As important as it is for an entrepreneur to invest in their business when starting out, it is equally, if indeed not more important, for an entrepreneur to also invest in themselves along the way. Following are a few of our suggestions for entrepreneurs looking to increase this worthwhile self-investment.
Continuing Education is the Ultimate Investment:
You no longer have to physically put yourself in a classroom environment to continue the learning experience. Even if you didn’t go to college, you can still compete with those that have. Thanks to the Internet, there is a plethora of resources that allow you to devote time to learning a new skill or enhance an existing one. These websites are perfect for any aspiring entrepreneur.
- reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/
- khanacademy.org
- ocw.mit.edu
- edx.org/school/harvardx
Co-working is Community Building
Taking part in co-working is an excellent way to nurture your creative side as well. Having the opportunity to change venues and charge your mind with an engaging, bustling office space can really get your brain firing on all cylinders. Just being around other professionals is beneficial when you find yourself removed from others or on the go most of your day otherwise.
According to Deskmag’s annual Global Coworking Survey: 71% of participants reported a boost in creativity since joining a coworking space, while 62% said their standard of work had improved.
Networking Beyond the Norm
This is a given, BUT, instead of your usual unproductive business networking mixer take part in something that gets you excited, or maybe even scares you a little. Sites like meetup.com help you find and connect with other people in a variety of activities like cooking, marathon training, practicing a foreign language, dancing, writing, and more.
Meetup CEO, Scott Heiferman, expects that by 2020 there will be over 1 billion RSVPs to meetup events. That’s a lot of potential leads and networking opportunities in a face-to-face setting!
Take Care of Yourself Inside and Out
Owning a business is not for the faint of heart and if you aren’t taking proper care of yourself, your health will start affecting your business and vice-versa. Start out slow by taking walks after a healthy lunch, take a break every few hours and do something that doesn’t involve looking into a computer screen.
It’s estimated in the US that there is $153 billion in lost productivity every year linked to unhealthy workers.
Business owners are the second least likely group to be obese. They are 4% less likely to be obese than managers and executives, and 5% less likely to be obese than office workers.
Get Involved in a Productive Way
Not all entrepreneurs are in it for the money. Many get started by solving a problem or providing a needed service. These business owners quickly realize how much they enjoy the freedom of creativity or helping others. Getting involved in charitable work can give a huge boost to your mental health and wellbeing.
A report by FidelityCharitable.org finds that 62% of entrepreneurs find that giving back makes their company more successful in the long run.
For a handy reference guide, check out our infographic!
