How to Invest in Identity Capital

You may scratch your head wondering exactly what it is that you can do to invest in who you are or what you want to be and perhaps you have no idea what the answers those questions are. Personality; your interests, the things that fuel you and give you passion are all the currency of who you are. Here are some ways to invest wisely and add value to who you are and what you want to be.

Find your tribe! You will recognize those people who share your interests. Become a part of their dynamic groups and cliques. Don’t ever underestimate the power of a warm conversation, a shared interest, a laugh or an act of goodwill. As old and clichéd as it may sound, people will seldom remember what you said, but they do remember how you made them feel. Make those all important connections but while you’re at it, stay away from the energy vampires, the ‘nay sayers’ and the people that trample all over your dreams. Elevate yourself and be energized by the excitement of people who believe in the things that you are passionate about.

That inner dialogue that plays inside your head…

The tape that is always rolling…

The show that is always ‘live’…

However it is that you view the conversations that you have with yourself, pay careful attention to the words that you say and what you think. At the end of the day, repetition of messages becomes your reality. You are the only person who has the power to program positive messages into your life. What you say and what you think has a profound effect on how people in the world treat you. Get into the directors seat add, chop, slice, splice and dice, most of all focus with tunnel vision on the good things that you want to happen in your life and then go after it with a passion and a vengeance.

A most basic technique that you can engage in every single day is to repeat a number of positive affirmations. Here’s one list that has been translated into a video, here’s hoping you are inspired to create your own positive affirmations.

Think about it. You are given the same 24 hours a day that every other person has. From people who changed the course of history, to more recognizable and wildly successful icons, the Gandhi’s, Nelson Mandela’s, Mother Teresa’s, Marie Curie’s and even the Beyonce’s of this world have all been awarded 24 hours a day within which to live their lives and no matter how perfect the exterior, nobody’s life is perfect and without challenges. The 24 hours of the day that these ‘successful’ people have in their lives is the very same amount that you have at your disposal right now. The question is; are you going to use the time for your own benefit and self improvement?

Make lists, shuffle things around, most importantly put you onto your own to-do list. It is time to factor you into your life. Find time saving strategies that work and help you get to the point that you would like to be at in your life.

Train yourself to be able to see opportunity when it presents itself. This may also mean a period of meditation and quiet. Remove yourself from the crowd so that you are able to listen to your own thoughts, trust your vision and your insight when it presents itself and most importantly, when you get the chance, act. You really do miss 100% of the chances that you never take.

• Make educated choices but also trust your instincts
• Be open to opportunity
• Understand the value of timing
• See patterns and trends that emerge
• Build relationships
• Listen and use your powers of observation

"Intelligence is knowing what is required of you" - The Jetstream of Success

In order for you to invest in who you are, you need to be able to know exactly what makes you tick.

Take the time for self discovery. No, it is not some airy fairy notion, but something that is essential for your growth and progress. In knowing who you are and exactly what you’re about you are able to benefit yourself and society.

Find out more about yourself in any and every way that you see fit. Here are some suggestions for how to do so:

• Journal
• Listen to music
• Expose yourself to new experiences.
• Take long walks
• Go to the beach
• Speak to a diverse range of people from different walks of life
• Put yourself in new and different environments
• Get out of your comfort zone
• Challenge yourself to talk to people that you wouldn’t ordinarily talk to.
• Document the way in which you feel- express yourself – write, paint, do art, compose music, do whatever you see fit in order to get to know more about the things that you love and enjoy.
• Take time off, go on a holiday and find ways in which to see the world and be changed by the sights and sounds around you.

Have a frame of reference, in order for you to be able to invoke change in your life you need to be able to take the opportunities that you can to reflect, understand who you are and what is valuable to you and then act by adding those attributes to your life. Pursue your interests in the name of being more interesting.

Curiosity leads to discovery. It really is a simple process of being able to ask the relevant questions at the right times that will help you to know more about yourself. Question the world that you live in. Never take things at face value. Always have the courage to go back, ask why and learn more. Knowledge, systems, education and information is always changing and you should be as fluid and able to adapt to the changes that occur in your surroundings.

1. Why do I like what I like?
2. What are the top 5 things that motivate me?
3. If I had to live to be a hundred, what would I want to talk about as the high points of my life?
4. What would I miss if I lost it tomorrow?
5. What are the areas in my life that I feel overwhelmed by? Chances are that if you’re tearing your hair out in frustration over certain aspects of your life, there’s a lot you could learn from your source of irritation.

Refuse to accept no for an answer, expand your views on the world and more specifically never forget the child that you were who feared less and explored more.

"Fortune favours the bold" - The Jetstream of Success

Perhaps in no other movie is the elimination of distractions for personal gain illustrated better, than in the 2006 Will Smith movie – ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’. Based on the real life story of Chris Gardner who battled homelessness, having to single handedly raise his son and pursue an internship all at the same time, Will Smiths on screen character divulges during the movie some of the time and distraction saving techniques that he uses in order to ensure that he comes out on top in a highly competitive environment. Some of which included not drinking water so as not to go to the bathroom during the work day so that he could have enough time to do the tasks that he needed in the record time that he needed to get it done and come out tops.

You may not see the value of the exercise immediately, especially if you have lots of commitments, enjoy instant gratification or need to urgently meet your payments. However by saving for a rainy day, you help yourself by being financially free and able to make key decisions whenever you have to without the fear of being financially stuck when opportunities come knocking.

Having relatively low debt is the ultimate goal to strive toward, especially if you feel as if you are the type of person who cultivates many interests along the way in life, as guess what; you will have to pay for those pursuits and interests all by yourself.

In order for you to know more about yourself you’re going to want and need to get away from any conflicting thoughts and feelings especially from the external world. This is where you perhaps need to be a little ‘selfish’ so to speak and remove yourself from the paths of distraction. If you find that too many people are encroaching on your time, asking for too much of it and bearing down on your energy you need to be able to distinctly draw the lines and tell them exactly where to get off so that you may pursue your own interests and course of action. Pull out the plugs, disconnect, avoid those overbearing sales types if you must, do what you can even it means being a little selfish, or rather a little self-seeking and work in your own interests than too self less and running at a complete loss.

"You will need to know when to be assertive and wise enough to know when to exercise patience" - Take the Reins

At the end of the day you have to trust in yourself. Take a moment. Look at yourself in the mirror right now and know that you really truly are your own best friend. Considering that all your own thoughts, hopes, dreams and desires originate from you, you really are in the prime position to know exactly what can satisfy you and what gives you joy. Naturally it is a growing and evolving process along the way and knowledge of self is something that is developed over a space of time, but if you are not in a position to know exactly who you are, how else could you ever expect that anybody else would ever know the same? Along the way in your journey protect the greatest asset that you will ever have- YOU!

You need to be able to decide for yourself exactly what is acceptable to your frame of reference, invest in time, friendships and experiences with others but most of all protect and invest in yourself. To help you on your way, take a page right now split it in half and write down exactly what you need and won’t tolerate.

Take a listen!

Sending you off on a good note, when you’re getting fired up and excited about your life, there’s nothing better than a few good songs to help you get the adrenaline pumping.

Here are five fantastic tracks that will help you well on the way to investing in your own identity capital.

One of life's greatest fears is that you may not attain the level of success you have dreamt of. Succeeding in the challenge of life is up to you alone. Commit to the challenge and see it out till the end. With strength and determination, standing strong as a goal orientated individual you'll be able to do everything you set your mind to.

Further your chances of success by reading The Jetstream of Success. You're sure to be encased by the adventure and feel as though you are experiencing all the adrenaline rushing stories aside Julian Pencilliah. Also check out The Jetstream Facebook page for more inspirational lessons applicable to your life.