Invest in yourself

While the stock market is doing well right now it's probably about due for a correction. One thing long-term investors know is that the market does not keep going up indefinitely. There comes a time when it corrects itself. Values go down as investors take their profits. Or, a situation like 2008 occurs and stock prices plummet overnight. Whether it is due to a correction or a recession, stock prices do go down for a period of time, and people who have not invested wisely can lose a lot of money when that happens.

There is one investment that will never lose money. That is investing in yourself. We live in a time when being a life-long learner is not an option. Whether you are a minister, a business professional, or a blue-collar worker, your world is constantly changing requiring you to have new skills and a new knowledge base.

As a factory worker I saw our company change from using single-spindle drilling machines to highly computerized equipment. The company began offering various training courses to the shop workers, and I took advantage of every class I could take. During my 30 years working in that factory I saw amazing changes take place, and I'm sure since taking early retirement a few years ago the changes have come even more quickly requiring new levels of knowledge.

I've owned businesses that required licenses and continuing education to maintain those licenses. The business world keeps evolving, and anyone who doesn't stay on top of it soon finds himself or herself on the outside looking in. As the saying goes, what got you here won't keep you here, and it certainly won't take you there.

I'm approaching my fourth decade of ministry, and, again, the changes that have occurred since I began in 1981 have been amazing to consider. Many of the things I did in my early years as a pastor cannot be done effectively today. I remember the first sound system we had in our little church. At times it picked up the CB radios the truckers used out on the highway. That was entertaining! Today, I serve a church that began broadcasting its services on social media when Covid began to shut down churches. Along with technology changes in ministry, there have been many changes in worship styles, outreach, discipleship, and virtually all aspects of ministry.

How does one acquire the knowledge to stay current? One can take courses at nearby colleges or universities or take online classes. There are numerous conferences and seminars available where new insights can be obtained. Some of these are now being offered online due to Covid. Reading books and serious journals can add to one's knowledge base. Podcasts have become a popular way of keeping up with the changes occurring in one's field. Joining a peer group can help one learn best practices.

Some of these suggestions cost very little while others will involve some cost. However, rather than looking at it as an expense it's best to look at it as an investment. It is an investment in yourself, your future, your success, and your family. It's the one investment you can never lose. As we prepare to enter a new year, now is a good time to consider how you can invest in yourself in the coming year.