How to earn more money and lead a simpler life
Is it true that you are where you are today based on the choices you have made in the past? Then it also stands to reason that you will get where you want to be in the future based on the choices you make in your present. This fundamental truth is the basis for this article.
I have identified 12 clear choices that are turning points in the careers of virtually every financial professional. Every producer makes these choices either deliberately or by default. Six of these are best presented as positive choices that consistently lead to greater success and six of these choices are best presented as commonly unmade choices that lead to failure, or worse: mediocrity. Here are the 6 positive choices.
The 6 positive choices:
1. A choice of self-reliance. It has always amazed me when a producer says that they would attend a seminar, a training course, or workshop provided they can get someone else to pay for it. Make a choice to pay your own way and take TOTAL responsibility for your success or failure.
2. A choice to have a comprehensive, long-range business plan.
Would you buy stock in a company whose CEO had no plan?
3. A choice to take more time off.
Eddie Bauer has a powerful advertising slogan: “Never confuse having a career with having a life.” Make it your mantra.
You see, when you decide that you are only willing to work a certain number of hours or days per week, but you want your income to go up anyway, you become more resourceful and skilled at producing more results in increasingly smaller amounts of time.
4. A choice to be paid what you are worth.
Stop giving your services and value for less than they are worth. You have known this for a long time. It’s time.
5. A choice to be on the path of continuous improvement.
You have heard it before. Everyone has a next level. We live in a world and have chosen a business that changes rapidly. This means that you become comfortable learning, growing and continuously improving.
6. A choice to be clear about you do, what you don’t do, and do only what you do well.
One of my friends and mentors says, “I am very good at what I do because I only do what I am very good at.” This is a very smart way to live.
I suggest you create an informal, honest self evaluation. Simply rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 in each of the 6 positive areas we have discussed and then begin to make incremental improvements. “The truth will set you free” is not just a Biblical reference, it’s the truth. Be honest with yourself and make a commitment to make the choices that will propel you to your highest level of success.
