| Not investing in yourself is like floating | | | | yourself gives you the clarity, power and |
| down a fast river without a paddle, map or | | | | tools to create your own future and take the |
| knowledge of what's around the next bend. | | | | path less traveled. Sometimes, investing |
| Things may go fine for a while, but at some | | | | means taking a risk, but that's the price of |
| point, you're going to realize you made a | | | | entry for success and happiness.7. Because |
| giant mistake.To avoid such unforeseen | | | | the World Is a Complex Place |
| disaster in your career, you need to invest | | | | |
| in it to proactively and thoughtfully create | | | | You cannot know everything you need to know |
| a plan for achieving your career and life | | | | or do everything you need to do alone. You |
| goals.And if that doesn't convince you, here | | | | can't be your best without help. Find and |
| are 10 reasons why investing in your career | | | | invest in those who can teach you, show you |
| is a must.1. The Greatest Return on | | | | the way and help you achieve your goals.8. |
| Investment, Anywhere | | | | Life Is Too Short for Mediocrity |
| | | | |
| The return on investing and improving | | | | You don't have the luxury of being mediocre |
| yourself is astronomically higher than any | | | | -- period. Whether you opt for |
| financial investment you could make. From | | | | self-improvement or outsourcing your weak |
| increased lifetime earning power and | | | | areas to someone who can do them better, |
| unimagined opportunities, to protecting | | | | determine where you are mediocre and get |
| yourself from unemployment and the | | | | help.9. It's a Cliche, But on Your Deathbed? |
| satisfaction that comes from personal growth | | | | |
| and success -- the returns are enormous.2. | | | | The reason we hear this often is that it is |
| You're the Boss of You | | | | so true. The passage of time will provide a |
| | | | perspective we don't have now. One day, |
| If you're the president and CEO of You Inc., | | | | you'll look back at your problems and |
| then it's your job to ensure you don't go out | | | | successes and see them as bumps in the road. |
| of business. It's your job to nurture growth | | | | Your focus will be on the big picture: the |
| and prosperity. You do this by carefully | | | | life you led, opportunities pursued or |
| planning, performing consistently, operating | | | | abandoned, how happy you were and the legacy |
| true to your mission and investing in You | | | | you left behind. Investing in yourself will |
| Inc.3. Become More Valuable | | | | give you the courage and determination to be |
| | | | happy and do your own thing.10. Who Else Can |
| Draw up two balance sheets for yourself. The | | | | You Count On? |
| first one should be a list of your financial | | | | |
| assets and liabilities. The second should be | | | | Let's face it: You're alone on this. No one |
| a list of your skills, ideas, knowledge, | | | | has as much to gain or lose as you do. No one |
| marketability, personal networks, passion and | | | | else is going to make those consistent |
| ability to make things happen. Increase your | | | | investments in your development to maximize |
| personal net worth by investing in your | | | | your career and life.How to Invest in Your |
| second list ? that's how you'll increase the | | | | Career |
| assets on your first list.4. Become Great | | | | |
| | | | Invest in understanding yourself better and |
| You are capable of greatness. Most of us | | | | developing your goals, plans, professional |
| settle for just getting by, using a fraction | | | | skills, knowledge, career management skills, |
| of our capabilities. This is tragic. Realize | | | | networks, and your personal brand and |
| your greatness by identifying your talents | | | | profile. Do it yourself, or work with experts |
| and investing in your potential.5. Achieve | | | | like career coaches.Try thinking, planning, |
| Your Goals | | | | self-assessment tools, goal development, |
| | | | reading, consulting experts, getting coached, |
| Your career and life goals are far too | | | | taking courses, upgrading or acquiring skills |
| important to be just wishes. A mismanaged | | | | and proactively marketing yourself. Recognize |
| career can derail your life goals. Investing | | | | that investing in you often requires that you |
| in yourself dramatically increases the | | | | don't play it safe.Ian Christie is a career |
| probability of achieving your goals and is a | | | | coach, entrepreneur, former Sr. Director & |
| real demonstration of your commitment to | | | | former executive recruiter. Ian is a career |
| achieving them.6. Create Your Own Future | | | | expert with many published articles and media |
| | | | interviews. Visit for free career resources & |
| Your career is yours to mold. Investing in | | | | personalized career services. |