Last week, I wrote a check for my next professional development opportunity. Not just any check, but a makes-me-gasp, “Can I *really* do this?” kind of check. Have you had that experience recently? It’s scary – and transformational.
When you invest in yourself – whether through money, time, or energy – you’re actually doing many things at once: you’re boosting your confidence, “upping” your game, and laying the foundation for a stronger, brighter future. You experience this type of investment when you purchase a book or product that will help you serve your clients, hire a professional to help you reach a goal, or block a Thursday afternoon to take a long walk and visit an art museum. With these investments, you’ll reap the benefits long after the check has been cashed or the request for time off forgotten.
Compare this to ways we “spend” our precious resources: perhaps on frivolous purchases that we soon regret, or channel-surfing while our unfinished novel sits on the desk, or constantly running around with our to-do list until we feel depleted. We leave the experience feeling unfulfilled, with the added whammy that – at least in the case of time and energy – we can’t earn that back.
Two ways you can choose wisely:
- Pause before you purchase. While spontaneity has its benefits, and overanalyzing has its drawbacks, we can often find the happy medium in just taking a deep breath before tossing an item in our cart or saying “yes” to a request for time. Give yourself a time-out – even just a few moments – to check in with your gut and make a conscious decision.
- Welcome the “gasp” factor. I used to fear this and misinterpret it to mean, “It’s too much.” What I’ve come to learn, though, is every single time I’ve invested more than what seemed “realistic,” it’s caused me to stretch myself in exponential ways. I’ve always earned back those hefty investments in terms of revenue, time, service, or sense of fulfillment. Every single time.
When it comes to investing in your development, do your homework and then ask yourself: What is the purpose behind this investment? What is my ideal outcome? How will my business, my family, my clients or my community benefit? Always pause for a moment to check in with yourself and determine if it’s an investment or an expense.
Then, in the words of L’Oreal, remember: You’re Worth It. If you decide it’s an investment and one that’s going to push you to your next level of success, embrace the gasp. You’ll start to see transformations before you even receive the product or start the program!