Is This Opportunity Worth It? How to Evaluate Your Time, Energy, and Money
This week, we asked Richard Jonkergouw this question:
"We all get excited about new ideas—but how do you really know when something is worth your time, energy, and money?"
Richard has lived across continents and worn many hats in his life - he's been a homebuilder, transformational therapist, app developer, and astrologer. Whether it’s writing a thesis in India or building Astra Nora from the ground up, he brings his heart and soul into everything that he does. He is someone who follows the pull of his intuition, not the plan. And that has brought him lifetimes of experience and deep inner wisdom.
Richard has taken big leaps many times in his life, trusting his gut over guarantees. And he has learned, through trial and error, how to discern where and when to invest your resources.
He is currently a mobile app developer and the creator of Astra Nora, an AI-powered app focused on astrology and human design.
"By nature, I’m an optimist. I tend to jump into things with enthusiasm and make decisions quickly, often acting as if the whole thing is already a done deal. Over the years, I’ve moved countries on a whim, started ambitious projects without much thought, and even began designing and building a house—because I thought it would be more affordable and allow for something unique. And that was just a side project!
Looking back, these experiences taught me that things almost never go exactly as planned. They also made me realize that not everyone involved in a project is there to build something meaningful—some people simply ride the wave of your time, energy, and resources without contributing much in return.
So, how do I now decide whether something is worth investing my time, energy, and money into?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that these resources—especially time and energy—are limited. This wasn’t always obvious to me. I’m the type who once dreamed up a 100-person spiritual retreat in Mexico and thought, Sure, I can do that. I poured myself into it—funding it, designing it, developing it, managing it. Later, I started working on what I initially thought would be a more contained venture: a mobile app. It’s an AI-powered astrology chatbot that combines Western and Vedic astrology, along with the Human Design System. The app includes social features like user-to-user chat and photo sharing, as well as reflective tools that help users journal about emotional patterns and personal wounds revealed in their charts. But even this has become an all-consuming effort—built, launched, marketed, and supported entirely by me. I’ve come to realize that no matter the size or appearance of a project, if you're carrying it alone, the demands can be just as heavy.
These experiences have helped me reshape my approach. Now, my first reaction to new opportunities is usually “no.” That doesn’t mean I’m closed off—it just gives me space to reflect. I wait and see if the idea sticks with me. Does it keep pulling at my attention in a meaningful way? Or does it fade naturally? That pause helps me choose more intentionally.
Another lens I’ve learned to use is alignment with my personal values. And I don’t just mean the obvious ones like honesty or accountability—I mean the deeper, more personal ones. For example, I value opportunities that deepen my sense of connection—both to the people around me and to humanity as a whole. I’m drawn to projects that are bigger than myself, allowing the opportunity for a deeper sense of purpose and belonging to reach me. Over time, I’ve also come to understand the meaning behind the phrase “everything that shines is not gold.” Just because something looks exciting or promising on the surface doesn’t mean it aligns with what really matters to me.
One phrase that really resonated with me is: “If you don’t know what to do with your time, other people will.” When I had too much open space in my schedule, I found myself getting involved in other people’s plans—especially because I enjoy helping and being useful. At times, I became the go-to person, the one who would always step in. While that was appreciated, I started to realize I wasn’t carving out space for the direction I truly wanted to go in.
Over time, I’ve come to value leading with vision rather than reacting out of habit or helpfulness. I’ve learned to say no more often, to protect my time, and to get clear about where I want to head. When I do that, the right people and opportunities tend to align more naturally.
I don’t believe in rigid timelines for success, and I try not to stress too much about whether something is a “failure.” But I do check in with myself regularly and ask: Is this still the right thing to be doing? That simple question keeps me grounded and helps me course-correct when needed."
Richard is here to speak to anyone who is interested in following a path of mobile app development, especially if they are drawn to healing and personal development!
Book a chat with Richard Jonkergouw.