Live Long and Thrive

Have you heard the Kaiser commercials about Live Long and Thrive? I love these ads and the approach they are taking. I had met with them before they launched the campaign because of the synergies with my company Thrive Media.

I had some health comments in my previous blog and it got me thinking about why your health is so important to your financial future.

Nothing will drain your pocketbook more than an unexpected illness that isn't completely covered by your insurance. Even worse, dare I say you might not have insurance. I have a bright and talented friend with an MBA from a top Grad school who made a poor financial decision - he let his insurance lapse and ended up in the hospital with an emergency appendicitis and a $45,000 bill. GASP! At least that is what I did when I heard this happened.

Why is Kaiser spending $40 million on a campaign to convince their patients, and potential customers to eat their broccoli and exercise? Isn't it obvious? Healthier patients cost them less money. And being healthier saves you money too.

If you are healthier, you are more productive. A few months ago I had a bad chiropractor adjustment and ended up with neck pain and blinding headaches for almost 2 months(all better now thank you). Do I even need to tell you what that did to my productivity at work? You will notice, I didn't blog even once during that time. It took all my energy just to make it through the day, let alone try to be a creative and interesting person.

I used to do a lot of extreme sports when I was younger; downhill skiing, waterskiing, even barefoot waterskiing, and windsurfing. Now I take it much easier. I know what breaking an arm or hurting a knee (which I have done) can do to my career and my bank account. Insurance might cover the cost of resetting broken bones and physical therapy, but it does not cover my lost income from not being able to work at maximum capacity. And when you are an entrepeneur like me, you are responsible for generating your own cash flow.

So folks, eat your broccoli, exercise, avoid those death defying sports and try to find a little zen time while avoiding going crazy (by obsessing over your health)!