Let’s start with a quick definition of these two to make sure we’re on the same page, before we get into our discussion.
An upgrade is allowing yourself to have a newer, better, fancier something that’s already in your life. (More travel, nicer clothes, sushi instead of McDonald’s, you get the drift.)
An uplevel is when you branch out into something new for you, often with some kind of support or price tag investment, because you realize you need additional help in this area of your life.
Think joining a homeschooling membership, or paying for an eating plan to help you lose weight, or signing with a business coach.
- You just began homeschooling all 3 of your kids, so you joined a group to get the hang of it faster.
- Or you’re already into wellness, but you decided to go all in and pay for the additional help of a nutrition coach to make sure you don’t fall off the wagon this time.
- And you’re still doing the business, of course, but you needed the assistance that only comes from someone personally coaching you.
See, here’s the difference: the upgrade is a nicer gym membership, or paying for more classes. The investment is saying I’m going to take my health seriously this year, so I’m going to pay for a trainer for the first time in my life.
It’s not so much the level of the investment as it is the newness (or not) of the support.
If you’re already paying for an app to write your grocery list for you, and you don’t NEED more support, it’s an upgrade to pay for a meal service.
Upgrades are usually optional. They’re a fun kind of consumerism (that may or may not be advisable based on your current financial circumstances).
But if you’re starting a new role in life, or finally want to stick with it this time, you’re trying to become a new version of yourself – a new level of you – hence the term “up-level.”
You’re leveling UP. Not staying the same, not growing more luxurious – going UP.
So that’s why you may be confusing the difference between upgrade culture (aka, consumerism) and uplevel culture (i.e., personal development).
The key here is to only upgrade when you can afford to, and to prioritize upleveling over upgrades.
Because changing who you are is going to make far more difference to your life than paying for a more expensive version of another thing.
So I would encourage you to choose wisely about what you want to invest in for your next season of life (whether that’s babies or business, wellness or workouts).
Is there an area where you feel like getting someone’s support, walkthrough, assistance in this area would really shortcut your route to success? Catapult you there sooner, with the mindset of “I’m a woman who ___” intact?
Then go invest there. Pay for the uplevel there.
Skip the kitchen upgrade or date night restaurant upgrade for now. Focus on who you want to be, who you’re drawn to become, and uplevel to that first.
Then see how you like your life, and whether you even need the consumer upgrades after all.
