Invest In Yourself

November 28th, 2008

I made an offhand quip on the latest Core Intuition podcast, that in light of the recent stock market plunge, I should have invested money into my own company instead of the likes of Yahoo and Apple.

I was (mostly) joking, but there’s a philosophical truth in there. All of us have lately learned, or been reminded, that there are no guarantees when it comes to investing money. At the core of most investments is the expectation that one day down the road, we’ll take back more dollars than we put in today. We’re disappointed at best and devastated at worst if we are forced to cash out with less money than we started with.

But many of life’s investments are risk free precisely because we don’t expect anything tangible in return. So be sure to spend at least some of your dollars and time on something more valuable and permanent than money. Education, artistic expression, good health, time with family & friends, travel, or pursuing your own particular favorite pastime.

All of these investments yield immediate, intangible returns that can’t be diminished at the whim of bankers, stockholders, or public policy makers. People who invest only for financial return wind up going mad with money lust. Losing their investments spells catastrophe. A pity they never took the time to write a novel or learn to play guitar.

In short, invest in yourself and you’ll always have plenty of you to value.

9 Responses to “Invest In Yourself”

  1. Ward Says:

    Beautiful post. Definitely something to keep in mind.

  2. Sebastian Says:

    That’s the wisest thing I’ve read in a long time. Thank you!

  3. Pat Says:

    Best post in a while, thanks Daniel.

  4. Connor Says:

    Sometimes it’s hard to hear anything above the din of confusion that has prevailed over the last few months in the financial world. What this post possesses, above the tide of commentary that has been spat out about the subject, is a true sense of perspective. Thank you.

  5. Justin MIller Says:

    Agree 100%. Thanks for the great post. My motto in this vein is ‘no regrets’.

  6. Bored Astronaut Says:

    This was always my excuse for so much formal and informal education while remaining steadfastly broke (or just outside of it). If you have skills, you improve your chances of adapting to changing circumstance. But that might be rationalization.

  7. Andy Lee Says:

    I was going to say this post was very timely for me personally, but I probably would have reacted that way regardless of when you posted it. The best advice is always like that.

  8. Paul Schifferer Says:

    Well said. Thanks!

  9. Nervous Programmer Says:

    They yield immediate returns; but isn’t our society too focused on immediate satisfaction at the expense of long-term planning? Will my children’s children be better off because I took that trip to Bali?

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