Five Ways to Think About Investing in Yourself Through Knowledge

Graduation season is a great reminder. The best investment you'll ever make is in your own growth.

This week, both of my kids are finishing up the school year. Scarlett is wrapping up third grade, and Cole is finishing first. We’ve been in and out of award ceremonies and end-of-year activities, and all of it has me reflecting on the idea of education, not just for them but for us as adults too.

I’ve heard it said before:

The most powerful investment you can make is in yourself.

More powerful than stocks. More powerful than real estate. Why? Because the knowledge and skills you gain stay with you for life. They influence your earning potential, your ability to adapt, your confidence, and your capacity to solve problems.

So this week, I want to share five ways I’ve been thinking about education as an investment in yourself, along with a few personal reflections.

1. Knowledge Compounds Like Interest

You’ve probably heard me talk about the idea of getting 1% better every day. A big part of that is learning: what you’re reading, what you’re watching, what you’re experimenting with.

Much like compounding interest, small efforts in learning add up. The book you read today might not change your life, but 30 books over the next few years could. Each new insight builds on the last and equips you to make more advanced decisions down the road.

2. Education is More Accessible Than Ever

Traditionally, learning was expensive. College degrees, private lessons, and certifications all required a financial commitment. But that has changed. The internet has flattened access. You can watch a YouTube video to learn how to play guitar, ask AI questions, borrow a book from the library, or join a free online course.

The key now isn’t money. It’s curiosity and commitment. What do you want to learn? And are you willing to give it time and energy?

Some people learn by tinkering. Others by listening or reading. But the best learners I know never stop exploring and never let fear of failure keep them from starting something new.

3. Who You Learn From Matters

You’ve probably heard the phrase, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I’d add a twist: who you know shapes what you know. Having access to smart, curious, experienced people, whether they’re mentors, friends, or online communities, accelerates learning.

Surrounding yourself with people who challenge you and share knowledge freely is one of the best educational strategies you can adopt. Their guidance often points you to the right ideas, the right questions, and the right next step.

4. Teaching is One of the Best Ways to Learn

For me, writing is how I solidify what I’ve learned. It’s like turning in my homework. It forces me to articulate a complete thought and share it with others, even if that means getting it wrong sometimes.

Teaching, whether it’s writing a blog post, mentoring a colleague, or explaining something to your kid, forces you to simplify and clarify. If you think you understand something but can’t explain it clearly, you probably don’t understand it as well as you thought.

Also, writing lets me offload mental RAM. Once I’ve written something down, it frees up mental space. Just like a computer moves data from short-term memory to long-term storage, I can set that idea aside and focus on something new while still being able to come back to it later if needed.

5. Lifelong Learning is How You Stay Sharp

Watching my kids finish another year of school reminded me of something important: learning doesn’t end with graduation. Ideally, it never ends.

I’m convinced that one of the reasons some people struggle later in life, whether cognitively, emotionally, or professionally, is because they stop exercising their brain. They stop reading, stop challenging themselves, and let their curiosity fade.

But the brain is a muscle. And like any muscle, it needs to be worked. Whether it’s crossword puzzles, deep reading, new hobbies, or career development, what matters is that you’re stretching yourself.

A Challenge This Summer

So as summer begins and another school year ends, here’s my encouragement to you: this is not the end. It’s the beginning.

No matter your age or stage of life, you can keep learning. You can keep teaching yourself. You can keep getting 1% better every day.

What is something you have been meaning to explore but haven't? What are you planning on learning this summer? Leave a comment and let me know, maybe I have an educational suggestion or recommendation.

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Until next time, have a great week!