{"id":43777,"date":"2019-02-22T20:06:47","date_gmt":"2019-02-23T04:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=43777"},"modified":"2019-02-25T19:58:30","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T03:58:30","slug":"the-3-hidden-costs-of-free-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/the-3-hidden-costs-of-free-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 Hidden Costs of Free Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Let\u2019s face it, we all like free stuff. And why wouldn\u2019t we? The ability to access the information we want or need is crucial, and nowadays we can do so without losing money. This can be a great thing, but what if there are drawbacks? What if free resources are actually preventing you from making real changes in your life? Could there be a downside to getting something for free?<\/p>\n

In many cases, free resources can stand in the way of making lasting changes. Free isn\u2019t always a good thing, and the saying \u2018You get what you pay for\u2019 has more than a kernel of truth to it.<\/p>\n

In this article, I\u2019m going to reveal to you the 3 hidden costs of free resources and tell you why you should start investing money on courses, books, and sources of information that come with a price tag.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Free Resources\u00a0Are Harder to Appreciate<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It\u2019s difficult to see the value of things that come for free. We may understand on an intellectual level that what we\u2019re using is valuable, but there is less motivation to utilize it to the fullest. We don\u2019t feel the need to \u2018get our money\u2019s worth\u2019. More often than not, this leads to mediocre results and an inability to make lasting changes.<\/p>\n

    When you put your money towards a high-quality product, you will value it more than you would had it been free. Free products involve no investment, and it\u2019s difficult to put your full effort into that which you aren\u2019t fully invested in. Although this is largely overlooked, it is one of the main reasons why so many people find themselves unable to reach their goals.<\/p>\n

    When you make the decision to purchase something, you make an implicit commitment to follow through and take consistent action. There is also a sense of urgency, which is crucial when it comes to making your dreams a reality.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Free Resources\u00a0Are Difficult to Implement <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Free information is generally unstructured, incomplete, and of questionable quality. Making it work means spending a considerable amount of time and effort just gathering and organizing information from multiple sources.<\/p>\n

      The hours spent piecing it all together could have been spent doing something more productive. Additionally, the lack of structure makes it difficult to properly absorb what you read, create an action plan, track your progress, and maintain consistency. Paid products offer a clear structure which yields better results. Due to the convenience and efficiency of this, the product often pays for itself.<\/p>\n

      It can also be difficult to trust free information. It is less likely to contain references, and it is difficult to know whether it has been properly researched. If we don\u2019t give much value to this information (and might not even trust it), then how much can we really expect to get out of it?<\/p>\n

      For this reason,\u00a0when it comes to making positive changes, investing money into a program or product that you can trust is one of the most important factors.<\/p>\n

      Without this, the information has little value. The decision to purchase something requires research and deliberate action, both of which enhance our ability to feel a sense of commitment and trust necessary to utilize the product to the fullest extent.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Free Resources\u00a0Fuel Feelings of Inadequacy <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        When you refuse to invest in courses or products that you know will help you enhance your quality of life, it can make you feel as if you can\u2019t afford to improve yourself, or, worse yet, that you aren\u2019t worth the effort. Successful people are constantly investing in themselves. They are not afraid to spend their money on seminars, books, or courses.<\/p>\n

        Investing in yourself is the best decision you can make, so why not set aside some money each month to make sure you get what you need to achieve your goals? You don\u2019t need to spend thousands of dollars to go to a seminar. You can start with a low-cost program, or simply save up for a more expensive one. The more you value and invest in yourself, the more you\u2019ll get out of life.<\/p>\n

        Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

        I would be lying if I said I don\u2019t use free resources. In fact, I use a fair amount, most often in the form of YouTube videos or articles. When it comes to making major life changes, however, I\u2019m willing to invest money to ensure my success. I know that buying high-quality programs, courses, or books will help me value myself, appreciate the resources I\u2019m using, and my drive to use what I learn on a day-to-day basis.<\/p>\n

        How about you? Is there a product or course you\u2019ve been thinking of buying? Now might be the perfect time to do it!<\/p>\n

        Here is a special bonus for you<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

        Why not go further in your personal development journey? If you like this article I\u2019m sure you will benefit from my e-book. It is free but I hope you will value it! You can download it below:<\/p>\n

        The 5 Commandments of Personal Development<\/a><\/p>\n

        Thibaut Meurisse is the founder of whatispersonaldevelopment.org. Obsessed with improvement, he dedicates his life to finding the best possible ways to durably transform both his life and the lives of others. Check out his free e-book \u201cThe 5 Commandments of Personal Development<\/a>\u201d or order his book Upgrade Yourself: Simple Strategies to Transform Your Mindset, Improve Your Habits and Change Your Life<\/a>\u00a0on Amazon now.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Let\u2019s face it, we all like free stuff. And why wouldn\u2019t we? The ability to access the information we want or need is crucial, and nowadays we can do so without losing money. This can be a great thing, but … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9303,"featured_media":63153,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[35,9,6,31],"tags":[1926,4634,4629],"yoast_head":"\nThe 3 Hidden Costs of Free Resources<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Who doesn't like free stuff? 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