Invest in Yourself“As I’ve gotten old I’ve realized I am certain of only two things: days that begin with rowing on the lake are better than days that do not, and a man’s character determines his fate.” The opening lines of Kevin Kline’s character, “Mr. Hubardt”, in The Emperor’s Club, rang crystal clear in my ears as I skied down the snowy mountain trail on a beautiful Montana morning. The sun was just beginning to crest the mountains in the East – beaming its warming rays onto my face. I closed my eyes and drank in the delicious sensation. Days that begin with a hike, ski, or morning run, are vastly better than days that do not. Earlier that morning I made a conscious decision not to check my email or review my list of things to do before pulling on my ski boots and escaping to a trail just outside my door. Too many times I’ve done it differently: promised myself that I would make time to exercise and get outside, only to find at the end of the day that work responsibilities and obligations had gotten the best of me. But today I was doing it differently; I was going to “invest in myself first”, no matter what. You’ve probably heard the term “pay yourself first.” I wrote an article about this in my last newsletter. David Bach strongly emphasizes this concept in his book, “The Automatic Millionaire.” Here’s what it looks like: whenever you get paid, you automatically put a percentage of your income away in your emergency savings, retirement or dream accounts. You do this before you pay the bills, go out to dinner, or pay your mortgage. The government learned this lesson a long time ago, when they discovered their citizens are poor savers. They take their share of the money before we have a chance to spend it. It’s a great way to build wealth. Build a Quality Life The cool thing is that the ”invest in yourself first” concept doesn’t just apply to your financial situation, it works for building a quality life. Instead of focusing on my business first thing in the morning, I focus on me. My routine varies, but it might involve making some herbal tea, quietly reflecting, and journaling, instead of jumping out of bed and immediately answering emails. Sometimes I start the day by taking in the sunrise with a run or ski. And the payoff is−my life is enriched. It’s a lot like what happens to my savings account when I start putting away a small amount each time I receive income. If we save ourselves for last we run out of time at the end of our busy day, and run out of money at the end of the month, after we’ve paid the bills and made impulse purchases. Our savings accounts and personal lives are all too empty. I hope you’ll choose to invest in yourself each day. You’ll have more energy for family and friends, and you’ll feel better overall. This will result in having increased energy and creativity for your business or career. Here’s what you can do now: 1. Think of one simple thing to do, starting tomorrow, to invest in yourself.
About the Author Leslie Cunningham, CTACC, “The Financial Dating TM Expert,” has over 17 years experience as a service professional, leading groups, presenting, and helping individuals and couples achieve success. She is dedicated to helping couples build wealthy relationships and turn their money & lifestyle stress into inspired action. If you liked today’s issue check out Leslie’s free articles, teleseminars, and workshops, which offer step-by-step guidance on creating wealth & closeness for couples. Learn more now at http://springwindcoaching.com © 2006 Leslie D. Cunningham Spring Wind Coaching | 7781 Nez Perce Dr. | Bozeman, MT 59715 | Phone 406-586-5561 |
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