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I pay my respects and acknowledge all Traditional Custodians of Country and on whose land I live and work. I recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
Always was, always will be.

Hey reader

I hope (for those in Australia), that the federal election is not getting you down. Too many critical issues sidelined. So much questionable or wasteful spending. No consideration of any long term thinking - exhibit A: climate change (faaark). Election news is a horror show.

Most of the architects I know despair at the dire state of delivering housing. Whether that's affordability, quality of housing development or that housing has become an investment and commodity. It should be an election issue. Yet considering human rights seem anathema right now. Whether that's how we treat the disadvantaged, each other, or more nuanced considerations of considerations such as housing as human right.

This is an issue of investment. Not investment as commodity but as choice. What do we value and choose to invest in? Most governments (or those in waiting) focus on a short term return on investment. Choosing winning an election and/or retaining power. Yet capital investors know that the best and most assured returns generally come from long term investment. Providing greater value and returns that compound over time.

Let's instead take time right now, to focus on what's in our control rather than railing against at that which is not. Let's choose to focus on how we might invest in ourselves.

Turn off all media, turn off your phone, and ban any distraction. Clear your head of anything beyond your control. This is a useletter that's investing in you.

I got you

Michael

Invest in you

How have you invested in yourself recently reader?

I think everyone that subscribes to my useletter is wise enough to implicitly know most of what I've written here. I'm writing not to teach you to invest in yourself, but instead as a call to action and reminder to look after yourself. To make the space to thrive and be the person you want to be, the very best version. When you invest in your physical, emotional, spiritual and mental self, that becomes possible. It's all growth.

Over the pandemic the appreciation for the value of investing in yourself grew. It lead to people spending more time on exercise and moving their body. Taking the time to also care for their mind, whether through meditation, getting into nature or something else. I hope you invested in yourself over this period too. Keep going.

In the spirit of encouragement, here are some of my favourite things to do that you may or may not have thought of, and perhaps have been meaning to do. My challenge to you is to commit to one new investment this week. One of these or one of your own.

If you spend your evenings looking at a screen (device or TV), give it up for a week. Go find a book, a conversation, a hobby or something else to do instead. Don't be tempted to cheat. That extra time you've now given yourself is a gift, don't waste it.

Go read a book or two (audio books are acceptable). If you always read fiction go find a book that helps you to further invest in yourself - I'm happy to make some suggestions (email me). If you read non-fiction go find some great fiction.

Set yourself goals: 3 months, 1, 3 and 10 years - personal and business. There's a heap of stuff out there on goal-setting. An alternate approach is instead of goals set up new healthy and constructive habits - See James Clear's book "Atomic Habits"

Learn a new skill. A skill for your work or for fun. Find a skill that might have value across multiple parts of your life. If possible combine that with a goal. Do it with a friend. It's likely more fun, and the accountability is invaluable.

Do something to get you out of your head. Something creative: music, art, craft, writing, cooking, gardening, etc. Meditate. Go for a walk in nature. Whatever works.

My last (and obvious suggestion) is to get a coach. Find the coach that is right for your needs. That might be personal, physical, spiritual, business or something else. I strongly encourage you to research and interview a number, because it's important they're a good fit. Conversely, if it's not working out don't hesitate to move on, it's not worth the discomfort and the opportunity cost of finding the coach that's right for you.

This turned into something far more epic than I first conceived. Thanks for hanging in there reader. Now go out and do something nice for you. It's not indulgent, it's an investment.

You got this.