An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin

Invest in your future.

Invest in your education.

Invest in your health.

Invest in your relationships.

Invest, invest, and invest.

What does it mean to invest?

Here’s one definition, devote (one’s time, effort, or energy) to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. And while’s there no mention of money in this definition, money is or will be to some extent a result of how you spend your time, effort and energy. Oh, and before you say or think it, I know and agree that time and money are not the same.

So, if you’re going to spend so much of your life investing, how much time should you spend evaluating your investments? And what would you deem to be a worthwhile return?

If you were asked to invest a significant amount of money into a financial endeavor or into the stock market, how much analysis would you do? How many experts would you speak to? Whose advice would you seek?

Adopting an investor mindset doesn’t mean that you have to over-analyze each and every action and interaction you have, but it does mean that you should consider being more diligent and prudent in the choices you make in the ‘big’ or more important areas of your life. Take relationships for example. Whether the relationship is platonic or romantic, there is information and tools out there that can help you improve the quality of your relationships, but you have to spend the time and energy to do so.

I’m not suggesting you remove all spontaneity from life and only make decisions based on analysis. What I am recommending is that since you’re going to invest your life in certain activities, learn from those that have lived before you. Spend time evaluating the major areas of your life and spend some time thinking like an investor. Remember, if investing is about getting worthwhile results then wouldn’t the best result be living a life that’s worth your while?

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