Evan Renaerts

Return on Investment

December 23, 2007

It isn’t noticeable yet but we have begun our return toward longer days and more light. This is what all the (religious) holidays related to this time of year have in common – whatever our culture, we celebrate the return of the light.

To invest in something is to commit or to devote one’s self or some portion of one’s self. The time, energy, thoughtfulness and awareness we give to life: people and places and situations are all investments; possibly more important than whatever money we invest.

At this time of year many of us will receive cards and letters expressing thanks for support we gave, or time we took. Perhaps we will gather with our friends or families, our parents, children or siblings and laugh about things we’ve done together or even cry for the things we’ve been through together.

These simple pleasures are all reminders of where we have made our “investments” in the truest sense. These have not been commitments made for gain or to make us look good but they are great riches.

Whenever someone thanks me for giving them the gift of kindness I am reminded that these are a completely viable kind of business investment too. Investing in business as we would with loved ones means looking for ways to include good listening, time and kindness in the way that we conduct our businesses.

I notice the business people who bring integrity, honesty and openness to their affairs and what the return on investment looks like in their lives. Clients, suppliers and colleagues all go out of their way to refer businesses that operate in a warm and life-affirming way.

This kind of return on investment can sometimes take longer to notice than the quick money returns that come to the dishonest and self-serving business people. Looking from the outside it can seem that the honest people are the fools, missing out on the fast bucks; it’s like comparing a spring freshet with a deep river.

The freshet profits from the heavy rains and then dries up. The river has taken years to carve out its channel and though the river may experience highs and lows, it never runs dry – the slow patient work is an investment in longevity.

People who work the land possess a simple and profound understanding of the investment principle. The harvest we reap depends entirely on the seeds that we sow; it may seem that we are a long way from planting or harvesting but the fact is that this work never stops.

While we celebrate the return of the light in all of our various religious and cultural ways may we also plant seeds of kindness, care and concern for each other, and for all of existence.

Blessings throughout this season and the year to come!

Evan Renaerts
604 314 0835
evan@evanrenaerts.com