At a recent business meeting, attendees shared their successes from the previous work week.  The description of successes could be anything, from finally completing a huge project, to having the courage to have a difficult conversation with a co-worker.  Or......how buying a high quality pencil sharpener can make the whole week feel like a success.  Yes, a pencil sharpener.  This attendee is an art therapist, and takes a lot of notes.  She is also very kinesthetic, and so remembers information by drawing pictures and diagrams.  She goes through a lot of pencils!  She had a working good old fashioned pencil sharpener, but at the start of this particular work week she stumbled upon a state of the art, high speed, high quality, and high priced pencil sharpener. Feeling very self indulgent, she bought it.
 
She found that the knowledge of having a perfectly sharpened pencil within a few seconds whenever she wanted increased her productivity.  She didn't dread filling out the long forms required of her position.  It also increased her joy during her work week.  She found that the appeal of a sharp pencil resulted in her sketching more, which increased her creativity and problem solving.  She looked back and realized that the practical, inexpensive, but clunky and inconsistent pencil sharpener had been a subconscious barrier to doing what she loved; writing and drawing.
 
Sometimes you need more than something, or someone, that can just get the job done.  A product or service that can save you time and frustration, and maybe even add a little fun back into what you do, is worth the expense.  Perhaps you can save on the paper, recycle your ink, or buy pencils at a discount store.  But maybe its time to buy a state of the art pencil sharpener.