Invest in Yourself First
Stocks, real estate, and businesses are not the only types of investments. It also covers personal growth, health, relationships, and society.
Ziad Rayess sheds light on the positive trend in Arab countries towards investing in education, training, and personal development in his book "Shortcut for a Better Life." He also emphasizes the significance of investing in oneself as the most crucial investment that can never be lost. Moreover, he offers insightful advice on how to invest in oneself, society, relationships, and health from Warren Buffet, the richest man in the world for more than ten years.
In his book "Shortcut for a Better Life", the writer Ziad Rayess mentions: Recently, the culture of investment in education, training, and personal development has seen a more positive trend in Arab countries, but Arab countries are comparable to developed Western countries in only a limited number of fields. I’d like to mention some advice from Warren Buffett (the richest man in the world for more than ten years in recent history). What caught my attention were the other aspects of investment, in addition to the topic of education: society, health and fitness, quality of relationships.
We may categorize them as follows:
1. The most important investment a person can make is in themselves:
No one can take this kind of investment away from you, in contrast to other types of investment, like real estate, business, etc. Those can fall apart or fail to exist. Most of us are interested in hoarding as much money as possible so we can buy a home, then an office, etc., until our whole life is dedicated to this endeavor. But a more discerning person would care more about their child studying at one of the best universities in the world, taking the most important courses, refining their personality, and growing their network. When we understand “personality” in every meaning of the word, this type of investment is the most important source of strength people can have.
2. Choose the people you connect with wisely:
It’s very important to choose the people who are around you, like your spouse and your friends. These people have a huge influence on the course of your life, and you must take care to choose people who have a goal, a task, and a vision as friends and companions. It’s also important to direct your children to do the same.
3. Pay attention to the type and amount of food you eat:
Many diseases are caused by neglecting the type and amount of food we eat. Most of us are overweight, which can really cause your body to deteriorate and your internal functions to have a shorter lifespan.
4. Not everyone needs to go to school or college:
if they have no goal to do so or no clear interest in it.
5. be successful and happy:
If you make it to the age of 65 or 70 and look around to find friends that you love—and you truly feel that you love them—then you’re successful and happy.
6. Hold onto your love for people and cultivate a generous attitude in all its details:
smiling, giving advice, helping, informing, consoling, being modest, and providing affection, intimacy, love, and forgiveness.
7. Lastly, investing in yourself is the most important thing:
This is not easy; building a good reputation may take nearly twenty years. Destroying it, on the other hand, takes only five minutes. You have to consider your actions carefully. You reap what you sow.
Conclusion:
Investing in oneself is not just about acquiring knowledge and skills. It also entails looking after one's health, building meaningful relationships, and making positive contributions to society. As Ziad Rayess and Warren Buffet suggest, the most crucial investment a person can make is in themselves, as it provides a source of strength that cannot be taken away. By choosing the right people to surround ourselves with, paying attention to our diet, and being generous and forgiving towards others, we can improve our lives and build a good reputation that takes years to establish. Therefore, investing in oneself should always be a top priority for anyone seeking a better life.