To all our highly valued clients and acquaintances:
To Have a Coach or Not To Have a Coach – is that a question??
I recently returned from a 2 day conference titled “The Odd Couple”. Along with approximately 100 colleagues, under the extraordinary facilitative leadership of Alan Weiss, PhD, CSP, CMC and speech coach, and award-winning speaker Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE. (http://www.patriciafripp.com/oddcouple.html). I came away from those two days freshly energized, inspired and challenged to make all kinds of springtime-like new beginnings.
Sometime I wonder why Trusted Financial Advisors don’t fully utilize other Trusted Advisors. Whether they be peers or mentors or business coach confidantes, it seems to me that this is a great idea for any professional who is seriously committed to being their best or beating their best, for the sake of the highest possible pursuits of satisfaction and fulfillment - never mind what it can do for your growing business as you continue to spur yourself on to higher and higher level of service and excellence and all that can come with that. Today, I am making the case for the principle of always having a coach or a mentor – be it me or whoever is not my point.
Especially, when it comes to living a complete and balanced life, based upon thoughtful values and priorities, it seems to me to be a virtual insurance policy for the perspective and discipline that would be required to create lasting value for ourselves and those we most love. Beyond major public figures finding themselves going off-course and derailing various aspects of their lives, I find that many of us can get on a seemingly justifiable, tunnel vision action track that may not serve us well at all and having prices far too large to cover any supposed rewards we had hoped to achieve.
Whether it’s the proverbial plumber with the leaky faucets or the cobbler whose children have holes in their shoes, I see life as too short, too precious and too fragile not to invest in ourselves and take advantage of all the support you can access to live well and full. Over the years, we’ve all heard the “if Tiger Woods uses a coach then it must be the best thing to do” illustrations.
If Tiger does it, then why not us, to double check for possible blind spots, relative to what we say are our values and commitments. To have confidential relationships in which we can think out loud, re-energize and brainstorm for a better and brighter future, as well as a happier and more joyous journey. In today’s extremely stressed-filled, anxiety-ridden uncertain environment, is that too much to put in place for ourselves as a safety net for greatness? Part of our challenge in this industry and in life is being a model of what we are advocating. Asset allocation for our life, if you will – as well as a good business and advisory practice.
As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar is known to repeatedly say, “You can get everything in life if you just help enough other people get what they want”. Are you being served the way you want others to experience you serving them? Are you becoming a person far greater than the money you earn?
If this all makes some level of sense that it be a consistent practice, then why don’t more professionals in the investment business invest in themselves?
I was thinking about why more Financial Advisors don’t take advantage of this kind of additional support – I would suggest a few possible rationalizations:
1) Possible embarrassment – I am a do-it-myselfer – I am the rugged individualist – I go it alone.
2) Blindness and pride, which typically precede some kind of fall in some major area of our life.
3) Don’t know who to trust – can’t find anyone with whom to risk. Better stick to my game face.
4) Somehow already supposed to know all there is to know – not the ”in” thing to do.
5) Don’t understand the power of the “mastermind principle” – back to basic Napoleon Hill.
In recent conversations with clients, several have mentioned how powerful and effective it is for them to have their commitments to themselves “out there” in the world in another confidential, supportive relationship, to help them to keep their highest vision real and developing. Some calling it being held accountable. I call it wise to have someone helping you to be true to your highest self, on an ongoing basis. I know that, for myself, left to my own devices, I tend to cave in. What about you?
As one coach brought up in discussion recently, and as many have probably heard over the years, “are you trying to feed your ego or to feed your family?” Maybe not in the literal sense, but required for true financial independence or any kind of real freedom, for that matter.
Let me ask you a couple of questions (for all to consider, in terms of potential Return on Investment)
Are there previous decisions or choices that you have made in the past,
that could have gone far better with wise counsel?
Knowing what you now know, what are you going to do differently, and with whom,
to insure that you are making the most of the one time gift that your life is?
Maybe you see opportunities/challenges for an incredible life that are too good not to muster all the additional strength and inspiration you can harness. If that’s the case, what are you waiting for?
May you take all the training you can get and access the best possible resources you can find to live an exemplary life and develop an extraordinary business. And may you inspire many others to do the same or better. Good luck!! We appreciate you and thank you for allowing us to be of service.
Always looking to serve you with productive and revenue generating ideas. Til the next time, we are...
Enthusiastically yours,
Best – Coach Don |
