“College is a waste of money.”
How many times have you heard that? I personally heard that exact quote so many times that I lost count. If I go on social media, my feed is filled with influencers, gurus, and everyday working people stating that exact thing.
While there is some truth to it, I completely disagree with that statement.
My college education was not cheap, it cost thousands of dollars. But the ROI on my education has been second to none.
Sure, I could’ve started working right out of high school and attempted to invest all that money in the stock market, bonds, real estate, and so on. However, the returns would’ve been measly compared to the returns I’m getting now.
And I will die on this hill: investing in yourself and your education can pay the highest dividends you will ever receive.
What Does Investing in Yourself Mean?
Personal investment means exchanging cash to acquire a new skill or improve your health, mindset, relationships, or knowledge.
This can come in the form of formal education such as college or classroom training. Or it can come from books, seminars, lectures, or workshops.
Sometimes these improvements can come in small improvements such as 1% better each day, but overtime that will compound to great new highs.
The thing about investing in yourself is that it’s not necessarily financially driven, but you often end up receiving financial benefits from the growth that comes with it.
While a formal college education can directly lead to higher income, which creates a great ROI, investing in your health may not pay you a higher wage per se. However, it can prevent you from having to spend more money taking care of your failing body later in life.
Let’s break it down below.
Investing in Your Skills Increases Your Earning Potential
From firsthand experience, getting my college education directly increased my earnings.
Prior to graduating college, I was only able to land minimum-wage jobs. I was doing quality assurance at a manufacturing plant, and day in and day out I checked parts to ensure they met specifications.
With very few skills and no prior work experience, they offered California minimum wage at the time, which was $8 an hour. I was lucky that they let me work 40 hours a week, but after taxes and other deductions, I was only taking home a measly $500 every other week.
However, after I completed my bachelor’s degree in accounting, I landed my first professional job, which paid me over $20 an hour. And just like that, I was making an additional $12 an hour simply by having this new skill and a degree to go with it.
Your Health Is Your Greatest Asset
As I explored in my guest post on Lifeyet, “health is wealth“. The more you pay attention to your health, the more financial benefits you will receive.
If you have physical health, you won’t be stuck spending money to fix a sick body. Think about it: if you’re overweight and have high blood pressure, you will most likely be stuck taking a pill every day just to keep from getting sicker. And some of these pills are not cheap, even with insurance.
If you have mental health, you won’t burn out. You’ll be able to make better decisions, which can help advance your career growth and make more money. But if you don’t have that, then you run the risk of being stuck in your life and career, or worse, because you may need to seek mental health treatment options.
Confidence and Mindset Pay Dividends
If you are confident, you are more likely to progress further in your career and in your life.
From personal experience, I’ve seen coworkers who have been stuck in the same job year after year, not because they don’t have the knowledge or skill set, but because they don’t believe they are ready for the next step up.
And I can tell you that is a load of crap. I’ve been with my current company for 11 years and have been promoted five times. I say this not to brag, but to showcase that the only thing that separated me from the ones who haven’t been promoted is confidence.
Don’t believe me? Think about it in your own life. Have you ever had to change a water filter on your refrigerator? The first time you attempt it, you question whether you’re doing it right or hope that you don’t break it. But once you do it, you have no worries doing it a second time.
Simple Ways to Start Investing in Yourself Today
I totally understand that investing in a college degree might be too costly of an endeavor for some, but there are multiple other ways to invest in yourself, including:
- Read often (books and articles)
- Take online seminars or courses
- Attend a workshop or conference
- Start a fitness routine
- Set goals and track them
Conclusion
You are your greatest asset. Invest in yourself and watch the dividends come pouring in. Sure, the dividends might be small at first, but they will compound to extraordinary heights over the course of years.
The best part is that this investment is something that can never be taken from you. No one can take back what you have already learned or grown into.
Lastly, this investment will pay you back for the rest of your life. So why are you just sitting there? Go out and learn something new today.
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