We are living through really complex times. Almost 3 years with the Covid pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine or the crisis of raw materials, have caused a really complex economic situation. Small recessions are expected in most advanced countries, as high inflation and interest rates are at record highs, which entails a real drop in people’s purchasing power, higher levels of unemployment and job insecurity, and company closures. In short, a really complicated situation.
And in this difficult moment, I come to propose that you invest in yourself. If you are one of the lucky ones who are in a good economic situation, I believe that investing in yourself will offer you a better return than making other investments (stock market, fixed income, etc.…). I am fully convinced that there is nothing more profitable in the medium and long term than investing in yourself. On the contrary, if you are in a situation of economic difficulty, I also advise you to invest in yourself. Surely, even if you have to make an effort, it will offer you great returns and will help you get through this crisis in the best possible way and will prepare you to be in better condition when the economic recovery begins.
So, no matter in which situation you are, I recommend you invest in yourself. To do this, you must INVEST TIME AND MONEY IN PROMOTING YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. In this sense, I will tell you about some interesting options:
- TRAINING: an essential option for your growth. Currently, there is a wide range of training options adapted to all audiences and at all prices and both face-to-face, hybrid and online. You have options that go through top business schools at very high prices or free or very cheap options on online platforms such as Coursera, Linkedin Learning, among many others. If you investigate, you will surely find great options to boost your growth. In this sense, I love the quote of the former president of Harvard University, Derek Bok: “If you think training is expensive, try ignorance.”
- READING: Invest time (and money) in reading. Buy books, read them, and review them. Surely in your area of interest, you have numerous books (on paper or ebooks) that will help you significantly improve your level. Do not feel bad about buying books, it will be an excellent investment. If you want some ideas, my posts Read a lot more and 48 years, 48 books can help you. As Joseph Addison says, “reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
- NETWORKING: spend time networking. On the one hand, I recommend strengthening and enhancing the relationship you already have with people who can be key in your professional future. Contact them, call, or write to them, go have a coffee or have lunch with them. And contact people you don’t know but think can have a positive impact on your professional career. It will surely be very interesting and will offer you a great return. In this sense, I recommend my post Never Eat Alone. As Tom Peters said, “networking is the best marketing tool to enhance your professional development”.
- PERSONAL BRANDING: another essential option to invest in yourself. Think if it makes sense to invest in a personal blog or website, in your corporate image, or in having professional photos of yourself. Polish your profiles on social networks, and improve your CV. I am fully convinced that investing in your personal brand will bring you great benefits.
- COACHING OR MENTORING: 2 great options to enhance your personal and professional growth. In Spain, it is still not very common among professionals, but in countries much more advanced than us, such as the United States, it is a very common practice. Having a professional who accompanies you, motivates you, challenges you, and guides you in your development is really fascinating. In my post Consulting vs coaching I talk about the differences between the different ways of receiving external help. I strongly advise you to look for a professional to accompany you in your growth. It will surely be worth the investment.
I believe that today it is more important than ever to invest in yourself. You have 5 ideas that will help you in your personal and professional growth. And I finish with a quote from Warren Buffet (possibly recognized as the best investor in the world) that perfectly sums up the idea that he wanted to convey with this post: “The best investment of all you can make is to invest in yourself.”
