ROI for Personal and Professional Coaching – Is the juice worth the squeeze?
Are you investing your most precious resources of time, effort and energy in a way that aligns with your highest values? Is the juice worth the squeeze?
If we go with the statistics, your answer to the question above is no. Studies show that most people think only about financial return on investment when weighing if something is “worth it” or not.
Example- Le Labo Rose 31 Parfum. It doesn’t seem financially sound to spend nearly $50 per month on perfume when I could spend $3 per month on a lotion that multi-tasks by both hydrating my skin AND smelling good.
However, my answer is always a HELL YES, it’s worth it!
Why? I factor in additional indicators (it smells like luxury, I receive at least 3 compliments on it a week, the smell has become a part of my morning ritual that sets me up to conquer my day, etc), and those feelings are worth the $50 each month.
Return on investment doesn’t just refer to finances. Holistic ROI calculations should also include examination of time, emotion and effort.
Have you ever said yes to something and then immediately regretted the decision? Not checking in with your expectations and willingness to put forth effort/time/money/emotion before you make a choice can lead to big conflicts of interest within your internal alignment.
The secret: Creating a holistic check in to know if the juice is worth the squeeze is a powerful way to be mindful about your choices. An easy way to start is to ask yourself a few simple questions.
- If I say yes to this, what will I be saying no to?
- How does saying yes to this make me feel?
- What is the cost of not doing this?
- If finances were not an issue what would my answer be?
When investing in something tangible like a 2.7 ounce bottle of my Le Labo, I consider the way it makes me feel and weigh that against the amount of time it will take me to earn the money to purchase it.
Simple, right?
But what is needed when the product is seemingly intangible? How do you measure the value of something that you can’t see, put in your shopping cart or have delivered to your door?
tan·gi·ble
/ˈtanjəb(ə)l/
adjective
- perceptible by touch.
Coaching (professional or otherwise) is not a tangible service.
Yes, you can attend a coaching session (tangible) but what can you actually say you will take away (intangible) from what you’ve given (time, money, effort, etc) in exchange for that experience?
What value do you place on unlocking what it means for you to live a bold and empowered life? To make a larger contribution to the world? To ignite your voice by learning how to tap into and connect with all pieces of yourself?
Here then comes a decision where a HOLISTIC APPROACH needs to be implemented. How do you know that something you can’t take home with you in the physical form is worth any amount of time, money or effort you are asked for in exchange?
The answer is simple. What are you willing to exchange for the answers you seek?
Money? Time? Willing to be vulnerable and have honest conversations about your life, your potential, and your purpose?
I know there seems to be a wide range of deep, thought provoking (analysis paralysis inducing?!) questions surrounding the decision to invest in a coach.
Here is the fun part!
Ultimately, when you decide to invest in a coach, you are investing in yourself. Only YOU can determine how you will measure your success.. And that is what turns something intangible tangible and where the magic of possibility for what you can create for the future begins.
