The Value in a Happy Existence

Sometimes the most profound business lessons come from the most unexpected teachers.

It has been a tough couple of weeks. We adopted our dog Leo 10 years ago and last week he died. Loss of life creates a void. An emptiness experienced in many ways. Small moments like a doorbell ringing without the startling bark feels too quiet. The end of daily walks feels like yet another disconnect from nature. Sitting down with no plop of fur on the feet feels less cozy. Being able to leave food on the counter without the risk of it being eaten feels too safe. Eating without the drooling and puppy eyes feels boring.

The first week of losing Leo was very emotional. I tried to hold it back and consistently failed. I pushed through the feelings and kept working. I need to be consistent on LinkedIn. I can't drop the ball. Every day I don't work on lead gen is a missed opportunity.

My mind and body didn't like that. I went back to the state of overwhelm I had consciously never wanted to feel again.

So I reminded myself that value is not just measured in money or productivity. Value is also in a happy existence.

Inherent Worth

Just thinking about Leo, I realised that this beautiful dog had integrity, purity and honesty in his essence. That brought us a lot of joy. He didn't have to work for his value. He just had it. His mere existence and presence was valuable. All he had to do was be himself; the good, the bad and the smelly. And this is true of everyone and everything.

Leo never worried about his opportunity cost. He never calculated his value based on the treats he earned or the tricks he performed. He simply existed with complete authenticity, and in doing so, brought immeasurable value to our lives.

The Productivity Trap

As business owners, we've been conditioned to believe that our worth is directly tied to our output. Miss a day of posting? You're falling behind. Take time to grieve? That's lost revenue. Feel emotions during work hours? That's unprofessional.

But what if this entire framework is not just wrong, but actively harmful to our success?

When I pushed through my grief to maintain my posting schedule, I wasn't being productive, I was being performative. The content I created came from a place of obligation, not authenticity. Readers could sense it, even if they couldn't name it.

Authenticity

Vulnerability is hard, which is exactly why authentic presence is the highest-value currency in business.

Leo was a natural at being natural because… he’s a dog. For us mere humans who think deeply and overthink even more deeply, we can really struggle to let go of fears of judgement when we are being authentic. But this is exactly what our communities are looking for: not another service provider going through the motions, but a human being who shows up authentically to solve their problems.

I spent two days processing my grief by painting for the first time in years and allowing myself to feel deeply. These weren't "lost" business days. They were an investment in my capacity to show up fully for my clients and my work.

The Investment That Matters Most

We talk a lot about investing in our businesses. But the most important investment we can make is in our own well-being and authenticity.

When we give ourselves permission to be fully human; to grieve when we're sad, to create when we're inspired, to rest when we're tired, we're not being self-indulgent. We're building the foundation for sustainable success.

This is Financial Coaching

This is essentially what financial coaching is; beyond the spreadsheets and savings targets we need to define our parameters for a happy existence. Yes, we need to plan for retirement and manage cash flow. But we also need to plan for a life that honours our humanity. The good, the bad, and everything in between.

Your financial plan should support not just your future bank account, but your present capacity for joy, creativity, and authentic connection. It should give you the freedom to paint for a whole day when you need to. To grieve without guilt. To show up as yourself, not as a productivity machine. To recognise your inherent value.

As I move forward in my business, I'm carrying this lesson with me. Some days will be for grinding and hustling. Others will be for painting and processing and simply being present with what is.

Both have value. Both serve the business. Both matter.