We should think more about Return on Life than Return on Investment
The nicest thing happened recently — actually, two things.
First, I received a handwritten note in the mail from a friend who regularly reads my column. During election season, the mailbox is full of nothing but political ads, so I was thrilled to see an actual letter.
And secondly, my friend included a fascinating article from the Arizona Republic titled “How to boost your ROL,” by Harvey Mackey.
A bonus delight was that Mackey started his article by quoting a favorite motivational speaker of mine, Nido Qubein. I had the opportunity to meet Nido when he came to Topeka years ago to speak for the annual meeting of Sales and Marketing Executives.
Qubein advises, “ROI is what we get back from investing money; ROL is what we get back from investing in ourselves.” So, if ROI is Return on Investment, ROL is Return on Life.
He says: “Cultivate a love for learning and a capacity for earning. These qualities are important ingredients for success, significance, and fulfillment. But the things people really get passionate about are the things that come directly from their sense of service … find a purpose larger than you and invest yourself in it. You’ll be gratified at the return on life that it yields. That is ROL.”
The older we get we have so many choices to consider. We’re not necessarily looking for work or a job for pay. Time becomes our new money to spend. We have some freedom to decide where to invest it.
Mackey suggests that throughout our work lives, we should spend half our time earning because we need resources to live. And then we should spend a fourth in continuous learning. He says: “You are not in school temporarily; you are in school all your life. So the final quarter and possibly the most important, invest a fourth of your work-life giving and serving.”
At this point, when many of us are moving towards retirement or are already there, we still have important decisions to make. Where will I spend my time? What new thing do I want to learn?
Being curious is critical to continuous exploration. It is much easier to access educational opportunities in this information age. There are online classes and YouTube videos on every hobby or craft imaginable. And if you have never learned to surf the web, there is your perfect opportunity — take a class!
People who are on a learning quest are more interesting and engaged with life. They are fun to talk to and inspire others to try new things.
But most importantly, the question becomes, what are you giving away, and who are you serving?
The true ROL comes from giving and serving. Mackey says, “People who do volunteer work and help others on a regular basis have a healthier outlook on life. They are inclined to be go-getters and consistently report being happier and more contented.”
Thank you to my friend Roger for the triple treat: the letter, the newspaper article and for reminding me of Nido Qubein! Thank you for reminding me we can turn our attention to gaining the ROL — Return on Life.
Find Connie’s book, “Daily Cures: Wisdom for Healthy Aging,” at www.justnowoldenough.com.