ifg blog

Free Investments for Big Career Returns

Warren Buffett said it best: “The best investment you can make is in yourself.”

Talk of investment almost always sparks images of money, bank statements, and retirement savings funds, but that’s not the only way to invest, least of all in yourself.

In fact, investing in yourself and your career could be among the most important things you can do!

If you want to get more out of your work, find ways to develop your mindset, your goals, and your abilities to reap the benefits personally and professionally. Those who are happier, more confident, and more content in what they can do will become more productive workers and leaders.

Just as interest grows in a banking or retirement account, so too can investing in yourself lead to great dividends over time.

Here are a few ways to invest in yourself for long-term benefits:

Read more

If there’s an area of your career in which you’re curious but don’t have much experience or training, look up recommended books on the topic. Curious about cryptocurrency? There are plenty of books and articles about it; find one that’s well respected and highly recommended to read. Want to know more about international markets? Subscribe to a newsletter or magazine that provides current news and trends in your industry. Setting aside the time to read will not only exercise your brain, but it might also spark some great questions for discussion at the office that others might be able to answer.

Find ways to network

Start with LinkedIn and your university’s alumni organization. Seek out some groups in your town or region that offer training, meet-ups, or other workshops to discuss topics of common interest. Take business cards, dress professionally, and be ready to shake hands and talk with people. You never know when a connection can lead to an opportunity.

Learn better time management skills and utilize them

We don’t realize how much time we waste in a day. We’re constantly checking email, looking at our phones, even getting distracted by social media. Set timers for these things — dedicate time to review and respond to email, but make it a set block of 15 minutes every few hours, etc., — and don’t allow yourself to become distracted by little notifications when you’ve got a big project on your hands. Getting distracted at work can trickle over into stress and distraction in your home life, which leads to more wasted time. Keep yourself focused on the job at hand and you’ll be surprised how much more time you have!

Embrace creativity

This might seem a little impractical for someone who works in very black-and-white fields, like finance and accounting, but there’s a great benefit to exercising your brain and allowing it to do something more artistic, creative, or just completely different from your work tasks. This could include finding a good online program for learning a new language, or subscribing to a YouTube channel that teaches how to cook exotic foods. Maybe you’ve always daydreamed about being a stand-up comic or trying your skills at acting. Taking up a new hobby can create a shift in thinking, even in short increments, and teach you new skills that can be applied at work.

Take care of your health, mentally and physically

We have so much to do at work that it becomes very easy to brush off taking care of ourselves. But endless studies are discussing the professional benefits of exercise. Taking a long walk improves blood circulation, reduces stress and can re-energize the brain. Finding a good exercise routine keeps the blood flowing, can help manage weight and will help improve the quality of your sleep. Eating healthy foods gives your body better fuel and can reduce both weight and health problems like high blood pressure. Take a break from work and let your mind settle for a while.

Only you can take care of yourself and your future. The better you feel, the more effective a worker you’ll be.

Are you ready to invest in your future?

If you’re ready to change jobs, we’re ready to help. Take a look at our jobs database and see if there’s a new position out there for you that better matches your interests and skills.