What’s your greatest asset? If I had to guess, I’d say many of you responded with answers like “car,” “house” or “family.”
Makes logical sense; those are the areas where you’re likely investing most of your time and money. You do regular maintenance on your car to keep it running smoothly.
You enroll your kids in various activities, attend their school events and help them with their homework so they grow up and become successful. You tend to your home when something breaks or needs updating. You do all of this upkeep on what you believe are your greatest asset(s).
While I’m not here to tell you those priorities aren’t important, I am here to remind you that none of them would exist without you. So in response to the question I posed above, I’d like to offer up a different answer: Your greatest asset is you!
What are you doing to keep yourself in top shape—beyond going to the gym? What are you doing to keep your mind sharp? Are you working to stay relevant in your career? Are you furthering your education in any way? Are you challenging yourself? Are you enriching your mind with things that help you grow as a person?
A few years ago, we started a book club at J2, which soon morphed into discussions around movies, articles and Ted Talks. Team members found value in these meetings, as they became a place where people could come together to share new ideas and topics for a more fulfilling life. Today we call it the “Being Better Club.” This is just one example of what we do at J2 to help others put some much-needed focus on themselves. I, too, find these gatherings of tremendous value.
Personally, I attend conferences that I believe might enrich me in some way, I take time to read about things that interest me (not all business) and I regularly have deep conversations with friends, mentors and mentees. I literally learn from everyone and everything around me. I invest in me, which enables me to invest in all the other areas of my life that are important to me.
There’s a reason the flight attendant advises you to put the oxygen mask on yourself before anyone else: if you’re not able to care for yourself first and foremost, you won’t be able to care for those around you.
“You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming, and encouraging your greatest asset.” – Tom Hopkins
Have a great weekend.
Vijay