The truth about quick fixes, real investment, and why personal commitment matters more than your budget
I recently found myself scrolling through yet another inbox full of pitches. Whether it’s email or on LinkedIn, you know the ones, "Get 100 new client leads in 30 days!" or "Scale to 10K months with our lead generator!" or "This one system will transform your business overnight!" Sound familiar? Whether you're a business owner navigating promises of instant success or someone trying to get healthier with the latest fitness trend, we're all bombarded with the same enticing message: success is just one purchase away.
But here's what I've learned after years in the wellness industry, working with everyone from stressed-out midlife women to business executives: I don’t care about how much money you have (or don’t have) you absolutely cannot buy your way to lasting success, not in business, not in health, and definitely not in creating meaningful change.
The Difference Between Spending Money and Making an Investment
Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-spending. I invest heavily in my business and personal growth. I pay for technology that streamlines my work, education that keeps me current, and coaching that pushes me to be better. The keyword there? Invest.
There's a world of difference between writing a check (or hitting "buy now" who writes checks anymore, right?) and hoping that solves all your problems, versus putting in the deep, committed work yourself alongside that financial investment. One is wishful thinking disguised as action. The other is a strategic partnership with your future self.
You can purchase the most expensive gym membership in town, hire the best personal trainer available, and pay for a meal prep service to deliver healthy foods. But if you're not consistently showing up, doing the uncomfortable work, and staying committed when progress feels slow, you've just made some donations to various businesses.
Why the "Quick Fix" Mentality Backfires Every Time
The truth, especially for my fellow midlife women who might be reading this while juggling career demands, family responsibilities, and some semblance of a personal life, is that the quick-fix mentality is counterproductive.
When we spend money and expect immediate results, we set ourselves up for a cycle of disappointment and panic-spending. You try one program for six weeks, don't see the transformation promised in the marketing materials, and conclude it "doesn't work." So you move on to the next shiny solution, and the next, and the next.
Actual progress, whether it involves your health, business, or company culture, requires patience and resilience. It means staying the course when results aren't immediately visible, trusting the process even when your inner critic is loud, and recognizing that real change occurs through small, consistent actions over time.
The Leadership Lesson
This blog post idea occurred to me during a recent conversation with a business owner who was asking about wellness services for his team. He asked a straightforward question: "How do you plan to get my employees engaged in wellness programs?"
My answer may have surprised him: "That's something we'll do together."
You see, a business can't outsource a healthier company culture. Well-intentioned companies invest in wellness programs only to see minimal participation and zero lasting change. The missing ingredients are usually a coaching component and active, visible leadership commitment.
What Real Leadership Investment Looks Like
The most successful wellness initiatives share one common thread: Leaders that don't just approve the budget and step back. They show up, they participate, and they model the behaviors they want to see.
It might mean the CEO or company owner talks openly about their own wellness journey, the struggles, and the wins. The manager who models healthy time boundaries. The executive who acknowledges when they're feeling stressed and shares healthy coping strategies instead of just pushing through.
When leadership is visibly invested and shows genuine care, wellness programs become a catalyst for real, lasting cultural change rather than just another initiative that gets forgotten by next quarter.
Making Smart Investments in Your Wellness Journey
So what does this mean for you, whether you're working on personal wellness goals or considering wellness services for your team? Here are the non-negotiable elements of any worthwhile investment:
Personal Commitment Beyond Payment: Before you invest in any program, coaching, or service, ask yourself honestly: Am I ready to do the work this requires? Am I prepared to stay consistent even when progress feels slow?
Realistic Timeline Expectations: Sustainable change takes time. Be suspicious of any program promising dramatic transformation in unrealistic timeframes. Real wellness is a marathon, not a sprint.
Active Participation, Not Passive Consumption: The best programs require your engagement, not just your attendance. Look for opportunities that challenge you to apply what you're learning and provide accountability for your progress. Are you attending a webinar and encouraged to demonstrate what you've learned? Do you have access to coaching to work through how the lessons apply to your individual needs?
Leadership by Example: If you're a business owner or manager, your team is watching how you approach wellness. Your authentic participation matters more than the size of your wellness budget. If you're a parent, your kids are watching. If you're a friend, your circle is noticing. Be the change you want to see.
The Collaborative Approach That Works
Here's what works for both personal wellness journeys and corporate culture change: approach it as a collaborative effort rather than something you can purchase and delegate.
It might mean working with a coach or trainer who expects your active participation in setting goals, tracking progress, and problem-solving obstacles.
This collaborative approach is more demanding than simply buying a solution. It's also infinitely more rewarding when you're an active participant in your own transformation, whether personal or organizational; the changes built on a foundation of genuine commitment rather than external motivation tend to stick.
Ready to Do the Real Work?
Creating lasting wellness changes in your life or your workplace requires showing up consistently, staying committed when progress feels slow, and understanding that the most valuable transformations happen through consistent effort over time.
For my fellow midlife women navigating the wellness landscape: you already have everything you need to succeed. Trust your ability to make consistent choices that support your health and well-being. If you need help, hire a coach that will walk along side you. If you are doing your best, it’s always enough.
For business owners and HR professionals in the DFW area considering wellness initiatives, the most successful programs combine professional wellness coaching with leadership commitment. Coaching provides the expertise and accountability your team needs, while your genuine participation as a leader creates the cultural shift for lasting change.
If you're ready to explore what a collaborative approach to wellness could look like for you or your team, one where we work together rather than just implementing another program, let's connect. Real change happens when we stop trying to buy our way to success and start doing meaningful work together.
Questions? I’d love to help.
Lea
Lea Genders is a board-certified health coach, personal trainer, and workplace wellness consultant based in Fort Worth, TX. She offers corporate wellness programs for employee health and productivity, as well as in-person and virtual training / coaching for individuals worldwide. Her blog shares expert guidance on strength training, running, and sustainable nutrition @fortworth_trainer
I recently found myself scrolling through yet another inbox full of pitches. You know the ones - "Get 100 new clients in 30 days!" or "Scale to 10K months with our lead generator!" Sound familiar? Here's what I've learned after years in the wellness industry: you absolutely cannot buy your way to lasting success. There's a world of difference between writing a check and hoping that solves all your problems, versus putting in the deep, committed work yourself alongside that investment. True progress requires patience and resilience, whether we're talking about personal wellness or creating healthier company cultures.