellent sources of knowledge and skills, some of which, have little to no cost. Investing in education does not need to be limited to a particular field of study. Learning new things, whether they are directly related to your job or not, can be beneficial in unexpected ways.
Learning how to cook a new meal for a loved one can bring fulfillment from learning and from an act of service. Even if the meal doesn’t turn out well, it can be a memory that you can laugh about and learn from to make better food in the future. I remember trying to make an Asian pasta dish but not having chicken breast and instead using Italian sausage and, for some reason, it tasted like dog food.
This is not that meal, this one was very good (my partner did a lot of the work).
Investing in education is an investment that no one can take away (aside from brain trauma or death). So, take the time to invest in yourself, expand your knowledge and skills, and enjoy the many benefits that come with lifelong learning.
In short, invest in the S&ME not just the S&P.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our YouTube channel, LinkedIn page, or Instagram, OR (even better) subscribe to the newsletter by clicking below!
Commentaires