The Best Return...Investing in your Future

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” -John M. Richardson, Jr.

We are definitely in some times of great uncertainty right now. The housing market is in shambles, the stock market is not much better and more than ever people are questioning the government's ability to bring us out of this situation. Well to be quite honest, no matter who gets elected this coming November, no matter how much change each respective candidate promises us, the real change is not going to happen until we decide it to happen.

So how are we supposed to accomplish this change?

A change can start right now when you commit to investing in yourself. As I have tried to explain in the previous articles, we are our most important asset because we each hold unlimited potential to what we can accomplish. Due to this, we should use our potential to accomplish our goals by investing in our future.

1. Take calculated risks
• There is a difference between an investment and gambling. Note the differences in the definitions below:
• Investment: the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value. (Source from Dictionary.com)
• Gamble: to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance (Source from Dictionary.com)
• There is no mention of "chance" involved in investing which means that with a sound investment strategy, you are almost guaranteed a reasonable return on your money. Understand that one must invest in knowledge on your different options for investing and the risks associated with each option.
  
2. Give 110% in everything you do
   
• I always like to think of the saying "Go hard, or Go home!" when I am not feeling as motivated about doing work. It is a classic statement because it is so true. Unfortunately, we all get tired and lose motivation every once in a while, however, we do not get a second chance at life. If we do not push forward and do the best we can everyday we have the chance to, there is no telling of what opportunities we may miss. We should never be mad at ourselves if we have done the best we could and gave it all that we got!
  
3. Help Others
• Paying it forward may one day pay you back.
• If you ever receive the opportunity to help someone out, take advantage of it and do it. We never know how some day that person (or someone else) will return the favor. Also, must realize that we are very fortunate to offer assistance to someone else because with the state of this economy, we never know when the shoe will be on the other foot.

This concludes my series on "Investing in Yourself". I hope that we begin to realize that we are our best asset and by increasing our stock price, we will be able to increase our overall situations as well as our economy. I will resume talking about personal finances and continue to share my experience as it happens but I really hope that we become more aware of the true power of change each of us possess.

As the quote says at the beginning of this article, there are three types of people...which one are you?