“Invest in Yourself”

All it really takes is the right investment portfolio. Like any good portfolio, the best investments you can make in yourself are diversified, carefully managed, and geared to the long term. Longevity is the key.

That’s the premise of the Investing in Yourself article. In it, I explain that to create the portfolio that’s right for you (that shows off your assets), you’ve got to invest time and energy in figuring out what you really want — and what will get you there.

While there are no “one-size-fits-all” formulas for pursuing the good life, I’m convinced that everyone, no matter how deep in debt, no matter how unhappy at home or at work, can change direction and make their dreams come true — without being gullible or reckless. Sometimes all it takes is a just a small bit of fine tuning. At other times, more major modifications may be in order.

Some of the ideas in this article will be quite familiar. I have organized some collective wisdom into six “secrets,” or if you will, rules to live by:  

1. Making Your Own Lifestyle Decisions
2. Putting Your Family First
3. Wherever You Work, Be in Business for Yourself
4. Make the Most of the Income You Bring Home
5. Turn Your Debts into Little Gold Nuggets of  Investments
6. Mapping Out Your Own Financial Future  

If you focus your time and energy in the pursuit of these six ideals, I guarantee that you’ll lead a richer life in many more ways than the sum total of the money in your stock and bond portfolio! But don’t get me wrong. This article is not some type of prelude to a rule book. What I am advocating is a self-designed life. No one can tell you what or how you should be that is only something that you yourself can do. It is often mistaken in the world we live in today. It is up to you on how you spend your time and energy getting what you want, and doing what you believe in — not wasting them on things you might not really want, but think you “should” have.