The Return on Investment Rut

As a semi-privileged 22-year-old from the creative field with a family background in the garment business and an elder brother from a corporate consultancy background, the Return on Investment has been a significant scheme of things from my brother’s end. Currently, I have literally zero return on my investments in the past two years since I got done with graduate school. Okay, that may be an overstatement, but at least for the past 8 months I have no income and I’ve never had a steady income since I got done with a social media role that I did for a creative agency for a month. Though the money was enticing, there was little to no creative fulfillment.

I most often spend money on my small digital community I run for music and don’t make enough money to sustain it. Thus, I go to my father for my funds. I currently pay for my co-working space and for the team of salaries 5 young creatives who work remotely. Monetarily, I have no returns.

Here’s what’s interesting and where my return lies:

The ‘ROI’ that I get is unmatched in terms of any monetary value. The reason is the creative outflow I’m able to generate with my days, the network I’m able to build is unmatched to a stagnant salary at a 9–5 job. I am confident my learning and exploration right now it will pay more than just my bills in the years to come. This is what will lead to wealth creation, whether it’s money, knowledge, or richness in life.

Nobody asks you what your ROI is when you’re in school, it’s always measured when you’re of it. In the digital day and age, your school doesn’t stop. The flow of knowledge doesn’t stop. It’s the school of life. Invest your time right, don’t look out for external validation, or don't get pressurized by your peers or the society in terms of making money. Run for your passion, the money will follow.