Leadership is a long game, and our children are worth every minute of it.

When Did We Stop Investing in People?

We often hear leaders talk about the strength of a nation in terms of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), natural resources, or business output. We track stock markets and property values, make short-term financial decisions based on quarterly earnings, and invest heavily in innovation, but rarely do we talk about people as our greatest resource.

When did that shift happen?

When did we stop seeing people as worthy of long-term investment?

For generations, communities believed in building people up. We mentored, taught, apprenticed, and raised each other. We knew that human potential was not just valuable—it was the whole point. But somewhere along the way, we replaced people with profits.

Now, we invest in buildings more than we invest in educators. We pour funds into short-term results instead of long-term development. We treat students as data points and employees as outputs. And we wonder why burnout is at an all-time high and leadership feels scarce.

The truth is, leadership is not a program—it’s an investment. And just like a 401(k), it doesn’t grow overnight. It requires courage, consistency, and a commitment to the long haul.

Leadership Development Is Human Development

When I work with teens, I don’t just teach them how to lead—I invest in their confidence, their voice, and their sense of belonging. That kind of growth doesn’t come from a single session or a checklist of outcomes. It comes from showing up, again and again, and letting them know: you are worth the time it takes to grow.

This is not easy work. It’s not instant. But when we stop seeing leadership as a flashy title and start seeing it as a seed we plant in others, we remember why we do this in the first place.

The Cost of Disinvestment

When we stop investing in people, we see the consequences:

• Students labeled as "difficult" instead of "under-supported"

• Educators forced to choose between test scores and real connection

• A generation of young people unsure of their value because no one slowed down to show them it existed in the first place

And it’s not just in schools. It happens in families, communities, and workplaces where we prioritize control over connection and performance over potential.

Reclaiming the Long-Term Vision

What would it look like to invest in people again? It would mean:

• Creating classrooms where mistakes are part of the process

• Building relationships before setting expectations

• Valuing growth over perfection

• Believing that our young people have the capacity to lead—if we just give them the tools, time, and trust

Leadership takes courage. Not just from students, but from the adults willing to invest in them.

Because when we invest in people, we’re not just shaping better leaders. We’re building a better world.

So, what now?

Ask yourself: Where am I investing?

Am I investing in people, or only in outcomes?

Leadership isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a decision we make every day—to believe in the long-term value of a human being.

Let’s choose to invest in what really matters. Let’s invest in our students. Our kids. Ourselves.

Because people have always been our most powerful resource. It’s time we started acting like it.