A selective sampling of past newsletters with advice for right now.
Originally shared August 2021.
Last week, I spent two days in the luscious Calistoga area of California where I learned valuable lessons about time vs. money.
The first day, the kindness of the staff in the tasting rooms, the love of their jobs and their surroundings, the deliciousness of the wine and the experience…all are imprinted on my memory.
What also sticks is that not everything went right that day.
We DIYed the tasting experience by booking our own tastings, finding our own transportation, and judging the timing it would take to get from A to B. We were perpetually 20 minutes late. That said, just because everything didn’t go quite right, it was still an awesome, sunny day filled with good wine, and, looking back, it just reminds me that the end result is what really matters.
The second day was different. It was much more structured. We didn’t DIY, we hired an expert. It was smooth, comfortable, not rushed, and instigated even more lovely conversations and meetings with people than the day before. Hiring an expert on the second day clearly demonstrated the benefits of choosing wisely in the time vs. money debate.
Other things that came out of that second day?
- Two new business leads
- Helping someone possibly change careers
- Having the time to share my experiences and cheer on the ambitious decision of someone already embarking on a new path
Both ways brought joy. Both ways made memories.
But the second way held less stress, which led to more enjoyment in the moment and deeper connections along the way.
Sometimes we think that just because we can do it ourselves, we should. Many times when we make that decision, we neglect to consider what we may be giving up for us to shoulder more.
Yes, we’re parting with money to have something done for us that we may not be the most equipped to do but, if we don’t pay that money, what’s the trade-off?
- Are we giving up expertise?
- Are we giving up peace of mind?
- Are we giving up the freedoms of full enjoyment of the experience?
In the past few years, I’ve made small shifts in the way I look at my money vs. my time and energy. I’ve been privy to others’ powerful examples of how parting with one resource ($$) brings back 10x what you paid in well-being, better experiences, and getting to where you want to go infinitely faster.
Paying $300 extra to have someone else plan a 3-winery tour may very well earn me $10,000 in sales in the next three months solely based on the connections I made and mental space I gained from relaxing on the trip.
I will gladly take that ROI.
Next time you’re deciding between time vs. money, consider the potential returns on well-being, better experiences, and gaining mental space.
Now, what are you holding back investing in that a professional could take off of your plate? (Yes, you could do it, but think of all the things that could happen when you allow yourself not to.)
Need help figuring it out?
A success accelerator session might be perfect for you.
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