Invest in You

No such thing as a free lunch? Looks like there's no such thing as a secure investment!http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/7900264.stm

So why not invest in You instead? It could certainly be more enjoyable and may have untold benefits in the short and the longer term ;-)

With so much uncertainty around, one thing is certain, we are undergoing a period of major transition.....and those most likely to prosper will be those people who are willing to change, stay positive and create value. Trying to hang on to old models, old habits, and old ways of doing things just doesn't make sense.

So how can you invest in you? What would make a good investment? What would give you the greatest returns and the biggest rewards? I'm sure there are dozens of ways but here are just a few for starters ;-)

1 Invest in your PR - How about investing a bit of time, or commissioning a bit of help, to update your CV. If you're looking for a another job then this is a must, and if you're not, it still helps to take stock, and be prepared. Or how about investing time in intelligent networking? Connect with people you can help and who might be able to help you. Raise your profile.

2 Invest in your Skills - What skills can you build on? What new skills can you acquire? Anticipate what your current or future employer might need. Anticipate trends in the workplace. There might be concerns about job security these days but you can create more security of employment by keeping yourself up to date and marketable. Think about what you would like to be doing now and in the future. People who are most fulfilled in their work tend to be those who have developed skills they find interesting, and are doing what they enjoy.

3 Invest in your Personal Development - Take time to clarify what you want and how you want to be, create strategies for getting there and clear blocks that are getting in your way. Boost your confidence, create peace of mind, relieve stress or improve your relationships. Read a book, attend a course, find a coach or speak to someone who can help.

4 Invest in your Well Being - It's easy to comfort ourselves with alcohol, junk food and chocolate! Especially during the winter months. But how does it really make you feel? Be honest ;-) Instead, why not develop practices that help you feel really good...physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Maybe tai chi, aikido, yoga, meditation, walking in nature, being with friends and family? Take up a hobby. Go for a massage. Whatever works for you.

5 Invest in your Health & Fitness - Equip yourself to handle challenges and change. Choose a healthy diet, tone up, get fit. Physical exercise not only helps us feel better physically, it also helps mentally and emotionally too.

However you decide to invest in You, recognise the value, remember you're worth it and above all.....have fun! ;-)
Dx

The Joys of Uncertainty

There's so much talk these days of uncertainty, and of these uncertain times we're living in, it seems as if this is something to fear. Yet if we just pause for a moment.....how many of us, honestly, would want to be absolutely certain about the future, know exactly what's going to happen for the rest of our lives and have it all mapped out with no surprises to look forward to? I know for a fact I'd find it somewhat dull and predictable. It would be like Groundhog Day all over again ;-)

And I'd be willing to bet that most of us never expected to be exactly where we are in life right now, doing what we're doing, knowing who we know, having learned the lessons we've learned and enjoying the gifts we've received. When I was working in financial services all those years ago I never imagined I'd be running my own business, writing on a blog (what was a blog?) or sky diving out of a plane!

So while certainty can seem desirable at times, it can also be very limiting. And holding onto our fixed views and ideas about the world can be equally limiting. We only have to look at the financial markets to see the damage caused by so-called experts being so certain they were right! In their certainty they completely failed to anticipate the eventual consequences of their actions. They failed to accept that we don't know what we don't know. And as Nassim Nicholas Taleb writes in his book The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable "the world we live in is vastly different from the world we think we live in". In other words, just because we don't know about something doesn't mean it's not possible.

Being certain is a bit like looking down a funnel where the number of likely outcomes becomes fewer and fewer and we fail to see anything outside that narrow focus. This can trip us up in many ways. It can lead to arrogance, ignorance, playing safe, holding back or missing opportunities. (and I'm sure there are many other possible consequences too ;-))

Uncertainty, on the other hand, is like throwing open the windows on a world of possibilities ;-) And even if some of the surprises we encounter don't seem much fun at the time, we must surely concede that more possibiliites exist than we are aware of.

When we allow ourselves to enjoy uncertainty, life becomes more exciting, all kinds of things become possible and we can take effective action to capitalise on these. So perhaps these 'uncertain' times present a real opportunity for us to let go of our need for certainty, be open to 'not knowing', become curious and creative and get ready to discover new possibilities.

Who knows, we might be pleasantly surprised ;-)

And remember; "Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity" R I Fitzhenry

"Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security" Jon Allen Paulos, Professor of Mathematics

Dx