How To Develop And Invest In Yourself 

How great does it feel to see someone who has developed and invested so much in themselves that you begin to whisper to yourself, I wish I can become like that person? I wish I can do all that person does.

Truth is, you may never become like that person until you have done at least one or more things that person did to get to that stage. There is so much work to be done on ourselves if we truly must attain greatness, and it all starts with you being intentional about it.

“You can’t be attracted to the success and repelled by the sacrifice”. – T.D Jakes

And while we are unique individuals possessing distinct abilities, I believe we all have the capacity and possess something deep within us that is capable of pushing and launching us to our destined place.

Success is truly intentional and to become all that we are supposed to be, we must continue to grow, develop and work on ourselves daily to get there.

But, a lot of us keep asking the same question, how do I develop myself into all that I am supposed to be? how do I invest in myself? What can I do to be better?

This is why I decided to put up this post to help young people out there find answers to these questions. Hopefully it inspires you to become all that you can ever be.

Have a clear vision or personal mission statement

What is your why for living? Why do you do what you do? What are your reasons for existence? What’s your major goal in life? What do you hope to achieve before the age of 40? etc. You need to have a vision for your life and write it out clearly otherwise you will fit into someone else’s vision which is still quiet okay if you are comfortable with the norm. But, I greatly believe we were all sent here on an assignment and it’s important to know what your portion is in order to fully become who you are meant to be.

And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on the tablets, so he may run who sees it”. – Habakkuk 2:2

There has to be something bigger than yourself that keeps you rooted. This should help you search deeper for answers within you and blossom fully into who you’re meant to become. If you don’t have a vision or written out plan for your life just yet, it’s most likely you don’t know where you are headed and if you don’t know where you are headed, it’s uncertain to know what areas of your life needs improvement.

Get yourself centered on what matters the most

I think it’s safe to say we have all been there. That is, being preoccupied with so many things that we sometimes forget what matters the most. Some days it feels like we need an entire army to help us get our massive work done, and other days we seem lost because there is only so much we can do. 

Focus on what matters and give it your best.

The best thing to do when faced with such scenario is to understand your strength and your weakness, then focus on your strength while trying to manage your weakness. Know that you can’t be everywhere and doing everything all at the same time. Get yourself centered on what matters the most to you and if you have any spare time left, then you can involve yourself in doing other things.

Study to show yourself approved

Reading is one of the fastest and easiest ways to develop and invest in yourself. It’s one of the surest ways of attaining success, you learn and also discover new things. Try to read books daily, listen to podcasts, visit blogs, etc.

Schedule time on your calendar to actually read, take some time out during the week to read and stay updated on everything happening in your industry. It helps to keep your brain alert and stimulates your creative side. And these days, technology has made things easy for us, you can listen to audio books while on the move.

Never stop learning

One of the greatest habits to form if you really want to grow is to be teachable. You can’t possibly know everything in the whole universe, which is why you must humble yourself and learn all that it is to learn. What’s the skill you have been dying to learn? What’s something you think if you know, can give you an edge in your career or business? How can you be better in your field or area of specialization?

Go out there and do something, find out what others are doing that you don’t know. For me, I had to take online courses and be coached by someone on areas I really needed to know and improve on. I love to learn new things and practicalize them, learning never ends you know!

Find a mentor or coach

How easy it is that you do not have to go through the hurdles and stress of getting some things done because, someone else has gone through same things and simplified the whole process for you. That’s what a mentor or a coach does. They help you identify lapses and see what changes you could effect to bring out the best in you.

So, look out for people who have gone ahead of you or are into what you are doing, or what you hope to be doing and learn from them. Follow their guidelines or steps and you will see how closer than you ever think.

Create multiple streams of income

Easier said than done right? Well, with an unstable and ever changing economy, we can no longer rely on a single stream of income to pay our bills and sort out our enormous needs. We need to create multiple streams of income to aid us and help us exercise more control on money.

How do you then create multiple streams of income? The easiest way is to quickly discover and unlock great potentials within you that you can harness it into profitable ventures for your financial independence.

I strongly recommend the book titled – Multiple Streams Of Income (How to generate a lifetime of unlimited wealth) by Robert G. Allen and The Road To Wealth by Robert G. Allen

Invest in your future

What can you do now that your future self will thank you for? It could be learning how to save or manage money, it could be investing in your relationships, it could be starting that business you have always had in mind, it could be pursuing your Master’s degree, it could be ensuring you stay healthy and fit, it could be volunteering for a cause, it could be starting your own journey towards financial freedom, etc.

You need to start thinking of your future NOW if you want growth. Don’t wait till you are 25 or 40. Start something NOW!

See related post: 7 Investments You Should Be Making In Your 20’s