Self Investment Ideas to Expand

There are so many opportunities to grow and learn that the real skill becomes choosing rather than finding the right things for you. I'd like to share a few of my ideas and hopefully it will benefit those who are desiring a career change, switching college majors or otherwise feel stifled. Feeling unsatisfied can be a good thing if you are able to convert that feeling into motivation. I credit a lot of my achievements to wanting more and then seeking opportunities that fit my interests. Here are a few exercises that might help you get to where you want to go in life.

Invest (Time, then Money) in Education

No, I am not referring to attending a four year university. Most high school graduates these days are taking that step. Some 70% of my graduating class at a technical high school had plans of going to college. Not only will this not differentiate you, but it also focuses you into a narrow concentration. Instead, I encourage you to experiment further. Pursue education in a different, less conventional way. It does not have to even be occupation-related or expensive. People have learned valuable skills through YouTube videos, books, news articles and documentaries. Find what works for you!

I started with online certifications in topics that interested me. I was surprised to find that top companies in industries that I admired had catalogs of e-learning possibilities. Best of all, many were free! I later moved on to tackle professional certifications and a classroom-oriented coding course, but I started where it was inexpensive and easy to experiment.

Develop Connections, Everywhere

There are endless possibilities to meet people, online and offline. I've had countless job opportunities and unique experiences that I couldn't possibly have foreseen. These are largely because I was friendly and professional with people that I met through random interactions.

Two quick examples? Sure! When I was working night shifts at McDonald's during my undergraduate studies, I took the time to help and develop a friendship with a new employee who barely spoke English. We ended up working together for many months. To this day, I consider her one of my best friends and we will soon be traveling to Brazil, her native country, to explore together.

Fast forward to this past year, my friend and I traveled to New York City for the weekend and booked an Airbnb. I struck up a few, very long conversations with the host and exchanged contact information. Later that year, she founded a business and asked me to become a marketing consultant. I happily accepted.

These stories are crazy, right? How did a random coworker at a fast food restaurant become one of my best friends? How did my Airbnb host and I end up working alongside one another? The answer is to keep an open mind everywhere that you go.

Get Out There, Literally

The internet is great, but I've found that connections are much stronger when they start offline. I also found that, because I'm an extrovert, I learn better when I'm interacting with people instead of working in isolation. Therefore, I recommend attending events, big and small. When I started designing websites, I did a lot more than just look up how-to's online. I sought out user groups, drove hours to attend them, and met incredible people who taught me a heck of a lot.

When I wanted to know more about tech platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce, I attended their conferences. At those conferences, I made an uncomfortable effort to meet new people and ask questions. I didn't just sign up for these conferences. I researched the least expensive way to get an admission ticket. Why? Not because I am inherently cheap. Investing a lot, whether it be time or money, is a surefire way to pigeon hole yourself. Instead, I look for ways to dip my toe into the water before diving head-first into something that I may end up hating. This idea is present in my first idea for education, too. It's better to take a bite of something than to have a plate full of food that you don't like.

Summary

Ultimately, the willingness to try new things and the acceptance of potential failure/time wasted has propelled me to where I am today. I feel that I am on a good path to continue learning and achieving new possibilities. I think that I would be considerably less satisfied if I hadn't of sought out opportunities that interested me and challenged myself.