The best investment decision I have ever made

The best investment decision I have ever madeThe best investment decision I have ever madeWhen I got my business degree in 2011, I was ready to start my career.I wanted to start a business, earn money, and also invest. Those were my main priorities for the past seven years.I did all those things. You know what I found?Every decision you make in life is either an investment or a waste.Heres what I meanBrowsing social media for hours is a waste of your timeEating junk food is a waste of your healthHaving a job that makes you miserable is a waste of your energySimilarlyWorking out is an investment in your healthSpending time with people you care about is an investment in relationships and personal wellbeingReading, taking courses, watching informational videos, are investments in your educationThose last three things are all good. And investing in your education has the highest return on investment. Why?Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.We live in a competence economy. Power lies in the hands of those who know how to solve dicke bretter bohren mssens that society needs an answer to.In a way, thats always been the case. In the hunter-gatherer days, the best hunters were the most successful people.Thats why we need to improve our skills if we want to survive, let alone be successful.And how do you get skills? By learning them - which is hard. Thats why I believe investing in your education is better than any monetary investment there is.But theres a problem with thatYou see, education, learning, knowledge - its all perishable. Not only do you lose it if you dont use it. But you also lose your knowledge if you dont improve it. You simply forget.Thats what I didnt get for most of my life. Education is leid something you accumulate and that will remain in your head forever.But now, I consider education like food, water, air, and exercise. You need a constant supp ly. Thats why I invest most of my time and money on my education.You also dont breathe once a year, right? So why do you only read one book a year? It doesnt make sense. Education is critical to your survival in the modern world.When education is applied, it produces incomeYou can lose everything youve gained in life. Your money, job, clients, reputation, house, car, and even the people you love.The only possession you will never lose? You guessed it Knowledge (if you keep investing in it).If you learn how to build a business, you will always be able to make money.If you have a skill that people depend on, you will never be out of a job.Theres only one condition You must apply the things you learn. Without application, knowledge is useless. Everyone knows that. Again, few apply it.The reason I invest so much time and money on educating myself is this Education is a survival strategy.Lets face it, we all hate uncertainty. And education is our safety net (dont get education and degree s mixed up. Its education that matters not degrees).Its not easy. In fact, learning, studying, getting degrees, and mastering skills are some of the hardest things in life.Going to school is hardReading two books a week is hardFollowing an online course in the evening after a long day is hardAnd thats exactly why most people dont do it.Thanks to the information revolution of the past decades, you have all the opportunity in the world to learn more.To me, its madness if youre not investing in your self-education every single day. I prioritize learning over everything in life. Im not just trying to make a point.When I have a little money, I buy books and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes. - ErasmusI really prioritize education over food, relationships, health, clothes, and the other things of life. You know why? If I dont, the other things are not as good.And its very simple. My goal is to read/learn/practice just 30 minutes a day.Thats not a lot to ask for, right? Because if you dont have 30 minutes to spend on your education what kind of life do you have?Education is important we know that by know. We just have to make it a priority.Nonetheless, as with many things in life, we dont do the things we know. Especially not in the long-term.Everyone can get started few persistThe way I see it there are only two options. You either learn or die. Within an instant, you can decide to invest in your education for the rest of your life.Abraham Maslow put it bestYou will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.Ive got my mind made up. Which one do you choose?This article first appeared on DariusForoux.com.