Always Invest In Your Education

A few years ago I was completely fed up with education.

I’d spent six years between 2004–2010 on getting two degrees. And after that, I immediately started a business. And during my first two years as an entrepreneur, I also learned a lot.

But after a while, I thought: Who needs education? Just start a business or get a job and earn some money. Education is just a waste of time and money.

I stopped reading books, going to conferences, and getting any other education that helped me to become a better entrepreneur, marketer, etc.

That wasn’t a smart move. For almost two years after that decision, I didn’t see the growth I wanted; personally, spiritually, mentally, financially.

When I was learning more, I also started earning more, doing more, and achieving more. And when I wasn’t learning anymore; the opposite happened.

You see, education, learning, knowledge — it’s all perishable. Not only do you lose it if you don’t use it. You also lose your knowledge if you don’t improve it. You simply forget.

That’s what I didn’t get for most of my life. Education is not something you accumulate and will remain in your head forever.

I look at education like food, water, air, exercise. You need a constant supply.

You also don’t breathe once a year, right? So why do you only read one book a year? It doesn’t make sense. Education is critical to your survival.

The reason is not only personal growth, as Benjamin Franklin said:

“If a man empties his purse into his head no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

Education is an investment in yourself. One that can pay you more dividends than anything you will ever invest in.

Here are 4 reasons why I think that’s the case.

1. Making Better Decisions

We live in an increasingly complicated world. And there are big consequences when things go wrong.

It doesn’t matter how smart or talented you are, what matters is how well you can focus on the things that matter.

You can easily get fired or lose your business in a moment of weakness. One mistake can trigger anarchy. Things are far from practical these days.

How can you make better decisions?

• By educating yourself.
• By looking at facts.
• By researching everything.

The quality of your decisions will shape the outcome of your life and career. Never underestimate that.

One decision can change everything. How do you know you’ve made the right decision?

2. More Opportunities

Since I’ve turned to education, I’m Switzerland. I never pick teams, I’m never afraid to say I was wrong, and I only look at the truth.

I can tell you from personal experience; that’s very liberating.

Education opens your mind and more importantly, it increases your opportunities. People who are closed-minded and stick to what they know, will never change. And change is the forward driving force of life.

By educating yourself, you might think about things you’ve never thought of before. And you will be exposed to ideas you’ve never heard about.

Combine those things together, and you have enough ideas and opportunities for a lifetime.

I’ve written down 143 ideas for articles in my note-taking app. Most of them with an outline. I also have dozens of business ideas. I bet there are 1, 2, or maybe even 3 good ideas in there.

“How do you get ideas?” I get the ideas when I learn new things. It’s not