Rethinking Investing

Investing:
to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value. (Dictionary.com)

In the financial realm, investing is only wise when you see a potential for a profit for yourself. Talk to anyone that’s ever invested any money in anything and they did it with the end result of gain in mind.

They invest, they get a profit from their investment.

Investment + time = profit

That’s the goal. We invest our money so we can gain something in the end.

As leaders, our investment is less about getting a return or a profit and more about seeing what we can give.

We have to flip the investment mentality. In the end, it’s about our goal.

We invest in people so they can gain something in the end.

Investment + time = a gift

Sure, when we invest in others as leaders, we often get in return a more mature follower or a future leader. We should if we’re investing well. In fact, I’m so grateful that people invested in me. But it’s not the goal. It’s not our motivation behind investing. The motivation is to give away. To love others. To see your organization’s ideas and DNA passed along.

So when you’re investing in others, don’t look for the return, just look at the person.
Who they’re becoming.
The skills they’re gaining.
It may never pay off for you, but it will for them.

It’s a worthy investment.

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[bctt tweet=”Leaders, our investment is less about getting a return & more about seeing what we can give.” username=”jonathanpearson”]

[bctt tweet=”We invest in people so they can gain something in the end.” username=”jonathanpearson”]