Most of us are scared of investing because it involves risk. No matter how sure you are about a share, or business opportunity, there’s always the chance that you could lose all your money. And that’s scary. So what if I told you there’s a way to invest with absolutely no risk? I can’t promise an exact return on the investment, but I guarantee it will always be positive. No, don’t think i’m about to rain actuarial terminologies on you.
It’s called investing in yourself. I know it sounds cheesy, but when was the last time you learned something new made you a better employee or job candidate? Instead of trying to get rich by putting huge piles of your hard-earned money into a business you think is going to be profitable, why not invest time and money into improving your skills and boosting your earning power? More skills can lead to a higher pay, more job opportunities, and added job security. Bonus — more skills also make you more interesting. That sounds great, but how do you invest in yourself without going back to school and paying thousands of shillings for a degree?
Here are some ways you can invest in yourself to boost your skills.
Read a Book
Books are my favorite way of learning new things. Most of the things you read here I learned from reading books. I read everything I can get my hands on.
Take a Course
There’s a course for anything you can imagine out there. Whether it’s a local class to learn how to cook or an online course about computer programming, if you can think it, I guarantee someone out there is teaching it. You’ll meet new people, learn new skills, and broaden your horizons. Thanks to the Internet you can learn pretty much anything you can think of.
Teach Something
The best way to become an expert on something is to have deep knowledge of it and then try to teach it to others. It works your brain in a totally different (and good) way. Plus you’ll meet some interesting people. Pick a sport/instrument/topic you know a lot about and teach your niece/nephew/child a basic concept about it — you gotta start somewhere! I do teach people how to make websites, and i’m becoming better day in day out.
Learn a Language
This is easier said than done, but if your studies, research or job requires a lot of travel or you will be investing in another country soon, then another language might be essential.
Freelance
Freelancing is a great way to get a taste of another job without leaving your current one. It’ll also teach you about handling clients, running a business, and marketing. Such are online endeavors.
Be Smart About the Skills You Learn
Don’t expect your boss to give you a raise simply because you can say “hello” in German. Be smart about which skills you tackle and how they fit into your career plan. If your company just signed a major client from Germany, then go ahead. If you’re doing it because you like Bayern Munich, it probably won’t have an effect on your value to the company.
Wild Ventures 