And it gets more difficult to justify taking the time and energy to invest in ourselves.
Instead we just focus on short term gains in our careers, often at the expense of ourselves.
This is a mistake.
Investing in stocks, startups, crypto, real estate, and whatever else can create a lot of wealth.
That's great.
But truly achieving happiness and success in life starts with one thing:
Investing in yourself 🧵
And it gets more difficult to justify taking the time and energy to invest in ourselves.
Instead we just focus on short term gains in our careers, often at the expense of ourselves.
This is a mistake.
But to do that well, you need to focus.
These are the categories I invest in:
1. Education
2. Physical Health
3. Mental Health
4. Relationships
If I get these things right, I know I am doing well.
For me, learning is about doing. That's why I prioritize having strong mentors.
Investing in your education means paying for experiences, trying new things or skills.
This investment should be in something that will have an impact, not just in knowing more stuff.
Health is finding a way to stay fit as your life style changes over time.
I don't do the same workouts I did in college or even the same ones I did before I had my boys.
If you don't invest in a health routine that matches your lifestyle, it's doomed to fail.
I've seen them do basketball games for their founders early in the morning.
It's the right activity, at the right time of day, for people building startups.
It's competitive, collaborative, exercise. Love to see it.
Luckily, this category is finally getting the attention it deserves.
Even I'll admit that in the early days this wasn't a huge focus. Now it is.
For me it comes down to two things: knowing myself (EQ) and taking quality breaks.
After a lot of trial and error, I recognize the conditions that help me thrive.
Example: I need to go somewhere in the morning to work, or focus. The whole work from home thing doesn't do it for me.
I've realized I can't be football 24/7 and still perform at the highest level.
I've had two championship runs, one successful, one not.
The difference? When we won, I was more balanced and not burnt out.
I was taking quality breaks.
I am always making sure to surround myself with the right people.
They don't have to 100% agree with me, and I welcome diverse perspectives.
But at the end of the day does the relationship come out net positive?
Do we feed off each other in a good way?
One of the most important things for me is can I speak frankly to this person and vice versa.
Can we have tough conversations and does this make things better?
If yes, keep doing what you're doing.
I wouldn't be where I am if I hadn't.
I believe succeeding at anything starts with making sure the foundation is healthy.
