How spending $1,500 changed my life…

Have you ever invested in your personal or professional development?

Not just your time, but your own money?

When I was a corporate VP I had tons of resources at my disposal for my professional development. There were courses I could take, I had an executive coach and the company would host leadership trainings on the regular. I didn't spend a penny on my own development - the idea never crossed my mind.

While I got something out of everything I did, I was never 100% in for anything. I would cancel coaching sessions last minute, I would skip training sessions or sign up for online programs and never take them.

The old adage is true - “what you pay for… you pay attention to.”

And then a few years ago I felt stuck and I found a course from a respected coach who was a fellow Stanford MBA that I thought would help me get clarity around what I wanted next from my career. The course cost $1,500. I must have gone to her website 100 times to check out the course, asked 10 of my fellow Stanford alumni if they knew her, and still felt nervous spending my own money on a course - even though I knew it would help me.

I missed one cohort of the class because I was too nervous to invest in myself - even though I have spent more than that much money on a trip without thinking twice. I had to wait 6 months fro the next one - this time I bit the bullet (terrified!) and invested.

In that course I showed up to every class, did every piece of homework and was 100% invested. What you pay for, you pay attention to.

My work paid off and I got clarity that I was meant to start my own coaching business, built a friendship that is still going strong 4 years later and discovered that what I paid for I paid attention to. I got more out of that class than the years of professional development before it.

Fast forward to today and since that course I have personally invested 10's of thousands of dollars in coaching and other personal and professional development. It has helped me realize what was keeping me stuck, helped me find the courage to play big, to start this business, to leave my safe job, to inspire others and help them transform their life and careers. The ROI of these investments has been massive - both in terms of actual money earned, and more importantly, in my own personal development and perspective on the world.

In society it is normalized to invest your own money in formal education, or even courses to upskill and learn about AI or other skills that will help you in the workplace.

But investing in your development beyond that can still seem foreign, or like a “waste of money”.

In my experience, you can teach yourself most of the hard skills on the job, but the soft skills - and working through fear, developing a strong mindset, building your confidence, getting clarity on what you want from your life and your career - have the BIGGEST ROI. I would go back and spend double easily.

My only regret? That I didn't invest in myself earlier. It would have helped me get promoted faster, lose less time and emotional energy worrying about things at work, made me a more confident mother and leader.

If there is something you have been on the fence about investing in for yourself - what is holding you back?

• Are you nervous about doing the work on yourself and what you may learn?

• Are you worried that investing may mean that you actually do the thing you want to do, but are scared of doing?

• Do you believe you aren't worthy of investing in?

• Are you worried it won't work?

• Are you judging yourself for “needing help"?

I would never ask you to invest in something your truly can't afford (and hopefully no other coaches would either), but sometimes when we think something is “too expensive” it is really one of the thoughts above making a rational argument for your brain to avoid the discomfort.

Are you ready to invest in yourself in 2025? Imagine how far you will be this time next year if you do!

If yes, my new program, The Purposeful Pivot is starting in a couple of weeks and spots are going fast. 

This isn't just career coaching. It's deep personal alignment with strategic guidance.You'll reconnect with what matters, build a career around it, and take bold, supported action.

If you are feeling a tug or a little voice in your head telling you this sounds like something that you could benefit from, don't let your fear stop you. Book a Free Career Clarity Call Today