Last week I had lunch with a colleague who sparked a conversation that made me think of you and many Upside community members as well.
She was talking to me about how she doesn’t like to spend money on herself or her business because she feels like she’s taking away from something else…
…and that she doesn’t really deserve or need these things.
I think a lot of us have these thoughts – heck, I definitely do.
We think that by investing in ourselves, our well-being, our business, or even on a splurge item, we’re taking away from our other responsibilities.
However, ask any CEO of a successful business how he or she got to the top and I guarantee you that one or more of their answers points to spending on themselves, like:
- An Ivy League MBA program that expanded their network with the right people
- A 5-figure/year business cohort that kept them focused on making smart decisions
- A 1:1 coach that taught them how to lead with confidence and empathy
- A new VA who was a big investment, but gave them back priceless hours of time
- A new work outfit that was a splurge, yes, but gave them confidence on a big stage
If you’ve been putting off an investment in yourself or your business because you feel guilty spending the money, then know you are not alone.
But when you’re feeling this guilt, try using the exercise below to unpack those feelings and get clarity on whether or not you should go for it:

I hope you’ll print this out and pin it to your bulletin board…
…because as the saying goes: sometimes you have to spend money to make money.