Return on investment

(What’s love got to do with it with Ruth Chigubu)

When you make an investment in a business sense you usually are looking to make a return on your investment (ROI). In simple English, you wish to make a profit on your invested capital. But is this guaranteed?  Not always.  But you do your research. Others even get financial advisers before making the investment. Those that plunge in have a higher chance of making a loss.We are told relationships are also some form of investment. How then do we invest in our relationships? Do we do enough research or we just plunge in and find ourselves in the deep end and drowning for those that can not swim?  Those who can will survive and swim to shallow waters but funny enough even those that can swim are found drowning! For lack of realisation and miscalculation on their part. But how do you calculate and assess risk when it comes to emotions?

To those that are willing and tend to give their all, emotionally in a relationship, no holds barred situation, we are the ones who put in all the effort and are dejected when we realize that we made a wrong investment. Instead of counting our losses we go on hoping that the markets will turn and the share price go up.  Sister wake up. That’s never going to happen. Run now whilst you can. You are being played, yes someone is playing with your emotions, leading you on. He is never going to love you the way you want, need you like you need him.

It comes as a shock when we realise that our other half is not and has not made the same investment. We are shocked and hurt. And you go, but I thought…

You thought wrong. Your emotions clouded your judgement and you question the principle “ you reap what you sow” You were hoping for a bumper harvest and have to finally contend with little or no harvest at all. The million dollar question is, do you maintain the investment or you look for other markets?  This time around do a little research and paying for a financial advisor might be worthwhile as compared to the ultimate loss.
But is it not better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all? How come you failed dismally? Is the man/woman you are investing in the right one? How much should we invest and when do we expect a return?
Our hearts are frail and break when we finally realise and admit to the wrong investment. That the relationship is not what we want or need.  That it does not serve the purpose.  It is one sided, the other party is selfish…only concerned with taking and never gives. Gives only when it suits them, do you need this?
Summon courage to do something about this kind of investment…..NOW
– Ruth Chigubu is freelance writer and businesswoman based in Harare. She can be reached on ruthchigubu@yahoo.com