Invest in Yourself Lately?
Everywhere you look, it’s the economy this, the economy that. Well, for those of you that may have done things the right way over the last say five or ten years. Then you’re the lucky ones that still have a job. Let’s face it things are rough all over right? Or, are they? Let me ask you, have you taken the last few years and invested in yourself? Do you expand your knowledge base by reading and researching subjects that may be foreign to you? Do you try to keep a positive attitude by surrounding yourself with family and people that support, love and respect you? If so, congratulations you should be commended, because you my friend are a select few. Most people say that they want to improve themselves. But, how many get up off the couch and do it? I will tell you, not enough.
As things get tougher in this economy the best will rise to the top. Those best I speak about don’t do a job for a paycheck but for knowledge, experience and mostly for themselves. They know that they don’t have to come in early or stay late, work through breaks and have a basic understanding of various subjects. No, no, no, the paycheck doesn’t come into this equation. Because let’s face it, not many bosses today know how to motivate the troops. So, you had better be prepared to motivate yourself in both your professional and personal lives.
Take charge of yourself, if you didn’t do it five years ago, start now. What’s holding you back? Do you believe in the saying “Can’t teach old dogs new tricks?” Baloney, you’re not a dog; you are a human, part of a race that put a man on the moon. You my friend need to change your mind set. The hard part about this is that only you can do it. You have to be the one to motivate yourself; you have to be the one to that makes a conscience decision to succeed. Can you do it? Sure you can! How you might ask, first, let’s stay positive. Do whatever you have to do to keep a positive outlook, I know it’s hard but with constant reinforcement, you will succeed.
Now, you may not feel that you don’t have much to be positive about right now. The mortgage may be late, the credit card companies are calling, and you may even feel less of a man or woman because you lost your job. I promise, that if you continue to lament on these things and wait each week for the unemployment check to arrive. You will surely have one thing, a poor attitude because in your mindset, life isn’t fair. Well as the Rolling Stones once sang and what I love to tell my kids is, “you can’t always get want you want, but if you try real hard, you’ll get what you need!” If you let the negative emotions continue to super-cede the positive ones, you will eventually make yourself sick.
How do you change your mindset? Surround yourself with positive people. If you do still have a job, look around, who are the people that are always complaining about the company or the boss? How about the ones that are always gossiping? Stay away! They are a cancer, and they will suck the life out of you. Next time that person starts to spew the negative, politely excuse yourself. Go to the bathroom, your car, the roof; take a walk, who cares, just run like heck! Earl Nightingale once said that “You become the five people you surround yourself with on a daily basis.” It’s unfortunate but true. Do you think that Bill Gates or Donald Trump surround themselves with negative people. No way, so why would you?
Secondly, begin investing in you by reading and listening to positive ideas. Books like Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” has sold over thirty million copies. Dale Carnegie’s “How to win friends and influence people” can be reserved at your local library for free, don’t like to read get the audio book. Listen in your car before a job interview, burn it to your I-pod and listen while exercising. There are millions of these types of books, some good, others bad.
Third, stay busy. Sitting on the couch watching television never got anyone anywhere. Volunteer at your kid’s school for the day; call the local chamber of commerce, or habitat for humanity. Doing these things not only make you feel good, but you get to be around other positive people. Talk to those people, make friends. You never know who you may be speaking with, be respectful and don’t complain. Successful people do for others, they like to give back and share. So, that guy you’re cleaning up with may just be your next ticket to a new life. Friends help friends, they buy from each other, and they recommend each other for jobs. You think you might have an advantage in a job interview if the guy already has seen your work ethic?
Lastly, be prepared. For what? Anything! Successful people prepare for the worst and plan for the best. Investing in yourself is one form of preparation, and this enables you to succeed. Another is staying alert for opportunities and having the guts the seize them. Let me give you an example; someone once told me this golden story of being prepared. A networking group that this individual had been associated with had a mandate that all new members would need to give a presentation at their first meeting. This presentation gave a background of the individual and their business. This was before laptops became popular and the presentation was being done on slides via an overhead projector that had been provided by the meeting place. Halfway through the presentation, the overheads bulb burns out and at this point they all pretty much thought the presentation was over. But, to every one’s surprise, the new member reached into his pocket and pulled out screw driver and new bulb. In about ten minutes was back and ready to finish. That’s preparation!
Do you want to be the person that shows up for work at 9:00 am because that is when the day starts, or are you the person that gets in at 7:30 am or stays up a few hours late when the kids go to bed to prepare for the next day? Who do you think gets further? Some people refer to the second guy as a kiss up or brown nose. But, I would put my money on the second guy any day of the week. He’s the person that will still be employed at the next round of lay-offs. In fact, he’s the guy that even if laid off, probably already has a network of contacts that he can tap to find a new opportunity quicker and faster than anyone else.
So, stop your whining and complaining. You are the only one to blame for your circumstances. Every decision you have made in your life brought you to where you are now. Education doesn’t stop at high school or college. Those years prepare you for continuing your own education afterwards. Get off the couch, expand your knowledge base and improve your attitude! Self discipline and motivation are what you need, and it starts with you. Tell me your success stories; I would love to share them with others.
