Why there is an ‘I’ in Invest
September 24, 2017
The word invest according to the Oxford on line dictionary means
http://www.freedictionarydefinitions.com/search.htm
- provide with power and authority
- :place ceremoniously or formally in an office or position
- :make an investment
- :give qualities or abilities to
- :furnish with power or authority; of kings or emperors
And the relevant definitions of investment are below
- money that is invested with an expectation of profit
- the commitment of something other than money (time, energy, or effort) to a project with the expectation of some worthwhile result
What it means for you as an individual or business
In many ways we owe it to ourselves to ‘invest’ in ourselves. But what on earth does that mean, well at its most basic it means taking care of ourselves but it also means to most of us doing things that will help us grow. We may read, or study to improve our knowledge or skill in an area and this may just be for fun but if it is linked to some expectation of reward – if you get this qualification then you’ll get a better paid job then that is more what we’d regard as an investment. There are of course loads of ways we can invest time money and effort into our personal success and happiness.
When it comes to a business much the same applies. You may invest money into some new equipment, which will make some aspect of your business easier or more time efficient. You may invest in people by hiring someone to take on certain tasks – the same principle applies – putting time effort or money into something because you can see or you expect there will be benefits.
For small business owners, sole traders, or network marketers, often there is an additional consideration in that very often ‘they’ as an individual are the core of their business. So for them investment is very likely to mean that they are spending on themselves and sometimes they (or we as I count myself in that group) need some persuading to invest in ourselves.
When you speak to, or read about successful business owners often they will tell you that business moved forward following some investment – possibly through some mentoring, coaching or training. Learning a new skill or identifying more clearly what the priorities are can have an huge impact on business success.
The same is true of life – there are many tales of people who have felt low or lacking purpose and take the decision to get some help in terms of counselling or coaching and find quite literally that they are able to turn their lives around. BUT that wouldn’t have happened if they hadn’t made the investment of time, money or effort.
3 reasons why you should make an investment?
1 Because there is a problem.
We usually know when there is something that is stopping us moving forward in life or business, or when we are just not happy about some aspect of life. Accepting that there is a problem or ‘block’ that is hindering our life, business or happiness is the first step to dealing with it. We might not always know what it is and identifying it might be part of a longer process but accepting that we are ready to change and grow is the first step.
2. There could be a good outcome
Often you don’t actually know but deciding beforehand what you hope the outcome will be can help you choose the right type of investment. If you want to use social media to grow your business for example then investing time or money in learning about Facebook could be a great investment, assuming you haven’t got the budget to hire someone to do it for you!!
If you know you are not happy in work or there are tensions in relationships then changing these could have a great impact on your happiness. That is definitely an outcome worth the investment.
3. You are ready for a change/growth
Some people see the cost of coaschng or training as a negative but actually in life we tend to value things we have invested in. If you pay in advance for a course or class you are much more likely to actually attend. Free events can be great BUT if you are ready for change and growth then it is imprtant to prioitise investment and get the help trainingor support you need. As a coach and trainer I know that if someone has decided to invest that they are ready and hunrgy for change. Howver it is still wise to test it first.
Test it first
Before you spend large amounts of money – try a smaller cheaper test. Some courses can be very expensive and they may all have different delivery methods, some which would suit you better than others. So it’s sensible to try a short course or free workshop first to see if it is going to be worth the investment. The same applies to coaching or mentoring – is the style right for you- would it be a good fit. Most offer a free or low priced taster session or try a group session before investing in individual coaching sessions.
Finally
So Investment has an ‘I’ in it because it is all about YOU the individual. How do you know you should be investing in you or our business – well here’s a few questions to ask yourself.
I regularly feel unhappy about certain aspects of my life.
There is at least one important relationship in my life that I am unhappy about.
I have days when I just don’t feel comfortable or confident in myself.
I have a great idea for a business but I don’t know how to start.
I’d love my business to grow but I don’t know what to do next.
If you answer yes to 2 or more then it could be time to invest in yourself and your happiness and/or business. Check out the services we offer that may be of help here and the workshops or events we are running here.
