Return on Energy vs Return on Investment

I love efficiency. Maybe an even stronger statement (and equally true) is that I hate inefficiency. What I’m about to say makes me a bit of a walking contradiction. While I love efficiency, I also crave a life that isn’t preoccupied with productivity. What I need more of isn’t return on investment (input/output from a monetary standpoint) - I need more return on energy! Yes, I want to reach my financial goals, but more importantly - I want to feel good at work.

This post is for self-employed therapists looking for a way to make work sustainable. When I hired an executive coach, I thought I did it to figure out a way to scale and grow the business. Instead, I realized I don’t want to grow the business. I just need to feel better as I run the business I have.

Not all of you run a group practice - but if you’re self-employed, you and I have enough in common for this concept to help you. Your energy gets drained by sessions (be honest - even if you love what you do - doing it week in and week out is hard). Combine that with the pressure to bring home a consistent paycheck, and it’s doubly hard. And, what about how you feel while working? Who even has time to consider that?!

If you’re not considering what gives you return on energy - you’ll burnout. What do I actually mean when I suggest shifting from return on investment to return on energy?

First, notice the difference in these two mindsets.

Return on Investment:

• Every hour is measured in dollars.

• 9am - 5pm / M-F work week

• Linear

• Efficient

• Productive

• Everything you do that’s not client facing has to be somewhere in the funnel of monetization.

• Choices are made based on how much potential money you’ll make or how long it’ll take you to produce XYZ.

• Restrictive

• Scarcity mindset

Return on Energy:

• Deadlines can adjust based on your actual life.

• Work when you want to.

• It’s ok if things take longer than you expected.

• It’s ok if you work nights or weekends - it’s only a broken rule if you want it to be.

• Choices are made based on if it excites you, motivates you and makes you want to get out of bed.

• Adding more to your plate doesn’t scare you because you love it so much.

• You’ll spend time making it excellent because you care about it - you don’t resent the extra time or worry that you’re not making enough per hour.

• Expansive

• Generous

As you read those lists, can you imagine shifting your focus from how you’ve been taught (return on investment) to something a bit more free (return on energy)? You might be thinking about diversifying your sources of income (offering more than just sessions) or maybe it’s something not therapy related at all - something that might bring balance to your life.

I hired my executive coach for a duration of 6 months. During that time, she asked me several questions that made me stop in my tracks. Answering these three helped me change the way I look at my work:

1. Why do you have a business?

2. What would you do just for fun if there was no monetary value or pressure tied to it?

3. What gives you energy?

My coach helped me get very clear on what I actually want, what matters most to me, and what I need in order to make that happen. I didn’t walk away with a perfectly mapped out 5 to 10 year business strategy (sorry, Jena - if that’s what you were hoping!).

What I gained instead (and even better) was a new way of navigating myself as I make decisions and move through my workdays.

In order to get return on energy, this is what I have to do (every dang time):

1. SLOW DOWN and tune in - before I make any decisions, respond to any email, make changes or launch anything - I have to be clear with myself. Am I reacting with impulsivity or avoidance? Or is this what I actually want to do/what is best for everyone?

2. Give it time. Things that excite me or changes I make - they don’t always take off immediately. I have to give things a chance to catch on or develop before I give up or pivot.

You might have to do different things to get a return on energy. Maybe it’s not slowing down for you - maybe it’s actually the opposite. Maybe you need to stop overthinking and just take that first step toward launching the thing you want to start. Or maybe you need to re-think the thing you’re already doing, but do it differently so you have energy again.

I recently offered a workshop called “Heart Based Business for Therapists: Sustainable Success.” It was one of my favorites to lead. There was so much engagement and fun interaction.

I took what I learned from my time with my executive coach and created a frame for others to be able to reflect on their own business and connect with other therapists in the same boat. We asked the question, “How do I do this work for another decade and still feel good while doing it?” I think everyone came out of the workshop with some practical answers!

I’m offering another one just like it in March. I would love to see you there! Come live for a chance to get CEs. The therapists that came in January said their favorite parts were the prompts for reflection, time to journal and space in breakouts with other therapists who have similar struggles.