This is just a PSA before the real post begins. If you are uninterested, start reading below the picture.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about increasing my posts to twice weekly but, I don’t know what day I would make my second post day. Right now, I’m thinking of making it Monday but, I’m not sure.
I also do not want to say something and then not be able to fulfill my promises. That would just make me feel guilty. So, I guess right now my second day will just be whenever I feel.
I don’t want to get too overwhelmed with having to post content and I also want to improve the quality of my content too. I don’t just want more blog posts but, have them being mediocre because at the end of the day. It is the content that matters.
I want to be able to relate and help people with my blogs. I can’t do that if I am solely focused on numbers but, I do enjoy blogging and do not want to limit myself to one day a week so, I am trying to open new doors here. With that being said, let’s get into the prime reason for this post: I want you all to invest in yourself and your future.
I don’t know about you but, when it comes to spending money on things that won’t give me instant gratification or payback, I become diffident. I hold back and think about, think about, think about it until I think myself out of the situation but, I’ve decided no more.
It’s not only the instant gratification but, it’s also the risk factors and my pocket. The fact that I have to spend money on something that may not get me anywhere.
You’re probably wondering about what the hell I am talking about right now. I am talking about the financial aspects of investing in yourself other than home self-care and the occasional spa day.
I am talking about creating a brand for yourself that will set you apart from the rest and I do not mean creating a business. As a pharmacy student, I have been coming to the realization that I need to invest in myself and my future.
I’ve started investing and looking into stock options. That means creating and paying for business cards, buying a card holder for those business cards, purchasing a resume holder for conferences. This also means investing in conferences.
The previous years, I was so hesitant to go to pharmacy conferences for a multitude of reasons. One, being I didn’t know the point of them or their worth; two, I am bad at networking so I just imagined a huge disaster; three, I had this awkward farfetched theory of networking from everyone else; four, the conferences cost a lot of money that I did not and still do not really have.
I am literally taking a leap of faith going to conferences this year especially since my school no longer reimburses for them, that would be the year I decide to go to a conference.
Anyways, you may not have to spend as much money as I do to invest in yourself or your future but, it is definitely something that you should begin to think about.
If there is money to spend, think of ways to cut the costs for your wallet. If you are a student, search for student discounts, use friends who have special talents like designing to cut the costs of your business cards while getting a cute one. Think about the things that may be a longterm investment.
I feel like conferences are a longterm investment into building my professional career as a pharmacist. Even if you don’t network with someone, you can definitely listen to people speak and gain new skills and inspiration from there.
The point of this is just not to sell yourself short. You may think that you are saving money, and maybe you are, or that it will not be of any benefit to you but, trust me, it will.
See if someone can sponsor your growth especially if you are a student. I know students who ask their parents to sponsor their conferences because it’s not just a vacation trip but, it’s for professional development.
If you can do this, go ahead and try but, every situation is different. You may have to do other things for a tighter budget. For me, that’s having to forego having a manicure and eating out as much, not that I ate out much in the first place. But, the point is to invest in your future and your brand.
Make yourself the best candidate out there for your dream job or profession in the way that you can. However, don’t forget to make sure that you stay true to your morals and values while you do that.
Just because your profession or career is focused in one area doesn’t mean you can’t expand or branch out into another area. Sometimes, you can mold your career to fit your interests and create a position for yourself that you are passionate about.
That in itself, fosters more growth and development because you are going to want to know and do more.
Another thing is don’t be afraid to do research. This is your future you are talking about. Doing research on a career or on expanding your reach within your career will never be a waste of time.
What’s a waste of time is waiting for it to just fall in your lap. Sometimes, being proactive in your own future helps. Recently, I’ve been listening to podcasts on a variety of topics and most have been on entrepreneurship.
So many people have interesting stories on how they created their own path for themselves in various industries. There is always a market out there for you and what you want to sell.
It is just who you market your product, this can be yourself or a physical product, to and how you market it. This is about creating and developing the best possible future FOR YOU!
It may not be locked in stone but, you can definitely manipulate the pathway a little. A one degree change in navigating a ship can make a huge difference in where you end up. I’ve been inspired to invest in myself and my future and I just wanted to take the time and inspire you too.
Invest in yourself! You may just find success more easily!
Thank you for listening to my rant,
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