I recently purchased a pair of dress boots and I love them! I don’t know if I love the shoes itself more, or the fact that I got a screaming deal on a high quality pair of shoes. The deal was so good for this brand that I actually was concerned that it was a knock-off! Once I opened the box and saw they looked legit, I was thrilled and relieved.
Even with the deal I found, the shoes were still a little more than I had originally intended on spending. There were some pairs of shoes that were half the price and I seriously considered getting one of those instead of the one I purchased. (I’m cheap. Frugal.) However I decided against buying the ultra cheap shoes because I spend so much time on my feet as a speaker. While my frugality often wins, in this case I knew that investing in a good pair of boots was worth the few extra dollars.
Cheap Is Cheap For a Reason
After all, have you ever worn a cheap pair of shoes that just wrecks your feet every time you wear them? I have a shiny pair of “corfam” shoes that I wear as part of my Civil Air Patrol (CAP) uniform. Because I only wear this uniform about once a month, I decided to go with the cheap pair of glossy plastic shoes. Every time I wear them my legs hurt-and I have to do a ton of stretching just to help my feet and legs recover!
So, now that it was time to buy a pair of shoes that I would be wearing for hours and hours and hours at a time, while standing on stages during a speaking engagement, or while conducting an educational breakout sessions, I knew the smart thing to do was to invest in myself, by buying a higher quality shoe.
You’re Worth It
You’re worth investing in yourself too! How much have you invested in your own personal and professional development this year? Author Michael Hyatt says, “You’ll be the same person you are today in five years except for two things; the books you read and the people around you.” What is he saying? Invest in yourself! Feed your mind with positive information; motivating stories; educational materials that will help you reach your goals. Surround yourself with people that will help you fulfill your destiny. Don’t shortcut your personal and professional growth by not investing in YOU!
The great part about investing in you is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. While I have found some incredible deals on books online, I visit my local library quite a bit and borrow books. There are endless FREE podcasts, sermons, talks and resources online. Many famous speakers even have their own apps with their exclusive content on them.
Where do you want to grow? I learned about money by taking a Dave Ramsey course. One of my leadership mentors is John Maxwell. If you want to learn about efficiency, try a Stephen Covey book. Want to learn how to be more vulnerable check out Brene Brown’s books.
If you want to sell better find resources that will help you do that! Need to take your Excel skills to the next level? Check with your local community college or adult learning center and take a class. Interested in improving your people skills? Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is a classic.
Friend, you’re worth investing in! Trust me, it’s worth it!!
