As we wind down the latter part of the 3^rd Quarter, and look forward to 4^th Quarter and ending the year on top, ask yourself this….Did I spend any time investing in myself, or was my focus entirely on the business.

Follow any business “guru” and you will find a common theme.  They all have invested numerous hours, and dollars into improving who they are as a business owner and more importantly, who they are as a person.

Here are a few ways that you can invest in YOURSELF:

• Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and decide on a topic for improvement.  It doesn’t have to be a big thing.  It could be something as simple as learning a new program to keep better track of your expenses.  However, I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and tackle that area that has always stumped or challenged you.

• Find the learning resources.  Depending on the topic, your resources may be as close as online or only as far away as the public library. Here are a few suggested ways to learn:
  • Read a book (or listen to the book on CD) – One of my favorite books is Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.  Challenge yourself to read one book a month.
  • Attend a conference – Most industries have an annual conference where you can learn about current trends in your field.
  • Take a course – Many folks avoid public speaking, for example, but to build your confidence, why not take a public speaking course at a local community college or online?  Haven’t heard about online learning?  Check out courses, many for free, at sites like Coursera.com
  • Consult with a professional – There are many experts who can teach you by working with them.  A couple that you might not initially consider are a professional photographer and image consultant.  I’ve learned a great deal of personalized information from both of mine.
  • Join a Mastermind group – Working with a group affiliated with a business coach can help you identify areas for improvement and the group can grow together.
  • Make a commitment to learning –   Schedule learning time weekly on your calendar, and keep the appointment with yourself to invest in yourself just like you would a meeting with a client.

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”
-Chinese Proverb

When we LEARN, we then have the opportunities to GROW, ACHIEVE and PROSPER.  This journey to success is worth it.