I notice something interesting when I talk to public sector leaders about investing in themselves.
They’ll spend thousands on a degree without blinking. They’ll spend money on professional qualifications. They’ll invest their time in mandatory training courses their employer sends them on.
But when it comes to investing in something that helps them figure out what they want and how to get there, suddenly they pause. And I think I know why.
Because degrees and certificates are tangible. You can put them on your CV. You can show them as proof that you’ve learned something.
But…
- Clarity about your values; about what actually matters most to you.
- Confidence in your decisions.
- A sense of agency over your career and life.
You can’t put those in a frame on your wall!
So they feel less real – and less valuable.
In this episode, I’m going to talk about what return on investment means. And why the “waste of money” objection might be missing something important.
What You Already Invest In (And Probably Don’t Even Think About)
Think about the last time you paid for something that didn’t give you a certificate.
Did you invest in a holiday, in time with family, or in a hobby you love? You didn’t get a tangible product. But you got something valuable: rejuvenation, connection, and joy.
Do you invest in a gym membership or a personal trainer? You don’t get a certificate there either. But you get something else: more energy, less stress, a sense of control over your health.
Have you ever invested in a therapist or a counsellor? What did you get out of that investment? Not a certificate. But clarity, a different perspective. Someone to help you work through something difficult.
One of my clients spends about $500 a month on a personal trainer. When I asked her why, she said:
“Because it’s the one time in my week when I feel grounded in my body. It costs money, yes, but it’s worth every penny because of how it makes me feel.”
So why is investing in clarity about your next career move any different?
The Return on Intangible Investment
When you invest in clarity, agency, and alignment, you don’t get a certificate. You get something else.
You get:
- Time back. Because you’re not spending 10 hours a week worrying about your career. You’re not lying awake at night wondering if you should make a change. You’re not spinning in indecision.
- Energy back. Because you’re not using emotional labour to manage a situation that doesn’t feel right. You’re not dragging yourself into work on Monday morning. You’re not coming home depleted.
- Agency back. Because you’ve figured out what matters to you. You’ve done the work to understand your values. You’ve made a conscious choice about your direction instead of drifting.
That’s not nothing!
One of my clients went through this process and said:
“The first thing I noticed was that the Sunday evening dread went away.
My situation hadn’t changed overnight. But I had a plan. I knew what I was working toward.
And suddenly, I didn’t feel like I was waiting. There was so much I could do, that I had control over.
It felt like I was using my time intentionally. I prepared myself for my next step. I created my next step. And that feels empowering.”
Now THAT is return on investment!
It’s not quantifiable in a traditional sense. But it’s still real.
Another client told me:
“I realized I could actually make decisions again. For years, I’d been stuck in analysis paralysis. Now I have a framework for deciding things. And that’s worth more than money.“
That’s agency. That’s clarity. And both are valuable.
What’s It Actually Worth To You?
Here’s where I think the real question lies. When you dismiss investing in yourself as “a waste of money”, what you might actually be saying is:
“I don’t believe I’m worth investing in.“
“I don’t believe change is actually possible for me.”
Those beliefs are worth paying attention to.
Because…
If you don’t believe clarity is valuable, you won’t invest in it, and you won’t make space for yourself to create it.
If you don’t believe you’re worth investing in, you’ll keep prioritising everyone else’s needs over your own.
And if you don’t believe change is possible, you’ll stay where you are. Waiting. Hoping. But not taking action.
So the real question for you is this:
Do you believe you’re worth investing in?
And if the answer is yes…
… if somewhere inside you, you do believe you can build a career and life that feels more aligned…
… then the question becomes:
What is it worth to you to make that happen?
Until next time: make space, rediscover YOU, and then take action.