In this episode, I reflect on a pivotal moment in my early twenties when I decided to stop investing in others and start investing in myself. Frustrated after an investment with friends didn’t pan out, I realized that I could count on myself more than anyone else. So, I made the best decision of my life: I enrolled in a master’s degree in entrepreneurship. That decision shaped my entire career, leading me to start BizzBee Solutions and become a consultant.
I’ve continued to invest in myself over the years, earning certifications and pursuing higher education. Now, I’m working toward my Doctor of Business Administration, knowing that this investment will serve me for decades to come. The lesson I’ve learned is that investing in yourself has an infinite return on investment. It’s a lesson that I hope resonates with others who are looking for their next big move.
transcription:
Hello, guys! I'm still here in Yerevan and wanted to finish up my thoughts on the investor's dilemma. In the previous episodes, I discussed what to do if you have some extra money to invest—whether to put it in stocks, buy a company, or start something new. We also talked about the importance of making sure the team you invest in has skin in the game. But I didn’t tell you how that story ended.
I was about 23 years old at the time, and I was frustrated. I didn’t have a lot of money to throw into stocks or other investments, and I was emotionally exhausted after having to chase my close friends for a business idea they came up with. It was their idea, but I had higher expectations for them. Eventually, I realized that I would never disappoint myself, and that’s when I made the best decision of my life—I decided to invest in myself.
I thought, “If I invest in myself, what’s the return on investment?” The answer was infinite. I didn’t have BizzBee Solutions at that time, but I knew that whatever skills I gained would pay off for the next 50 years. So, the very next day, I enrolled in a master’s degree program. I decided to pursue a master’s in entrepreneurship, and it changed everything for me. Over the next two or three years, I learned so much about the entrepreneurial world—funding, company life cycles, what investors look for, and so much more.
This investment in myself set me on the path to where I am today. If it weren’t for that master’s degree, I wouldn’t have started BizzBee Solutions or become a management consultant. That degree gave me the credibility to land clients, and it still serves me today. Since then, I’ve continued to invest in myself, from getting an MBA to earning certifications like Certified Management Consultant (CMC). And now, at 38, I’m pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration, because I know that every investment in myself will pay dividends for decades to come.
It’s funny how life works—if I hadn’t pursued that master’s degree, I wouldn’t be here in Armenia speaking at this consulting conference. So, for anyone out there struggling with where to invest your time and money, my advice is simple: invest in yourself. It’s the one investment you can always count on.