Episode 37: Part 3 - Invest in yourself and your brand - who are you, like really?

Letters to my kids: A suicide survivor's lessons and advice for life

Episode 37: Part 3 - Invest in yourself and your brand - who are you, like really?

Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. Cohen From the Free Music Archive Released under a Creative Commons Attribution International License

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-tull/top-10-ways-to-invest-in-_b_8406130.html

- 4. Invest in building your confidence. People who know their value, have something to say and others will listen. You can invest in yourself by developing an understanding of the value that you possess and offer others. Learn to have the courage to speak your truth. The more you love yourself and own the value that you offer, the more confident you will become in sharing it with others. - Develop your skills. Improving your skills doesn't always mean investing in higher education, though that's surely an option, and perhaps a necessary one depending upon your career field. Investing in your knowledge and skills can take many forms. In addition, expanding your level of knowledge and skill isn't limited to the business arena and doesn't necessarily need to be formal. There are many “skill investment” avenues.

- Advance your education – extra classes, advanced degrees, relevant certifications, are all valuable investments. Take classes, either in person or online.

"Invest in yourself first. Expect nothing from no one and be willing to work for everything." -Tony Gaskins

- Attend seminars and workshops to expand your knowledge and skills in your business and/or personal life. This will also give you the opportunity to meet and interact with individuals who are like-minded.

-Take care of your health. Eat right each day, fueling your body with nutrients. When you focus on eating organic and healthier choices, you will feel better and have more energy. I know that the unhealthy burger or cupcake gives us instant gratification, but if you're like me, you regret it later, because you feel lousy afterwards. Exercise daily. Do something every day to get moving and get your heart rate up, even, if it's just walking the dog. Exercise gives you the energy to take on the day with confidence because of how it makes you look and feel. - Read – anything and everything. Explore culture – attend performances, listen to different style of music, travel, or join an organization or group comprised of people from different backgrounds. Open your mind – engage in conversations with those who disagree with you. Look at an argument and try to make a case for the opposing point of view. Keep your mind active – play word games, (yes, even Words with Friends counts,) board games that include strategy, or try using your brain to perform simple calculations rather than relying on a calculator.

"Income seldom exceeds personal development." -Jim Rohn

- Polish the exterior – translation: take care of the outside too. Many people dismiss this as frivolous and self-indulgent, but it's not, as long as you don't go overboard. We're not talking about facelifts and Botox, we're talking about getting a fabulous haircut, and wearing clothes that make you feel confident and attractive.

"It hurts like hell when the world won't invest in you. But it's excruciating, almost more than you can bear, when you don't believe and invest in yourself."-Julia Cameron

- Choose to be happy. Happiness is a choice. Happy people choose to focus on the positive aspects of life, rather than the negative. They are not held hostage by their circumstances. They look at all the reasons to be grateful. “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”- Abraham Lincoln

- Work on your bucket list. If you don't have a bucket list, then it's time to start one. Your bucket list is meant to be a list of everything you want to achieve, do, see, feel and experience in your life. Your list may be ongoing, but you can start by writing 100 things down. Then each month or so, make sure you're knocking out at least, one of the items on your list.

- Invest in a coach. A coach can assist you in putting all of these strategies into action. A coach is your partner in success. It is their job to assist you in creating and implementing your success plan, so you can become the best that you can be.

"Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment." -Stephen Covey