How to Invest In Yourself (And Grow Your Business)

If you invest in yourself while becoming an entrepreneur, your business will grow. I know, the concept seems wild when you’re struggling (or afraid you’re going to struggle) to bring in money. Of course, it seems counterintuitive to spend money while you’re trying to earn.

When you look at it that way, it doesn’t seem logical to buy into new programs or upgrade your wardrobe.

What exactly, though, is the difference between these investments and, say, earning a college degree? Aren’t you paying for the investment in yourself so eventually you can earn more money than if you hadn’t?

So why do entrepreneurs avoid investing in themselves?

I wish I had the answer. Instead, I’ll show you three solid ways you can invest in yourself and the reasons you’ll be thrilled you did.

Investment option 1: Develop your Creativity

Most of us haven’t worked toward maximizing our own creativity. Exercises in pursuit of creative juices are often seen as frivolous or extracurricular. Poetry, painting, singing or play are all seen as habits of the broke and starving artists. In truth, we don’t see the benefit of tapping into our own personal stash of inventiveness without intentionally changing our mindset and thinking about why it might be the best idea ever.

Practically speaking, honing in on creativity allows you to come up with multiple ways to view anything: a piece of trash, the cloud floating over your house, your husband’s use of the word provocative.

But what about the business problem you’re facing for the first time?

You mean to tell me, Becky, creativity can help me come up with multiple solutions for the problems I face in my business?

Freaking right.

Need a few more ideas on where to start?

  • Gardening
  • Learn French (or Spanish, German or Italian…whatever)
  • Take a cooking class
  • Do something you’ve never done before

Investment option 2: Skill Expansion

As I first mentioned, higher education is an option here, but I don’t think it’s necessary all the time (bring out the firing squad).

You can improve your skills without years of schooling. (Plenty of development courses are out there for coaches and entrepreneurs that take much less time and are career-field specific, packing far more of a punch than gen eds at the community college.)

But skill expansion can take many forms outside of courses too: reading a book by an expert, working with your own coach on a new program, continuing to practice selling your services to current clients. Workshops and conferences not only help you gain knowledge, but they also help you grow your community and network. Articles are cool too (and YouTube videos).

Every option I’ve listed can help expand your content knowledge, but it also keeps you on top of the latest trends too.

Investment option 3: Support your mind and body

Taking care of your beautiful brain and bod will give you more of everything, ease and energy now and more time in the future. Self-care allows you to be less stressed and more strategic, and you’re going to look mighty fine in that swimsuit, sexy.

Learning new things is one way to support your mind. But learning ways to deal with the not-so-wonderful pieces of life is also a way to take care of your brain.

Exercise and healthy, nourishing foods take care of the bod. You can’t sit around at your computer ALL day and expect the girls to remain perky or your thigh gap dreams to come true (gross, by the way).

What you eat makes or breaks your energy and performance levels.

And how often you rest (read: as much as possible) helps you relax through the stress so your system doesn’t go into overdrive and blow up.

One thing most people consider enough is buying clothes that make you feel like a goddess. If you feel like you look good, you’re much more likely to take care of your body. I’m NOT implying plastic surgery or padding underwear, but there’s something to be said for wearing a skirt that makes you feel like a million bucks.

Confidence doesn’t pay attention to price tags. It just knows when it feels good.

Need more reason to spend money on yourself?

Personal investments help your career.

When you invest in yourself, you’re increasing the value your clients see in you (as your skill set and your confidence grows). If your clients see more value in your education and expertise, you’re able to earn more money.

Knowledge sets you apart from your competition, presents you as an expert, builds your confidence and brings in bank.

How to Make your Mindset Matter

It’s easy to get bogged down in the daily bullshit of entrepreneurship. Yes, even I have had many days when I’ve felt giantly annoyed by bits of my business. Working alone can be – well – lonely, and having nobody to bounce ideas off of made my passion feel like work.

Nobody who works for themselves wants that.

That is, of course, until I started actively noticing my mindset: the way I’ve trained my brain to make me feel.

The good news?

You always have a choice. In it, your outlook can shift immediately: from half of your vodka tonic gone to a celebration of the second half of your cocktail.

If you’re currently wondering why you went into business for yourself, it’s time to start asking yourself some questions.

Do you love what you do?

What are you willing to give up to be a success?

Can you identify and then immediately stop mind-fucking yourself?

It’s all about attitude, ladies, and I’m here to be your fairy godmother of perspective.

If this business you’ve already invested time, money and heart into is the only one you see in your future, then you MUST stop talking about it like it’s your annoying sister. Because, as we’ve all seen, the power of our self-talk, and our beliefs in potential and progress, are what get us through those days when you just want to quit.

Ready to choose happiness, fulfillment and ease?

Use the right words.

Statements like, “I have the solution,” instead of “I have a problem,” or “Money flows to me freely,” to replace, “Money is the devil,” need to be added to your daily conversations. Simply changing your language helps you get over a lot of the crap on your own. Crazily enough, you’ll notice that the more positive your language, the more puppy-dogs and ice cream your life becomes.

Unsure about this? It’s not going to hurt to try, right? Change your language for a week. If your mood doesn’t change, if life doesn’t seem easier, then you can always go back to being blah.

Be warned, those around you will notice this shift and get a mojo boost. If you decide to move backwards after, be prepared for a shit-storm of people leaving you behind because – suddenly – you’re killing their vibe (which leads me to tip #2).

Keep good company.

If your friends have a shitty outlook, you’re going to have one too. We take on the energy and habits of those around us, so if your bestie from high school has been a real buzz-kill for the last five years, she’s probably bringing you down.

Gossip whores? Don’t even get me started.

I’m not implying you need to drop every friend you think could use an attitude adjustment, but I am cautioning you to watch how your mood changes around people and then choose very wisely who you spend most of your time with.

If you can create a positive, successful clan to keep up with, you’re giving yourself a dose of positivity without doing much else. Of course, if you know there is someone you need to cut loose, there’s no reason not to.

Do what makes you happy.

When you can identify what activities and situations alter your mood (for good or bad), you’ll be able to decide which to invest in. This becomes particularly important as your business grows. If you hate keeping track of your books or think sending auto-responders is a time suck, you can absolutely hire someone else to take over those tasks for you.

But this also applies to daily life. Love yoga? Cool, do it more. Hate showering in the morning? Who says you have to?

Then when the funk of work seeps in (I hope you’ve showered at some point), you’ll know what’s instantly going to alter your mood. It’s not rocket science, ladies: if you do more of what you love, you’re going to be happier. This means that you make the choice to do it more, even on the shitty days.

Me? I buy animals. My house has rabbits, dogs, cats, and – now – a handsome horse named Joseph. Being around and taking care of them is my therapy, and I have the space for them, so why not?

Appreciate what you have.

Start a gratitude practice, whether that be writing in a journal or meditating. Every day, think of what you are grateful for: your family, friends, career, etc. Then think of what made you appreciative that day whether it’s an early burst of energy to get the job done or a message from the Universe.

By thinking of what you appreciate, you’re shifting your mindset to the positive things happening in your life. And, yes, you can do this on the worst day you’ve ever had, even if you say you’re thankful you were able to inhale and exhale.

Shifting your mindset takes practice, but it doesn’t have to be hard (again, it’s all about perspective). If you don’t want the negativity birds to nest, don’t give ‘em the scraps and weeds to build.

Duh.