Investments for the Future

It is not what you think.  In fact it has nothing to do with money, retirement, the stock market or mutual funds.  Alas, a lot of people in the financial services community are probably now reaching for the mouse so they go on to another blog.

This is about something that has gained clarity over the last two years and it was just this week it fostered the idea for these words.

I oversee a number of college students in Optimist clubs on campuses in Iowa.  The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake University, St. Ambrose University and Waldorf College.  Efforts are underway on at  least two other campuses to create clubs.  Each is run by students through elected officers and a board of directors.  The leadership experiences are priceless because they prepare these young people for the "real world" once they graduate.

They all need guidance and a nudge here or there to get something done or to make certain they do it right. But there is also a need to let them do it.  They will learn so much more if they tackle and issue or project themselves, collaborate with fellow students to solve problems, and even an occasional misstep will become a learning experience.

I contend we sometimes get too involved in oversight and instead we should step back and let these young people explore, learn and do on their own, providing minor course corrections when needed. They usually will surprise us.  Just Wednesday night, one club president let me know of a successful recruiting drive, another texted a question that came up during a board meeting and a third met to review the ins and outs of a project her club was going to be involved in.   It was an awesome night.

There's no question the time spent with this younger generation is an investment in the future.  The giving of human capital so others can grow and then being willing to step back and watch growth happen without being too involved is a fine line to tread.  But in the end the growth of a person into a leader and responsible adult seems to carry much more weight than growth in my retirement account.

Today might just be a good day to make an investment in someone you know without any concern about a return on your investment