Pay yourself first

Prioritize self-investment by allocating 10% of your resources to key areas: financial investments, mental health, online presence, and personal growth. This structured approach ensures balanced progress across crucial life domains.

Let's dive into this powerful concept of "paying yourself first" across various dimensions of life. As someone who navigated the tumultuous waters of post-Soviet economic transition and later rebuilt a life in Spain, I've learned the critical importance of strategic self-investment.

Financial Investment: 10% into investments

In the chaotic 90s and early 2000s in Russia, I was a child and observed how those who consistently saved even small amounts in dollars weathered economic storms better than others. It reminds me of a saying my babushka often repeated: "Копейка рубль бережёт" (A kopeck saves a ruble).

Action step: Set up an automatic transfer of 10% of your income to a diversified investment account. If you're starting small, that's perfectly fine. Remember, in investing, consistency trumps magnitude.

Mental Health: 10% of your time

During my early days in Spain, struggling with the language and cultural shock, I neglected my mental health. The result? Burnout and a sense of disconnection that took months to overcome.

Action step: Allocate 2.4 hours a week (assuming a 24-hour day) to activities that nurture your mental well-being. This could be meditation, therapy, or simply quiet reflection. For those with ADHD like myself, try active meditation forms like mindful walking. I love it.

Online Presence: 10% of your time for self-representation

Still trying to piece my life back together and restart my career in Spain, I realized the power of a well-curated online portfolio. I'm not being entirely honest - I knew this before. You just can't imagine what I need to do now to restore even a small part of everything.

Action step: Spend 2.4 hours a week updating your LinkedIn, writing a blog post, or creating content that showcases your expertise. Think of it as building your digital CV, one that works for you 24/7.

Personal Development: 10% for growth

The rapid changes that I observed in history textbooks from Soviet times through the 90s and into the digital age taught me one crucial lesson: adapt or die. To die in this context means to become frozen in your time and fall behind the world. Maybe that's not so bad. It depends on where you are and what you want.

Action step: Dedicate 2.4 hours weekly to learning new skills, reading industry reports, or attending webinars. Create a "curiosity list" of topics you want to explore, much like we used to make lists of coveted Western goods in the Soviet era.

Now, you might be thinking, "Sasha, that's 10% + 30% of my resources! Isn't that excessive?" To which I'd respond with a smile and another Russian saying: "Скупой платит дважды" (A miser pays twice).

By investing in yourself across these four dimensions, you're not just spending resources; you're cultivating resilience, adaptability, and long-term success. It's like planting a garden – it requires consistent effort, but the harvest is well worth it.

Remember, this 10% + 30% investment in yourself isn't a luxury; it's a necessity in our rapidly changing world. It's about building a foundation that can withstand economic fluctuations, career transitions, and personal challenges.

As we wrap up, I invite you to reflect:

1. Which of these four areas have you been neglecting?
2. What's one small step you can take today to start "paying yourself first" in that area?
3. How might your life look different a year from now if you consistently applied this 40% rule?

I'll end this post by saying - life, like playing the accordion well, requires both expansion and contraction. (By the way, I graduated from an arts high school specializing in accordion and piano)

By paying yourself first, you create a rhythm that allows for sustainable growth and harmony.

Come on, friends, invest in yourself.

The dividends are immeasurable.

As always, I invite you to share your opinion in the comments
With love 😽 🤗 😘
K