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Return on Energy (ROE) and Return on Life (ROL): The Missing Metrics That Protect Your Capital and Your Capacity

James Hicks's avatar
Caren Glasser's avatar
James Hicks and Caren Glasser
Mar 23, 2026
∙ Paid
Metaphorical balance scale showing coins fading while a glowing energy stream represents vitality, capacity, and life impact over profit alone.

Most investors track one thing religiously: ROI, or return on investment. Percentages, timelines, projections, deal structures. All important.

But here is the blind spot that keeps showing up in founders, executives, and everyday decision-makers: they rarely track return on energy.

Because if you only measure money, you can end up “winning” financially wh…

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Caren Glasser's avatar
A guest post by
Caren Glasser
Caren is a Tech Evangelist focused on helping people use technology with clarity, confidence, and intention. She writes The Smart Stack, exploring how to turn insight into momentum without overwhelm.
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