1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I'm Matt, 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: and today we are discussing the power of investing in yourself. Yeah, Juel, 3 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: this episode, we're gonna talk about almost continuing education in 4 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: a way. We're gonna talk about how and why you 5 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 1: should continue to invest in yourself, and we're gonna talk 6 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: about ways that we can do that for free, or 7 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: at least close to free man free. That's my middle name, 8 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: like obsessive free. So yeah, is that gonna be your 9 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: son's middle name in all likelihood? And there's a good chance. Oh, 10 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: I almost said what I think you guys are gonna 11 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: name your son, but we shouldn't do that, just in 12 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: case you decide to pull a little switchero at the 13 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: last second. Which interesting story. When we first met your 14 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: middle child in the hospital, you had a name for her. 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: We met her personal experience, and this is why I 16 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: said that, because I met her, I can that name, 17 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: and then you change the name on us. Dude, it 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: didn't work out for us, So that's all I gotta say. 19 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: We didn't like it. So, like, how long did it take? 20 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: By the way, personal story here, how long did it 21 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: take for you guys? Was like twenty four hours of 22 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:17,119 Speaker 1: calling her that, and you're like a day or two 23 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: of calling her what. We thought we were going to 24 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: name her, and it just didn't sound right. Every time 25 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: we said her name, we kind of looked at each other, 26 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: Kate and I we were like, is that really her name? 27 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 1: I don't think we're gonna go with that. So we 28 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: called an audible. We switched it up, and we are 29 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 1: so happy that we did. So you never know, man, 30 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: even though you guys might have a name pinned down, 31 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: which I know you you do, We'll see what he 32 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: ends up being named there in the end, which, by 33 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: the way, we're really close to naming our son as well. Yeah, 34 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,199 Speaker 1: you guys have been waffling back and forth. We always waffle. 35 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: That's just how we do it. Or don't waffle. Maybe 36 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: you don't even think about it sometimes. Well, yeah that 37 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: is true. But this past week during our date night, 38 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: we actually had a pretty serious conversation and I we 39 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: did a little high five. We said the name, We 40 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: did a high five. We said, did we just name 41 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: our son? And we we may have, but before we 42 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: kicked off, Man, I gotta a quick, frugal or cheap 43 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: for us, oh, bring it, dude, it's been a minute. 44 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: Yeah it has. So the other day I was taking 45 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: my daughter to school. Our school has this thing called 46 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: morning meetings, and you know, the entire school gets together. 47 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: They have a big meeting in the auditorium. All the 48 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: kids are there. It's not nearly as chaotic as it sounds, 49 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: but all the parents are invited to stay for that 50 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: as well, and I try to make that a couple 51 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: of times a week. Well, normally, I roll in there 52 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: with just gym shorts on and a T shirt because 53 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: it's still towards the end of summer, and I get 54 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: pretty hot and sweaty. And I normally don't care at 55 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: all what I look like because I work from home. 56 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,839 Speaker 1: For me, clothes just aren't a huge priority. But lately, man, 57 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: I've been wondering if I should be concerned. I'm just 58 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: gonna shoot from the hip. I think you should be 59 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: wearing a tuxed on morning meeting. Well, I mean all 60 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: that note, there's a lot of parents that are rolling 61 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: in there, and you know, they're getting ready to drive 62 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: after their professional jobs, and they've got more formal environments, 63 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: and they are wearing ties at least slacks and button 64 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,799 Speaker 1: up shirts, and so I started wondering, is this me 65 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: being frugal? Right, Obviously, I don't have to spend as 66 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: much money on closed. It's not something I prioritize, so 67 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: I don't really care about it. But at the same time, 68 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: I feel like I do need to take into account 69 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: some social norms. And it's not like I'm rolling in 70 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: there and I've got like holes my t shirts where 71 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: people can see my body parts and stuff like that, 72 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: But it's just something that's been going through my head. 73 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: I want to be aware. People that know me know 74 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: how I roll, right, it's not a big deal. But 75 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: for folks that I don't know. With it being kind 76 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: of towards the beginning of the year, I guess I'm 77 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: trying to be a little more thoughtful and how I 78 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 1: present myself to some of the other parents. And I 79 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: don't want to negatively affect some of the relationships that 80 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: I might have with my daughter's classmates parents. Right, these 81 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: are parents, and I'm gonna see maybe for the next year, 82 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: I want to kick those off on the right foot. Man, 83 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: So what are your thoughts on that? All? Right? So 84 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: here my thoughts. I think it's frugal and here's why. 85 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: I think as long as you brush your teeth that 86 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: morning and they can have a conversation with you face 87 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: to face without being like, oh, what's going on? I 88 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: was like, guy, smell weird, right, I think you're good there. 89 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: Check And as long as, like you said, there's no 90 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: holes in the T shirt, I think you're good too. 91 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: But I don't know. I think I'm biased. I purposefully 92 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: chose to work in radio because I knew you could 93 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: wear whatever you want. That was half the reason I 94 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: decided to go into that profession. For me, it just 95 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: matters to be able to dress and a relaxed manner. 96 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: And I know that even at the station I worked at, 97 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: I probably dressed more relaxed than most people. And part 98 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: of that is because I'm riding the bike every day, right, 99 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: I'm I'm I'm sweating, and people are used to seeing 100 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: me typically wear shorts and a T shirt. And so 101 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: at this point I've kind of set that standard. People 102 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: know what they're getting. And I think if you set 103 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: the standard, hey, this is who I am, this is 104 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: how I roll, and you're at least within the bounds 105 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: of normalcy, I think it's okay if you roll in 106 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: wearing like slippers and some nasty sweatpants that have stains 107 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: all over them, like a old stinky bathrobe sort of 108 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: thing as well. Right, yeah, if you're like the big Lebowski, 109 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: the dude walking intactly, I was imagining why rushing in 110 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: hand at eight am. I think it's a little bit different, 111 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: but yeah, no, I think you can do it as 112 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: long as you look presentable. You don't have to be 113 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: wearing collar shirts or anything like that. Man, it's two 114 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen. People still care about that. Come on cool. Well, 115 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: I was hoping and I actually thought you would side 116 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: with me, man. And I think too that being kind 117 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: and interested in some of the other parents, I think 118 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: that can kind of make up for you know, what 119 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: they would consider ills And before they know it, they're like, oh, like, 120 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: well that guy kind of dress is funny, but he's 121 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: really cool, so it's all right. Yeah, I think they'll 122 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: come around on you just about your laxadaisical dress style. Laxadaisical. Indeed. Man, 123 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna introduce our beverage for this episode. And I 124 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: say beverage because we are having one more cider. This 125 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: is a whiskey peach cider by Western Cider Company. This 126 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: one was sending to us by Ray. She sent us 127 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: our beer on Monday's episode, and I'm excited to share 128 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 1: this one with you on this episode. Yeah, another product 129 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: of Montana, just like my mom. She was born in 130 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: the great state of Montana and lived there most of 131 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: her life until college. It's a great state. And we'll 132 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: find out how great this cider is and we'll talk 133 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: about it at the end of the episode. But for now, Matt, 134 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: all right, onto the topic of hand. We're talking about 135 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: the power of investing in yourself. And we talk a 136 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: lot on the show about investing the importance of putting 137 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: your dollars into tax advantage retirement accounts and watching your 138 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: returns compound over the decades. But your personal capital is 139 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: the greatest asset that you have the power to grow 140 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: your income based on your unique skills and development is 141 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: crucial as you grow as a person, and there are 142 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: lots of ways that you can invest in yourself right. 143 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: You can invest in in your mental health, your physical health, 144 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: even your diet has a lot of effect on you 145 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,559 Speaker 1: and the way that you interact with the world around 146 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 1: you and the way that you work. We wanted to 147 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: mention those upfront. But those are a lot of things 148 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: that we're not going to touch on a whole lot 149 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: in this episode. But there are a lot of ways 150 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: that you can grow as a person by continuing to 151 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: educate yourself over time. And I feel like it's one 152 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: of those things in personal finances where it's like the 153 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: least talked about that you can invest in yourself. You 154 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: can grow your income and your and your range of abilities, 155 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: and it just has massive impact on your bottom line 156 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: or throughout the years too. Right. Oh yeah, man, I 157 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: totally agree. We talk a lot about ways that we 158 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: can save money right, ways that we can cut our expenses, 159 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: but we don't talk as much about ways to increase 160 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: our actual income. Like you said, that's a huge level 161 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: that you can pull, and it's one that has long 162 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: lasting effects. And not only that, but it's a lever 163 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: that we can pull that is more fun. You can 164 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 1: cut expenses, but that's not really fun because it's removing 165 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: things from your life. Certainly, it can provide clarity and focus, 166 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: but man, how cool is it to be able to 167 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: add skills to your tool belt and to grow your 168 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: talent in just a number of different ways. Many of 169 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: us finished school, whether in high school or in college, 170 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: and we mostly stopped developing our knowledge and skills. And 171 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: so what that means is we have a comfy job 172 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: and we are we're pretty content, and that might be okay, 173 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: but challenging yourself to grow in these areas can have 174 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,119 Speaker 1: a massive payoff down the road. The Internet has made 175 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: excuses a thing of the past, but honestly, man, even 176 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: before the Internet, there's just lots of different businesses and 177 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,679 Speaker 1: career changes that took place with adults who had careers 178 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: that were established. It just took that willingness and that 179 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: hard work to to make that change in your life. 180 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: And that's not something that has changed at all. It's 181 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: still hard, it still takes a lot of work. But 182 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: we're lucky in the fact that we do have the Internet. 183 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: We have a lot of information at our fingertips to 184 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: help make that change happen. Yeah, that's so true. I 185 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: feel like, yeah, the Internet has taken away a lot 186 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: of our excuses. There are these abilities for us to 187 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: learn things that twenty years ago. There's a paywall essentially 188 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: to getting access to that information. There is a class 189 00:07:58,200 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: we have to take, there's a college that we have 190 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: to enroll in and now a lot of that information 191 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: is at our fingertips, and a lot of it is 192 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: being given away for free, and so doing the same 193 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: thing day in and day out and assuming that you're 194 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: going to improve or progress is unrealistic. Like you have 195 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: to actually make a change. You have to do something 196 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: different if you want to invest in yourself and make 197 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: meaningful change going forward and ultimately increasing your knowledge and 198 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: your skills in in the ways that we're going to 199 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,559 Speaker 1: talk about can lead to bigger paychecks down the line. 200 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: And earning more now has compounding effects in what you 201 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: can save and invest not only now, but also in 202 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: future salaries that you can command later in the job 203 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: that you're currently in, as you grow or as you 204 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: seek new careers in different fields or just with other 205 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: companies and jel. Really, what we're talking about here is 206 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: we're encouraging folks to avoid being my opic. You might 207 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: think that a single skill or two you know will 208 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: help you to get where you want to go, and 209 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: it might write for now, but we would encourage folks 210 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: to think about becoming an overall well rounded person. Varied 211 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,839 Speaker 1: interests in pursuits will likely prove to be quite useful 212 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: down the road when it comes to their careers. And 213 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: we just talked about this, but having different hobbies, Man, 214 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: it is so important to have these interests beyond our work, 215 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: these different things that are drawn to when it does 216 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 1: come time for retirement. Yeah, those core pursuits that we've 217 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: talked about are really helpful. But what we're talking about 218 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: here really goes a lot past that. It's career development, 219 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: it's growing your own skills, and we've got some important 220 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: thoughts on those topics coming up right after the break. 221 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: All right, Joel, we're back, and we have now some 222 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: general points on where to go and how to go 223 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: about investing in yourself. First of all, if you already 224 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: have a job, ask your boss what they need or 225 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: what the company wants, or similarly, you can go to 226 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: a coworker who maybe has the job that you're trying 227 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: to get. These are folks who you hopefully already have 228 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: a relationship with their folk, who can essentially lay out 229 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: a roadmap of the different steps that you need to take. 230 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: They can help provide you the direction and show you 231 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: exactly where you need to go as you're looking to 232 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: expand your skill set. Yeah, I feel like asking your boss, Hey, like, 233 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: what do we need to do better around here? How 234 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 1: can I fit into that? That's a that's a great question. 235 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: That's the way to get the ball rolling. Your boss 236 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: probably has some good ideas. I'm sure there's something lacking 237 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: in the business where you work where you could actually 238 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: step up and play a role in in providing value. 239 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: Another thing is to just kind of figure it out 240 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: for yourself. If nobody is telling you the ways you 241 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: can grow, you can take a more proactive approach. Spend 242 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: some time figuring out where or how you can add 243 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: value to your employer. For instance, maybe there's bad photography 244 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: on the website for the products where you work. You 245 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: can take a photography class on the side and learn 246 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: how to take better pictures. You could call Matt and 247 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: ask your advice on how to take better pictures. Right, 248 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: maybe the social media channel is greatly lacking and and 249 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: nobody's running it well or or even has taken the 250 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: reins to start social media channels for the business us, 251 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: and maybe you have an act for that. That's a 252 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: place that you can immediately start to add value. And 253 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: you're investing yourself by growing this skill in the business world, 254 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: and as you begin to take on added responsibility and 255 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: grow your skill level in those ways. That's gonna add 256 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: to the things that you can put on your resume 257 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: someday and also grow your value to the company that 258 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,199 Speaker 1: you're working for right now. That's raight, Joel. And something 259 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 1: else to consider is growing a network of peers or 260 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: professionals who are also in your industry. If you're looking 261 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: to make a move professionally or maybe make more your job, 262 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: and find ways to connect to people and to grow 263 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: that that network. Like Jordan Harbinger said back on a 264 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: previous episode, contact someone in your industry every single day. 265 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: You can also attend conferences and participate in industry events, 266 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: essentially just spreading that network. You're spreading that web of 267 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: different folks who you know where you could provide value 268 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 1: for them immediately. It's all about those personal relationships. Those 269 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: different connections that you can make with individuals are going 270 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: to be invaluable to your career. And just keep in 271 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: mind though that it always is a two way street. 272 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: Right You contact folks and you're trying to find ways 273 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: to provide value for them now, while at the same 274 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: time keeping in mind that these different relationships can provide 275 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: value for you professionally in the long run. Yeah, Matt, 276 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: growing your network doesn't always feel like it's investing in yourself. 277 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: It feels like it's investing in others. But truly those 278 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: relationships and building them up and they're investing in yourself 279 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: at the same time. You're learning a lot from those 280 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: relationships as you build them. And also, I love what 281 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: you said about attending conferences and participating in those industry events. 282 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: They often get overlooked. There are things locally, there are 283 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: things on a national scale that we can participate in, 284 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: and the connections that we're able to make face to face, 285 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: spending quality time with people maybe that we've just met 286 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: even are invaluable as we seek to grow that network. 287 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 1: I know it's been the case for me, and I've 288 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: heard other people say very similar things about attending important 289 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: conferences in the field where you work. And oftentimes there 290 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: are ways that you can get your employer to put 291 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: the bill for some are all of an industry ofference. 292 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: There are ways to pitch your boss on on a 293 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: conference that will make them excited to send you and 294 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: put you up for a few days so you can 295 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,319 Speaker 1: grow your skill set to better serve the current company 296 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: you work for, right, Yeah, man, In that scenario, everybody wins. 297 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,559 Speaker 1: Something else we would encourage is to learn some practical 298 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: skills or just something outside of your profession. So maybe 299 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: that would working hobby of yours. It won't get you 300 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: paid more right away, but it might be just the 301 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: thing that you need to grow your creativity and your focus. 302 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: So don't count out investing time and and hobby is 303 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: and interests because of the side benefit that that it 304 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: could have on you professionally down the road. All right. 305 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: Another way to invest in yourself is to put your 306 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: thoughts down on paper. I think it can be as 307 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,319 Speaker 1: simple as keeping a little journal, having something in your 308 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: pocket so you can write down thoughts or things that 309 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: hit you throughout the day. It might be something bigger. 310 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: It might be starting a blog or even writing a book. 311 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: I feel like we learned so much by writing things down, 312 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: by putting pen to paper, by getting our thoughts into 313 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: something cohesive that we can go back to and we 314 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: can look at. If we're prioritizing investing in ourselves, well, 315 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 1: it's important to actually take the time to unearth some 316 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: of those ideas that are going on beneath the surface. 317 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: Here so many of our best thoughts, Matt come when 318 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 1: our minds are wandering, like in the shower. I mean 319 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: how many, right, how many people have you talk to 320 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: and the showers where they get their best ideas. That's 321 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: the case for a lot of us, because so many 322 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: of us our days are really structured and we fail 323 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: to let our minds wander. So take a long walk, 324 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: let your mind run while you're in the shower, and 325 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: then proceed to take some time to write your thoughts down. 326 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: It can increase your writing skills and also just let 327 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: your creativity flow in a way that you normally don't 328 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: allow it to. Oh you know, actually, now I don't 329 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: prefer to get my best thoughts in the shower. I 330 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: like to be in one of these salt water chambers 331 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: with this sort of white noise washing over me that 332 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: lures me off to other dimensions. Uh, like sensory deprivation chambers. 333 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: Have you heard of these things? Oh? Yeah, dude, Honestly, 334 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: that's kind of like another hip thing. Everyone's into meditation 335 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: and sensory deprivation chambers. It's it's kind of weird. I 336 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: don't do either of them. These are these are stranger 337 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: things that I've not tried myself, but I want to 338 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: give my shots. Yeah, yeah, all right, we'll make it happen. Dude. 339 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: All I can say is sensory deprivation when you have 340 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: young kids, I can see that being really helpful. And also, 341 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: let's not forget that we learn by actually trying things. 342 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: It's easy for us to get stuck in our different routines. 343 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: We kind of clock in, we clock out, We don't 344 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: give much thought to it. We do the same things 345 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: every day after work. It takes giving yourself the space 346 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: to to try different things, and I think to also 347 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: not overthink it. I think sometimes we can kind of 348 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: get to that state of analysis paralysis, and we're afraid 349 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: to make any changes in our lives. We're afraid to 350 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: take any steps towards something that might bring us closer 351 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: to what we really and truly want in the end. 352 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: And in those cases, what we truly need to do 353 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: is to just take action. You know what, It's fun 354 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: to do. It's fun to think about all the things 355 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: that we could do. I enjoy that because I feel 356 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: like just thinking about it gets me off the hook 357 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: for actually doing it. But I know that what I 358 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: need to do is to just try it is to 359 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: give something a shot, and it's easier to kind of 360 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: keep it in recesses of my mind and think about 361 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: all the possible things that could happen if I did 362 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: try it. Living in that fantasy world actually makes it 363 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: easier on me sometimes. But I know that when I 364 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: do take those ideas seriously and I try to implement 365 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: some of them, well, sometimes I fail. Sometimes I fall 366 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: flat on my face and it doesn't work out. But 367 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: really I never know unless I try it, and so 368 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: I think of nothing else. You know. The power of 369 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: investing in yourself is to try new things, and even 370 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: if you fail, it's okay. But the worst thing is 371 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: to have these great ideas ruminating in the back of 372 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: your head about this business that you want to start, 373 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: or this way in which you want to change an industry, 374 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: or even just a way that you want to contribute 375 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: more at your current job, and holding back and not 376 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: trying it out. Ultimately, that's the biggest failure. Forcing yourself 377 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: to actually take action is a huge part of growing 378 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: your skills and refining your talent. All right, So where 379 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: do we go from here? We're gonna talk about some specific, 380 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: non traditional ways that you can invest in yourself, some 381 00:16:51,200 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: of which are even free. Right after the break, all right, Matt, 382 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: we're back and we're talking about investing in yourself, the 383 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: power of investing in yourself. And I think oftentimes when 384 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: people think about investing in themselves, preparing for the future, 385 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: making more money, changing professions, so many of the places 386 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: that we turn our places that end up costing us 387 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: a lot of money. You know. Actually just recently read 388 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: an article in The New Yorker and the author said, 389 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: you know what, my my original college degree helped me 390 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: get into journalism. That was really important for me. But 391 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: then I went to get a master's degree and basically 392 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: it hasn't done anything for me. It cost me a 393 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: lot of money, but it's not doing anything for me 394 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: when it comes to advancing me in my profession, allowing 395 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: me to earn more. And so I think it's important 396 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: for us to consider not just the idea of going 397 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: back to school, getting a master's degree, going further in 398 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: our education in that way, although that can sometimes be helpful, 399 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: but I think there are a lot of other ways, 400 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: some outside of the box ways, some less expensive ways 401 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: that people can further their education, further their learning that 402 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: can help them in their career. And I'm not saying 403 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: that you can't earn more with a higher degree, that 404 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: that those aren't important. And in particular with specific skill 405 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: sets like lawyer, doctor, architect, if you specifically want to 406 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: enter a career in that realm, then getting an advanced 407 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 1: degree is in obvious necessity. Yeah, the stats show that 408 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: the highest levels of education Jewel right, Like like you said, 409 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: the doctors, the professional degrees, you're gonna earn more than 410 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: three times the salary of just the lowest levels of education, 411 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: and which is like less than a high school diploma. 412 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: So essentially, the more you learn, the more you earn. 413 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: But like you said, you've got to consider the different costs. 414 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: We recently had our episode with Christie Sheen where she 415 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: talks about her pot score, which is the ratio of 416 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: what you get paid over the cost of getting that degree. 417 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: So essentially she's not just looking at the degree itself 418 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: just to get that degree, but she's looking at it 419 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: from a practical standpoint, And you have to do that 420 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,239 Speaker 1: when you're considering higher education. You've got to look at 421 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: the costs. I just saw a Facebook post from a 422 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 1: friend who is exactly our age and has been in 423 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: school for a long long time, she just finished her 424 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: doctorate program, and she's having a hard time finding employment. 425 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: She's essentially she's over educated for the jobs that she 426 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: really wants to take on. I think it is a 427 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: warning for people that more education doesn't necessarily equate to 428 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: better jobs with more pay. If there is an advanced 429 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: degree that you think is really important that you want 430 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 1: to pursue and you're currently employed, we'll see if your 431 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: employer offers an incentive for you to go back to school. 432 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: That can be one of those really cool benefits that 433 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: most people don't take advantage of that you can take 434 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: advantage of. If let's say your employer is willing to 435 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: send you back and pay the cost for you to 436 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: get an m b A. Or for you to get 437 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: a master's degree in something that is going to help 438 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: you in your day job, but then it helps your 439 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: resume out for the long term at the same time, 440 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: that's totally worth considering. Yeah, and look around beyond just 441 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 1: the standard NBA programs. There might be some other certifications 442 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: that you haven't even thought about. For example, I'm thinking 443 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: of Seth Godin's All NBA Workshop. That's when that comes 444 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: to mind, there's a lot of other professional certifications that 445 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: you can get that will also apply to your master's program. 446 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 1: So if down the road you actually do decide to 447 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: get your master's, some of those programs can actually be 448 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,719 Speaker 1: applied to that specific degree. Yeah, Matt, we're gonna get 449 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: into some of the lower hanging fruits, some of the 450 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 1: free and cheap stuff that we can take in where 451 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: we can really invest in ourselves and help our careers 452 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: and our personal talent level advance. But I think it's 453 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: worth of mentioning that it can be worth it for 454 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: us to spend money. It's not all about doing it 455 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: as cheaply as possible. If we're able to invest in 456 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: ourselves wisely, then it can be worth it to put 457 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: real money towards investing in ourselves. And so something like 458 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: you just mentioned, like Seth Godin's Alt NBA program that 459 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: could be thirty dollars really well spent those four weeks 460 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: could be life changing. I haven't done it. I think 461 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: it sounds really cool. It sounds like a lot of 462 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: fun that the people that you meet and the skills 463 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: that you learn could be easily worth thirty bucks. So 464 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: I do want to stress that it's not all about 465 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: being as rugle as possible when it comes to investing 466 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: in yourself. Like, ultimately that might be cheap. You might 467 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: be cheaping out on your own self and on your 468 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: own future if you're not willing to put some dollars 469 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: forth at the same time investing in your own personal capital. 470 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 1: You'll typically see a really good return for that, not 471 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: only in the level of satisfaction that you can get 472 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: out of your work, but also in the level of 473 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: income that you're able to make in the years ahead. Yeah, 474 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: you know, so much of this is dependent upon the 475 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: industry that you're in, in the cost of the education 476 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 1: or the you know, the program that you're looking at. 477 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: It takes a little bit of analysis to figure out 478 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: whether or not this is actually going to be worth 479 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 1: your time and your money. But like you said, Joel, yeah, 480 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:39,959 Speaker 1: you don't want to end up cheaping out in an 481 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: attempt to be frugal. However, there are truly some great, 482 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: free and affordable places that we can grow ourselves, where 483 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: we can grow our skill set. Joel, Let's just talk 484 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: about books and audio books, right. If you don't like 485 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: to read, audio books are a great answer. It is 486 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 1: hard to find a better way to invest in yourself 487 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: than to read more or to listen to more audio books. 488 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 1: Hit up your local library. There's Project Guttenberg, which has 489 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,959 Speaker 1: a lot of the classics, but man specifically. I've recently 490 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: found open culture dot com, which is a fantastic resource 491 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: when it comes to free online education as well as 492 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: different courses. Obviously, these are all ways that are going 493 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: to require a little bit of gumption, some self motivation, 494 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: some self direction, but you also can't beat the cost 495 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: totally free. Yeah, I love audio books. I'm about to 496 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 1: start listening to Shoot Dog by Phil Knight, the guy 497 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: who started Nike. I've heard awesome things about that book. Nice. Yeah, 498 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: I got it on the libby app, So I'm about 499 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,400 Speaker 1: to check that one out. Wait, why is it called 500 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: shoot Dog? You know why? No, I don't know. I 501 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: don't yet because you haven't read it yet exactly. I'll 502 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: find out short, let me know. But yeah, like we 503 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: said at the beginning of the episode, the Internet has 504 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: kind of made a lot of excuses fall by the wayside. 505 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,920 Speaker 1: The fact that we now have access to so many 506 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: free classic books, to so many free textbooks, to so 507 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:58,360 Speaker 1: many free lectures from experts in the fields that were 508 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: interested in. It's really in edible when you stop to 509 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: think about it for even just a second. Podcasts are 510 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: another one of those ways that we can access information 511 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: that we that we otherwise couldn't, that people are putting 512 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: out there for free. If you wanted to grow your 513 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 1: knowledge in the area of personal finance, well you've got 514 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 1: this show right, How the Money, And there are countless 515 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,160 Speaker 1: other great personal finance shows out there as well. Man, 516 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: there's one I listened to called The Knowledge Project, and 517 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 1: this guy, Shane Parish, does a great job of talking 518 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 1: to just really interesting folks every week. They're ceo s, 519 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: there are people that have started companies, there are people 520 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 1: that are experts in parenting, you know, whatever it is. 521 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: I learned about something new every week, and it's free 522 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:35,479 Speaker 1: knowledge that he's putting out there. He's putting a lot 523 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: of blood, sweat and tears, a lot of hard work 524 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: into creating it, and then I reap the benefits. So 525 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,120 Speaker 1: don't forsake these kind of free ways to to grow yourself, 526 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 1: to invest in yourself in an attempt to not only 527 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: maybe become more knowledgeable in a specific topic or field, 528 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: but also to kind of grow your knowledge across a 529 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: wide base. I kind of really like that approach, man. 530 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: I think oftentimes podcasts get a little discounted the big 531 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,479 Speaker 1: cause their entertainment with a little bit of knowledge kind 532 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: of slipped in there. But there really is some true 533 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: great knowledge that you can learn via podcast. However, if 534 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: you like your education to be presented in a more 535 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: structured format, there's always online courses, and there are so 536 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: many free online courses. Ed x and course Sarah are 537 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,360 Speaker 1: both fantastic sites to check out, and you've always got 538 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: ted talks and again open Culture is a fantastic resource, 539 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: and there are a lot of high level business courses 540 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:29,360 Speaker 1: as well. Man, We're not just talking about the classics 541 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: and humanities. When recently that U saw on there I 542 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 1: think was offered by Penn State and it was titled 543 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,880 Speaker 1: how to Apply to College, which seemed like a very 544 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 1: practical and amazing course to take if you're in high school, right, 545 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: I know, Yeah, applying for colleges it has become like 546 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 1: an art form. But Matt kind of zooming out on 547 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: this idea of investing in yourself. I feel like we 548 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: just kind of ran through a bunch of of interesting 549 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,959 Speaker 1: resources that can be really helpful to people as they 550 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 1: start to think through how they want to invest in 551 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: theirselves and how much money they want to put into this, 552 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,120 Speaker 1: and in some cases it all you makes sense for 553 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: some people in specific fields to spend a good bit 554 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 1: of money on investing in themselves and growing their education, 555 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,639 Speaker 1: and for other people, some of these free resources and 556 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: just kind of tapping that curiosity that has maybe laid 557 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: dormant since high school is a great way to at 558 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: least begin to invest in yourself again. I think, really, ultimately, 559 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: you never know what's gonna stick, what's going to provide 560 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: value in the long run. I know some of the 561 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: things that I dabble in just as pure curiosity, even 562 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: if they don't pay off in my future career earnings 563 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 1: or in how I spend my time when it comes 564 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 1: to my day job, there are things that still are 565 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: meaningful to me. They matter a whole lot, and I'm 566 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: not gonna kind of turn off that learning spigott just 567 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: because it's not increasing my income. So just know that 568 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: investing in yourself doesn't always lead to hard skills that 569 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:50,640 Speaker 1: directly equate to increased income. And you know what, that's okay, chedule, 570 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:52,679 Speaker 1: But that's sort of the fine point here, right, is 571 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: that it may not only be for your own enrichment. 572 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 1: Like we said at the beginning, we don't want you 573 00:25:57,600 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: to be near sighted. You might learn these skills you 574 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: I commit hours to industry events. You might build professional 575 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 1: relationships that might seem to go nowhere for now, but 576 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:09,959 Speaker 1: down the road. These are bridges that you have built 577 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: that you'll have the opportunity to cross because you spent 578 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: the time and the effort and sometimes the money to 579 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: invest in yourself. Yeah. Man, I feel like a lot 580 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 1: of what we're talking about here that there's certainly an 581 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: element and a really big one to which investing in 582 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 1: yourself often leads to increased earnings and a general level 583 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 1: of increased satisfaction. Because I think investing in yourself really 584 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 1: in so many ways is feeding kind of this essential 585 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 1: human thirst for knowledge that we have. And if anybody's 586 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: listening to this podcast, they have this thirst for personal 587 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: finance knowledge, and sometimes that comes out of necessity, that 588 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: comes out of realizing I haven't been doing this well 589 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 1: for a lot of years, or nobody ever taught me 590 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: how to handle my money, and so I need someone 591 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: to kind of somehow teach me the ropes, and I 592 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: feel like Matt, that's in large part kind of what 593 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: we're here to do on this show, right. But as 594 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: you're getting your personal finances together, as you're eliminating debt, 595 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:03,959 Speaker 1: as you're investing in your four O one K, your 596 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: rath Ira, whatever you're doing to grow your wealth for 597 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,439 Speaker 1: the long term, don't neglect your human capital. Don't neglect 598 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: to invest in yourself. And sometimes you're gonna easily be 599 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: able to see how that investment is going to be 600 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: able to pay off for you in either the short 601 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:20,359 Speaker 1: term or the long term, and in other ways you 602 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: might not be able to see how it's going to 603 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 1: benefit you. But tapping into that curiosity and allowing yourself 604 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: to explore, especially with all the free resources that are 605 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,159 Speaker 1: at your disposal now, in my mind, this this is 606 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: really a call to let our curiosity run wild and 607 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 1: maybe even give us the freedom to pursue things that 608 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:39,719 Speaker 1: we never even thought possible or weren't even on our 609 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 1: radar before. Yeah, man, like you said, you never know 610 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 1: what's gonna stick. So let's take it back now to 611 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 1: our cider for this episode. This is Whiskey Peach Cider 612 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:52,919 Speaker 1: by Western Cider Company. Thanks again to Ray for sending 613 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: this one our way. I'll go ahead and share my thoughts. Man, 614 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: this was a really tart and sweet cider all at 615 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 1: the same time time. It was just a really robust, 616 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,919 Speaker 1: full flavored cider, and because of that, I really enjoyed it. 617 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: A lot of times the side as we have are 618 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 1: a little more dry, I enjoyed this one with it 619 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: being a little more full and robust, and with it 620 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,160 Speaker 1: it had that finish of whiskey barrels, so you could 621 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: totally taste the sweetness there from the whiskey. You could 622 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 1: pick up on that oakness from those barrels, and so 623 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,239 Speaker 1: because of that, I really enjoyed this one. Man. What 624 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 1: were your thoughts. Yeah, well, it's weird to hear you 625 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,679 Speaker 1: say let's get back to that cider because that's just 626 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: not done quite flow Like, let's get back to that 627 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:30,679 Speaker 1: beer right right. Yeah, we will promise not to make 628 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 1: it a habit, right totally. Yeah, this is a very 629 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: rare appearance of a cider on the show. But it 630 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: was really interesting, man. Yeah, I really enjoyed this one. 631 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: The two words that described it the best for me 632 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: were rustic and earthy, and so it did have these 633 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: nice peach flavors coming through a touch of vanilla I 634 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: thought on the tongue. And when I say rustic and earthy, 635 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 1: by the way, I mean those as really complimentary terms. 636 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: I feel like those descriptors mean that there was a 637 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,719 Speaker 1: lot of love and care and that the original ingredients 638 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: that were put into this cider actually really shined through. Yeah. Man, 639 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: I would totally agree with you. It's hard to describe, 640 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 1: but it's almost as if the ingredients that went into 641 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 1: this specific cider, it's like they were processed less. I 642 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: was gonna say, handled with care. Yeah, exactly. There. So yeah, 643 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,040 Speaker 1: even though we don't have ciders often on the show, 644 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 1: this was a fun one to drink. Always fun to 645 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: have something from the great state of Montana, Big Sky Country. 646 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: So big thanks to listener Ray for sending this one 647 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: in our way. We really appreciate it. All right, now, 648 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: let's get to our final thoughts for this episode really quickly. 649 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: I just want to say that challenging yourself to grow 650 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: is a really important part of investing in yourself and 651 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: increasing your knowledge and your skills can ultimately lead to 652 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: bigger paychecks down the road, and that has compounding effects 653 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: for the amount of money that you can earn over time, 654 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: in addition to the personal fulfillment you can find by 655 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: prioritizing that. And aside from the more traditional costly ways 656 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: of higher education, Jewel, there are lots of free and 657 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: affordable ways not only to gain knowledge, but to also 658 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: expand your network of professionals you know in a specific 659 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: industry That doesn't necessarily cost money, nor does brainstorming and 660 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: getting your thoughts down on paper. When you give yourself 661 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: the time to think creatively, you cannot only find ways 662 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: to find more fulfillment in your work, but you can 663 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 1: also brainstorm in ways that you can invest in yourself professionally. 664 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: There are a lot of instances where spending money on 665 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: our education, on investing in ourselves for the future is 666 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: the default right, But just know that you don't have 667 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: to spend money and that there are a lot of 668 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: great free options out there. So Joel, that's gonna be 669 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: it for this episode. Man. We will have our show 670 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: notes up on our website at how to money dot com. 671 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 1: And if you like the show, if you feel like 672 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: listening to this show has kind of in some way 673 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: been investing in yourself, well we'd appreciate it. If you 674 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: would consider telling a friend Matt and I we've got 675 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: a mission to help people live rich lives on less money, 676 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: and we want to see more and more folks be 677 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: able to do that. Yeah, don't discount those podcasts, like 678 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 1: we mentioned, freeway of growing your knowledge, right, Yeah, that's right. 679 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 1: So until next time, best friends, best friends Out