Investment

That’s right, folks! Today we’re talking about investment.

Now, I know a lot of you are probably thinking, “Okay, Al, slow down there. What qualifies you to give investment advice?” but bear with me, because I’m not talking investment in the traditional sense.

I’m talking about investing in yourself.

So many people I know who have taken the steps and found traction with their businesses or selling careers tend to just… stop. Don’t get me wrong – they’re still working, still hustling, still grinding – but once they hit that first level of success that they dreamed of, they coast.

Fortunately, I had an excellent set of mentors that taught me exactly how to avoid that same fate. So when I was in the dealership, every time I got a check, I would be peeling off four or five hundred dollars to drive traffic – not just to the dealership, but specifically to me. I was investing in myself, in my brand, because I understood that I needed to spend that money in order to make money.

I was amazed at the time to register the reactions of my fellow salespeople, however. They would constantly be ribbing me, asking why I was blowing that cash to make even more work for myself when I could be out partying, heading to a hockey game, and so on.

None of them got it – and surprise, surprise, these were the same guys who would mutter under their breath and give me dirty looks when management cut me a much bigger check than the ones they were seeing.

I was incredibly fortunate to learn this early on in my career, because it put me in the exact right mindset that I needed when I was starting my business.

The first check – currently framed on my office wall behind me, by the way – I was as tempted as anyone would be to take myself and my wife out for an insanely fancy dinner, pull out all the stops, and so on.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I paid the bills, and every cent that was left over got funelled right back into Alan Dickie Inc. 50 bucks here and there to hire a videographer to film my programs. 100 bucks here and there to get my website done up right.

It all went back into the business. And you know what?

I didn’t resent a single cent.

Today, I’m incredibly fortunate to be where I am. Business is excellent, I have a few hours to spare to golf in the summer, my family is well provided for and happy – things could not be better.

And yet every time a new client comes aboard, the same routine follows, and that money gets cycled back into the business. I could be lying on a beach in Cancun right now, but that’s not where my heart is – it’s right here in the midst of our amazing industry, and this incredible network of entrepreneurs.

So next time you get that check, next time you’re fortunate enough to end up with a few extra bucks in the bank, think hard about whether you want to spend it on an experience that won’t gain you anything but a hangover, or whether you want to get it working for you!

Whether you’re a sales representative, a new business owner, or a CEO, we are all entrepreneurs. With that in mind, check out my FREE program: WX5: The Five Ws of Entrepreneurship.

My gift to you! Click here to claim yours today. 

#MakeItAGreatDay ♠️