ROE (Return on Experience) (E251)

ROE (Return on Experience)

I was looking at a business spreadsheet the other day—you know, that analytical side of life we all deal with. Everyone talks about ROI: Return on Investment. They want to know the math: “If I spend a dollar, do I get two back?”

But it got me thinking about a different kind of currency: ROE, or Return on Experience

Think about a cup of coffee. You spend $5 on it. It’s hot, it smells great, and for 30 minutes, it’s pure pleasure. Then the cup is empty and it’s gone. Or think about a $25 sweatshirt you wear a thousand times until the cost-per-use is down to pennies. That’s practical. That’s a “good deal” on paper.

But then there’s the other side of the ledger.

The Value of a Moment I recently spent $500 on a concert ticket to see Rod Stewart. Now, a business person would look at that on paper and say, “That’s expensive”. But when Rod started singing a song that evoked a deep, visceral emotion—one that transported me back to a first love, a first kiss, or a first concert—time simply stopped.

In those four minutes, you aren’t thinking about the $500. You are feeling the song. You’re feeling your own life. You’re feeling an impact that stays in your heart long after the coffee is cold and the sweatshirt is worn out.

“You can’t wear a song out. The more you hear it, the more valuable it becomes.”

That is the currency I care about: the feeling of realizing you are exactly where you are supposed to be. On tonight’s program, I’m going to attempt to give you your ROE. I want to give you your time’s worth purely for the joy of listening.

We are going to explore the definition of the price of a goosebump. From the classics you’ve loved for decades to new sounds that may become your next favorite, stay with me for the next couple of hours.

Today’s Playlist