Investing in Yourself: The One Thing You’ll Never Regret in Business or Life

Hi friend! Welcome back to the Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust Podcast. I’m Lindsay Dollinger—high-school Spanish teacher, dog mom, world traveler, and direct seller empowering women to build their dream businesses the right way so they can earn more, experience more, and live the dream life they’ve always imagined.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way… let’s dive in!

Listen in to the episode of the podcast here:

🎥 Behind the Scenes of a “Live” Podcast Recording

This episode actually started as a live stream inside my free Facebook group, The Marketing Magic & Business Systems Group, and on my business page. That’s because I’ve been playing with the idea of offering more video podcasts and behind-the-scenes content (and you all seemed to love it!).

My power kept flickering the night before, so instead of typing notes on my laptop, I went old school—pen and paper. And honestly? It felt kind of magical. I grabbed a notepad from Marshalls that says:

👉 Think it. Want it. Get it.

And out flowed this entire message about investing in yourself.

🌟 The Truth: Investing in Yourself is NEVER a Mistake

Period.
I have never—not once—regretted investing in myself.

Not in my personal growth.
Not in my health.
Not in my business.
Not with coaches, mentors, masterminds, tools, books… nothing.

Every investment I’ve made has either:

✨ Moved me forward
✨ Taught me something I needed
✨ Connected me with people
✨ Saved me time
✨ Expanded my mindset
✨ Or removed stress

So today, let’s break down how you can start investing in yourself—no matter your budget.

✅ Free or Low-Cost Ways to Invest in Yourself

These cost NOTHING (or very little), but make a massive difference.

1. Build a Daily Routine That Works for YOU

Not for Instagram.
Not for that influencer with the 5 a.m. wakeup routine.
Not for your friend who thrives on early mornings.

For you.

Some people thrive with Miracle Mornings.
Others—you know, like me—thrive after 5:30 p.m. once the teaching day and commute are over.

Your routine should support your energy, not fight it.

My routine looks like:

• Coffee → shower → podcast playing on 1.5x speed
  
• 25-minute commute → more podcasts
  
• Work the school day
  
• Afternoon business check
  
• Peloton ride
  
• Dinner, dog mom duties, and nighttime biz block
  

It doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just has to be yours.

2. Meditation, Affirmations, and Mindset Work

You can start this today.

✨ YouTube is full of free meditations
✨ Your Peloton app has dozens
✨ Journals from Marshalls cost $3–6
✨ Podcasts are free
✨ Gratitude takes 30 seconds

Your brain is your #1 business tool.
Sharpen it daily.

3. Move Your Body

It doesn’t matter how.
Walk, yoga, Peloton, stretching, running, dancing in your kitchen.

Motion creates clarity.
Clarity creates momentum.
Momentum creates success.

4. Set a REAL Power Hour—or Power Blocks

A “power hour” doesn’t have to be one big hour.
Break it into:

• 4 x 15-minute blocks
  
• 3 x 20-minute blocks
  
• 2 x 30-minute blocks
  

Just make sure you’re doing things that move the needle:
✔ inviting
✔ following up
✔ connecting
✔ relationship building
✔ sharing
✔ booking

Not things like:
✖ scrolling
✖ reorganizing your Canva folders
✖ tweaking a graphic for the 10th time

Be honest with yourself.

5. Choose Your Daily “Top 3”

Every day, I choose three things that MUST get done.

Examples:

• Record a podcast
  
• Schedule next week’s posts
  
• Message 15 customers
  
• Call the vet (because yes, even life stuff counts)
  

If they don’t get done, I don’t go to bed.
This strategy is game-changing.

6. Find a Success Partner (FREE!)

Someone:

• Not on your immediate team
  
• Not your upline
  
• Not a best friend who won’t challenge you
  
• Ideally in the same industry
  

You check in, share wins, brainstorm, and hold each other accountable.

This is one of the biggest catalysts for my growth.

7. Personal Development (Books, Podcasts, YouTube)

Truly FREE… and transformative.

You can search anything you want to learn:

• “How to book parties”
  
• “How to recruit without being weird”
  
• “Direct sales motivation”
  
• “Social media strategy”
  

Every answer you ever need is on YouTube, Google, or inside a podcast.

Use it.

8. Join Free Facebook Groups for Support

Like my group:
✨ The Marketing Magic & Business Systems Group

Or others run by mentors or direct sales educators.

Engage.
Learn.
Ask questions.
Share ideas.
Get feedback.
Network.

Free education is everywhere—use it.

💛 Things That Take a Little Money (Worth Every Penny)

These are small investments that save time, reduce stress, or boost your brand.

9. A Planner That Actually Works for You

Not the planner you wish you were organized enough to use.
The planner that you’ll actually use.

Paper, digital, hybrid—whatever works.

10. Canva Pro

If you create graphics at all… get it.

It saves time
Gives templates
Organizes your brand
Lets you resize instantly
And honestly? Makes your business look legit.

11. Branding or Graphic Templates

You can pay someone once to create:

• A color palette
  
• Fonts
  
• Template bundles
  
• Facebook/Instagram banner
  
• Post graphics
  

This instantly elevates your professionalism.

12. LinkTree or a Link Hub

Free versions are great.
The upgraded version is $6 and worth it if you’re customizing.

13. Outsourcing Food, Cleaning, or Tasks

Hear me out:

🟡 Green Chef
🟡 ClickList grocery pickup
🟡 Hiring a cleaning person
🟡 A babysitting swap with another mom
🟡 A virtual assistant for 2–5 hours a month

These things buy back TIME.
And time is the most expensive resource you have.

🚀 Bigger Investments for Bigger Growth

These are next-level investments you make when you’re ready to grow faster.

14. Membership Groups ($30–$50/mo)

Examples include:

• Social selling communities
  
• Marketing communities
  
• Direct sales training groups
  
• Groups run by coaches you follow
  

These usually include:
✔ monthly trainings
✔ accountability
✔ community
✔ content prompts
✔ strategy sessions

They are an AMAZING entry point into paid development.

15. Courses or Short-Term Paid Trainings

These might cost anywhere from $39 to $999 depending on:

• Depth
  
• Topic
  
• Mentor
  
• Length
  

These are great for targeted growth when you need a boost in a specific area.

16. Masterminds ($1,000–$10,000+ per year)

This is where the REAL internal and external transformation happens.

Masterminds typically include:

• Weekly or monthly coaching calls
  
• High-level strategy
  
• Community of ambitious women leveling up
  
• Accountability
  
• Personalized feedback
  
• Deep mindset work
  

It’s intimate.
It’s powerful.
And it will stretch you in the best ways.

My yearlong mastermind has been LIFE-CHANGING.

17. 1:1 Coaching (The Top Level)

This is the most personalized investment.

1:1 coaching gives you:

• Targeted strategy
  
• Customized feedback
  
• Intensive accountability
  
• Faster breakthroughs
  
• Eyes on YOUR business only
  

But here’s the thing…
Only invest when you’re truly ready to implement and take action.

A coach can guide you, but they can’t work for you.

✨ Final Thoughts: Start Small, Start Somewhere, Start TODAY

Please don’t look at this list and try to overhaul your entire life tomorrow.

Start with ONE thing.

Maybe tonight you:

• Do a 5-minute meditation
  
• Download a new podcast
  
• Choose your “top 3” for tomorrow
  
• Schedule a power hour
  
• Join a free Facebook group
  
• Go for a 10-minute walk
  
• Set a reminder in your phone
  
• Replace scrolling with something intentional
  

Investing in yourself is a practice.
A lifestyle.
A commitment.
A sign to the universe that you’re ready for something more.

And you ARE.

I hope this was helpful.
And if you have more ways you’ve invested in yourself, message me or comment—I love hearing your ideas.

If you enjoyed this blog…

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Your support means the world to me.
Love you big, friend—and go invest in YOU today. 💛