The investment that always pays off.

Many years ago, I was in a frustrating place, full of ambition and no direction. I wasn't happy where I was in life and knew there was so much more in within me and available for me. This might sound familiar to you. I would talk vaguely about where I wanted to go and discuss loosely the dreams that were brewing in my head. But something was missing that prevented me from taking even the first step toward the future I wanted. Actually, there were a few things missing.

Lack of Confidence

Let's face it, we all have limiting thoughts that interfere with our progress. You know, the things we tell ourselves to create a barrier between our current state and our future state? For me, it was always two main things - fear of not being taken seriously based on some limited mindsets that surrounded me growing up, and fear of wasting the money I did have on my big goals and failing. I would compare myself to others too, which had a huge affect on my confidence. I always saw myself as less than and incapable of achieving what those around me had achieved.

Poor Influencers

In the early days my focus was fitting in. I did not surround myself with people who would challenge me, encourage me, or who even truly believed in me. Instead, I had people around me who were satisfied with the current me.

Resources

If I'm honest, I had tons of resources around me—I was just too afraid and unsure of myself to take advantage of them. As I progressed in my career, I saw others tapping into resources such as mentors, personal development books, and personal development events. I just sat on the sidelines, quietly hoping that I could learn something from what they shared about their experiences.

What Changed?

It boils down to something my mentor Brendon Burchard said:

“Let us decide to take our first steps without knowing how the journey will turn out. If that defines us as reckless and crazy, then let us accept that fate and celebrate the fact that we shall not be cowards.” - The Motivation Manifesto

I realized I was making predictable safe moves that were not getting me anywhere. If I followed my purpose and passion, I would have the drive to handle whatever comes my way and eventually succeed. I later realized that I also had to be intentional about my moves. I needed a plan. But how?

The biggest barrier of all for me was that I was afraid to invest in myself because I did not know if I was worth it. When I say invest in myself, I mean that in two different ways. First, I had to be committed to the business of ME. I had come from a world where all I knew was taking care of everyone else and investing in them. It was never acceptable to 'risk' investing too much in myself. I had to believe that I was indeed worth investing in. I had to not just say I was worth it, but I needed to believe it in my heart. Part of that involved a process where I looked at what would happen if I did not invest in me. After journaling the possibilities for my future, one thing was crystal clear and virtually screaming at me from the pages: I cannot do this on my own.

The second part, which I think is hard for everyone, not just me, is the MONEY side of investment in yourself. It's a big step, and I simply could not have imagined spending money on myself, specifically on my personal and professional growth. There were days in my 20's living in an apartment in London that I would turn the lights off every time I left a room just to save money, or leave the heating off in winter to save money. So when I started looking into investing in myself, I did not have a lot of money, so it was a risk. I questioned whether I should take the money that I was going to spend on investing in myself and instead save up to put towards my own apartment, or save for my future. I thought it was too much to spend on me and worried about where I would be if it didn't work. I realized that I would regret the chances I didn't take more than the ones I did that failed, so I took the leap.

The first real investment in myself was my High Performance education and certification which was the equivalent to four months wages for me at the time. Back then I did not even believe I was qualified enough to be there. That decision paid huge dividends for my life. After the course, I had so much more clarity on the areas where I was doing well as a coach and left with a lot of strategies and data that would continue my mastery. I also realized that I was not alone in some of the struggles I had as a coach and learned that I could improve if I put forth the effort. Today, I am so grateful that I took that first step and investing in myself.

I want to encourage everyone who is reading this article to make the decision to invest in yourself. Get a coach. Read some personal development books. Go to events. Yes, it will cost you time, effort, money, and commitment. But in my experience, it will be the best investment you ever make. To help you make the decision, here are three questions you should ask yourself:

1. What will happen if I don't invest in myself?

2. Where will I be in five years if I just wait for growth to happen?

3. Why is it important to me to succeed beyond where I am now in my life?

I trust that reflecting on these questions will inspire you to begin investing in yourself. However, this is just the beginning. Over the years, I've consistently invested in my growth, recognizing that it's a continuous journey. The key is to start. In my experience, you won't regret taking that leap.

Your coach,

James