3 ways I'm investing in myself this year
Investing in yourself can feel pretty scary can’t it? I don’t know whether it’s the language around it (investing feels like something corporate bros in the City do, right?!), the worry that our investments won’t pay off, or the fear that it’s “selfish” to spend money purely on ourselves and our own development or wellbeing, but it can certainly feel uncomfortable to take that leap of faith and spend the money.
I know that in the past I’ve certainly wrangled with the concept of investing in myself - I don’t think it’s something that comes particularly naturally to us, but, I can hand on heart say that I wouldn’t have the business I have today if I’d never invested in working with a coach, or spent money on the qualifications I needed to retrain.
Looking back, I can see that those investments have paid off tenfold, both financially, and personally too. I’m more confident in myself and my abilities, more knowledgeable about my chosen profession, and much better placed to run a profitable and thriving business. There’s something that shifts energetically when you choose to back yourself - it’s like you get a fresh boost of focus that drives you forward more quickly than you could on your own.
For that reason, having an investment and self development strategy will always be a core part of my business plan, and today I thought I’d share 3 ways that I’m investing in myself this year…
1) Attending a business mastermind retreat
The first investment I made in myself and my business this year was bagging myself a ticket to Sophie French’s Magic Activation Mastermind next month. Since taking the leap to full time self employment last November, I’ve struggled to strike the balance between working “on” my business vs working “in” it, but I know that this fabulous retreat will give me the space and time to pause, take stock, and create a bigger and better plan for where I want my work to take me.
I’m really looking forward to getting to know the other lovely business owners who are attending, working on letting go of my limiting beliefs, and spending lots of time dreaming about what’s possible for me and my business. Plus, it’s taking place in Bordeaux, so I’m sure a little French wine and sunshine will be good for the soul, too...
2) Training to be an NLP master practitioner
One of my big goals for 2020 is to train as an NLP master practitioner. For those of you who don’t know, NLP stands for neuro-linguistic programming, and it’s basically a way of better understanding our mind and how it works. I studied some of the basics of NLP as part of my life coaching qualification, and I know that learning even more will help me to be an even better coach for my clients.
It’s quite an intensive course, but I’m hoping to complete it sometime over the summer. I’ve found a couple of local trainers, but if you’ve completed a similar qualification before and would recommend the provider you used, I’d love to hear!
3) Taking a 3 week break this summer
The final investment I’m making in myself this year is by taking a 3 week break from work this summer. While it might not seem like as obvious an investment as the other 2 on my list, I know that taking some time away will work wonders for both myself and my business. Plus, financially I’m having to save and budget for that time away, so there is an investment of sorts happening.
One of my big motivators behind my business was being able to take more time for travel, adventure and quality time with my loved ones, and that’s exactly what I’ll be honouring during my 3 week break. It’s easy to let those things slip to the bottom of the to do list when business is busy, but I truly do believe that balance is key.
Have you ever made any investments in yourself? How are you planning to invest in yourself this year?
