By Radley West
I have written about the cost of hiring an expert and the value of real expertise. But today, I want to take that idea a step further — because spending money on knowledge means nothing if you don’t actually use it.
We live in a world where information is available at the click of a button, and experts are everywhere. But here’s the hard truth: No amount of good advice, no matter how much you pay for it, will do anything for you unless you apply it.
Knowledge without action is just an expensive hobby.
Think about it — if you meet with a nutritionist, get a personalized meal plan, and then continue eating fast food and skipping breakfast, what did you really pay for? Just a fancy conversation.
The same goes for hiring a personal trainer. You can invest in the best coaching, learn all the right exercises, and even get a customized workout plan. But if you don’t actually show up and do the work, you’re just throwing money into the fitness industry’s tip jar.
And let’s not forget business advice. You can attend all the seminars, hire consultants, and read every best-selling book on leadership, but if you never implement any of the strategies, your business isn’t going to grow. It’s going to stay exactly where it is — while your bank account shrinks.
Spending money on expert advice feels like progress. It gives you the illusion that you’re doing something important. You tell yourself, I hired a coach. or I paid for this program. But until you take real action, you haven’t moved an inch. It’s like buying a gym membership and thinking you’ll get stronger just because you own a key card.
Wasting money hurts, but what’s worse is the opportunity cost of not applying what you’ve learned. Every bit of useful information you ignore is time, energy, and potential progress down the drain.
Imagine if, instead of seeking more advice, you simply committed to applying what you already know. If you followed the meal plan, did the workouts, used the business strategies — you’d see actual results. And those results, not just the advice, are what make your investment worthwhile.
So how do you make sure your money isn’t wasted? Here are a few simple steps:
- Act Immediately – As soon as you receive valuable advice, put it into practice. Don’t wait for “the right time.”
- Track Your Progress – Whether it’s nutrition, fitness, or business, measure your results. Seeing progress will keep you motivated.
- Hold Yourself Accountable – If you struggle to follow through, find a way to stay accountable. A coach, a mentor, or even a friend can help keep you on track.
- Stop Collecting and Start Doing – Resist the urge to constantly seek more information before you’ve applied what you already have.
At the end of the day, knowledge is only as powerful as the action that follows it. So before you spend another dollar on expert advice, ask yourself — am I actually going to use this? If the answer is no, save your money. If the answer is yes, then go all in and make it count.
Radley West is married to Dr. Andrew West and together they own Anytime Fitness Lake Murray and 33/18 Chiropractic Associates. Radley is a gym owner and personal trainer with more than 20 years of experience helping people achieve non-traditional health goals. She and her team approach fitness by teaching clients to build better habits and create sustainable, feel-good fitness and nutrition routines—no need for intense six-pack aspirations (unless that’s your thing).
