"Thank You" Lady For Not Hiring Me

I picked up a copy of the December issue of Vogue because I just had to have it, Mrs. O is on the cover and she's featured extensively in the magazine as her time in the Whitehouse draws to a close.  This morning, I opened it in the middle and started reading a feature story and didn't get far before I came upon this statement where she was told "You are not Princeton material".  Immediately my experience at a job interview came to mind.  So many of us can relate to that story.

Mrs. Obama - A woman of grace & style

Sometimes life just does not go the way we envisioned or planned it.  A good friend of mine Jamaican grandmother used to say "When man on earth making plans, God upstairs wiping them out".  It just doesn't sound the same when not in Jamaican Patois but you catch the drift. This was so true to the situation I found myself in at that juncture in my life that seem so long years ago now.

I had been in the insurance business about five years and mutual funds licensed for about three, now separated from my husband with no prospect of reconciliation this time around and  my sales career was faltering.  That particular year I was shamed by my manager for only making $25,000 and during his pep talk, whether he meant it or not, pointed out all the qualities I had that would make me successful - that amount of money was half of what I made in my first few years in the business.  He shook his head in frustration, he couldn't understand why I wasn't doing better even though he knew I was dealing with a family breakdown.  I left the meeting knowing my dignity was at stake and either I was going to get my productivity back up to my capabilities and achieve the goals set for myself when I joined this side of the business or go back to what I did before, administration and customer service in the insurance industry.  Although I felt shame and embarrassment I didn't hold what my manager said to me against him, he had a good heart, he was young - few years younger than me - he just had not developed his people and  leadership skills to the level required to lift a person up when attempting to motivate them, not use words that beat the person down further in the process.

With much agonizing, I decided to look for a job so I answered a job posting ad for an executive assistant role.  I was qualified for the position, I had the  training and experience required according to the want ad. I got the interview.  I made up my mind, if I got the job, I would take it because I needed to provide for my two children.  Having a full-time job would give me stability and I would be home in the evenings.  On the other hand, I would not have the flexibility I became used to, and I would not be able to be there for the children as much during the daytime.  It's the old ying-yang of life, there are always trade offs.  The hardest part though was giving up on my dreams.

I remember the "Lady" interviewer seated me, looked over my resume, looked me up and down and declared "You are not executive material, but I have another position for you"!  I could feel my face and neck getting hot, I know when I supress the intensity of this feeling I breakout in beet red blotches but I held it together, thanked her and told her I would think about it.  I walked out, my shoulders up, back straight, head held up high.  As I reached the elevator I muttered, "keep your damn job, I know what I am capable of".  I did not call her back.

Quickly I reassessed my options and resolved to make my career as a financial services advisor work. I went home and devised a plan how to organize my work, home and social life for success.  Of course I went on to build a successful career, now on my twenty-eighth year with my present organization.  I've worked with may people from all over the world and I can say it has been quite a ride, one that I would not trade for any "Executive Assistant" position what so ever!  Thank you lady for not hiring me.

Michelle Obama is a fascinating woman, she is truly a woman all girls can aspire to be like.  Thank you for sharing yourself with the world, you are living a life of significance and your legacy is enormous.

Beverley

BEVERLEY ALLEN, FLMI
Investment Fund Advisor & Life and Health Insurance Advisor

Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc.
Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network
Ontario Central Region (OCR), GTA West Branch
5070 Dixie Road
Mississauga, On L4W 1C9

#MoneyTalkwithBevAllen

How To Kill Morale And Productivity

It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and while no business owner, manager or team leader set out to demoralize their employees or team members all their "good intentions" does exactly that if the focus is on the negatives and the negative motivation tactic is the primary approach to management and supervision.  Science now backs up what spirituality knew all along - we attract what we focus on!

How does this happen?  Major changes within the organization or industry is presented and sold focusing on the negative rather than from a positive angle, highlighting the opportunities ahead.  Management and staff retreat to micromanagement, using "bad cop" type  tactics such as threats and intimidation to "keep people in line".  In stead of seeking common ground and using a collaborative approach to supervision and team leading the controlling, restrictive style is employed forcing team members to feel like disempowered children.

The terms "growth hacking" and "growth hacker" have been showing up daily on my FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.  This morning as I prepare to write this post I came across an article "What is a growth hacker?" written by Jonathan Aufray, Co-Founder & CEO of www.growth-hackers.net that was shared on Twitter so I decided to read the full article.  Since most of the growth hacking related pieces have been posted by tech types, I haven't clicked on many but the curiosity was always there and this article would have the answer to the question I have been thinking.

Turns out "growth hacking" is a new spin on the age old challenge of businesses or all types and sizes - aligning the competing interest of different departments and functions of the business with the overall mission and objective of the business.  Only now, new technological tools are available to fine tune analysis of every imaginable data that can drive behaviour and fairly accurately predict outcome.

So what does growth hacking have to do with the topic of this blog post?  Hear me out. "Growth hacking is a set of cross-disciplinary skills with one goal and one goal only, to grow a start-up or a business........  A growth hacker is a multi-talented individual with skills in......"  writes Jonathan. In an environment of rapid changes organizations that get lost in the weeds or in some cases it is more like bogged down in the swamp tend "majoring in the minor", micro managing processes and situations rather than engaging and empowering employees and team members. When this happens, people get frustrated, frustrations kill morale and when morale dies so does productivity.  These outfits will lose ground quickly.  On the other hand, organizations that embrace changes and use change as a tool to advance leadership and to grow leaders will quickly rise to the top. It never cease to amaze me how much money some companies spend on "junk" and "junkets" - meaningless razzle-tazzles promotional stuff and events that people attend out of obligation rather that something they are excited about while hardly putting any money in growing leaders on the front line of the organizations where it counts - with the people who acquire and keep the customers coming through the doors.   Intrigued?  here's the link to Jonathan's article:  http://www.growth-hackers.net/growth-hacking-definition/

 Leadership expert John C. Maxwell famously says "Anybody can steer a ship but it takes a leader to chart the course".  Another of John's quotes is "If you are breathing you need encouragement".  One of my favourite leaders, global entrepreneur extra-ordinary, Richard Branson consistently touts his employees as the most valuable assets in his companies.  Some people are great at doing their job but the drive away customers and kill motivation of their workmates  in the process which is not a win at all.

Happy #growthhacking!

BEVERLEY ALLEN, FLMI

Beverley

Investment Fund Advisor & Life and Health Insurance Advisor
Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc.
Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network
Ontario Central Region (OCR), GTA West Branch
5070 Dixie Road
Mississauga, On L4W 1C9

#MoneyTalkwithBevAllen

Self-Leadership - Getting The Monkeys Off Your Back

What did I do when I felt stuck in my business and personal growth?  Signed up for another business building program sponsored by company, reluctantly.  Although I didn't feel like I need more business building ideas - I have been in the financial services industry for a long time and collected volumes in books, tapes, videos.  I get news letters from all the supplier companies and other industry publication.  I signed up anyway because I wanted to break out of the rut.  The program in question was one offered by +Anthony Morris, a coach specializing in training and development in the financial services sector. Although I considered the program a refresher I thought if I get only one thing out of this, it would be worthwhile.  I did pick up some practice management tips and tools that I implemented and still use as standard procedure in my sales and client service offering. 

The big payoff came on the last day.  Antony Morris opened the final session with the statement " It doesn't matter how much you know, or how motivated you are, unless you deal with the monkey on your back you will not accomplish what you set out to do". (The statement in quotation is paraphrased as I do not remember word for word what was said, it has been five years.) That was it, that was what I need to hear and that made the effort and the price of admission worth it.  Before the session ended I took my bag and binder and left because I know exactly what I need to do.  I had been using part-time assistants in an on/off basis after my last full time person left a couple of years prior. I was "making do" but then and there I knew if I was going to move forward I needed to invest the time to hire and train a "proper" assistant so I can focus on my clients.

The timing was good because it was near the end of the year 2011.  After leaving the workshop I went back to my office and drew up a plan of what I was going to do.  I called an agency that handles job placements and arranged a meeting with a program coordinator.  I revised my practice management guide to incorporate the tools from the Anthony Morris program I'd use.  The ball was now set in motion.

The following month (December) I got together with  a couple of colleagues to do our planning for the new year.  I pulled out a "life plan" document I had drawn up back in 2003.  It was then I realized that hiring an assistant was dealing with monkey #1.  It was a great start.  Construction of a new life was now underway.

Job number one is taking stock, figuring our where you are and where you want to be.  Until and unless you do that you are just going around in circles.  My new found "friend" and mentor +John C. Maxwell was asked if he had a growth plan and he turned that question into a mission that got him on the path to become the number one leadership guru as rated by influential organization Inc. Magazine and others.

My question to you today is "What is the monkey on your back?"  What is holding you back?  The first thing that comes to mind is perhaps the one that need immediate attention. Write it done, find a way to address it.  I can guarantee you other monkeys will surface, and soon you will realize that there was no way you would have been able to achieve your goals and reach your full potential - living a life of significance - with a colony of monkeys on your back.  Start with one, deal with them one at a time and keep focused.  Remember life is, after all a journey!

BEVERLEY ALLEN, FLMI

Beverley

Investment Fund Advisor & Life and Health Insurance Advisor
Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc.
Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network
Ontario Central Region (OCR), GTA West Branch
5070 Dixie Road
Mississauga, On L4W 1C9

#MoneyTalkwithBevAllen

Emotional Quotient - Do You Handle Critism Like Donald Trump Or Barak Obama?

I wrote this post on November 6th but didn't publish it.  I was about to do so today November 22nd, and thought I would update it to include this comment.  How timely that the U.S. President Elect Donald Trump schedule a huge "off the record" meeting with TV network executives, news anchors, journalist - a list of who is who in the news business.  This meeting, from what I read, was billed as the President Elect finally making time to meet with the media to work out a way forward for covering the new administration.  Instead, they were further rebuked, insulted, ridiculed - not what they were expecting.  This is not the first time the media "has been had" this way though, it happened a few times during the campaign.

So, really, be honest, do you react like Donald Trump when someone criticizes you or do you respond like President Barak Obama?   May be on a scale somewhere in between?

I became aware of the term EQ or motional quotient back in the mid 2000's while attending an industry conference, Mackenzie University put on by Mackenzie Financial.  One of the presenters (I believe to be Daniel Goldman, Arthur of Emotional Intelligence) spoke on the topic and it was riveting.  Although I have been curious about the subject and have read many personal development books I did not start to focus on the subject until 2007.  I can tell you that raising your emotional health or your EQ does not happen at the snap of your fingers - believe me!

Socially aware, definitely. Politically engaged - somewhat.  My interest in the political discourse was mostly situational but I have always read the newspapers and kept abreast of what is happening both locally and around the world. Up until recently I subscribed to more than one paper.  American politics - before 2007 all I knew was who the contenders were and who one.  That changed when Barak Obama came on the scene.

Barak Obama came to my attention when I read an article about him in Oprah Magazine in 2004.  I was a raising a young man in a society I entered fully developed.  I grew up in Jamaica where people do not wake up everyday thinking about what colour they are.  I lived and raised my kids like that.  But, after becoming aware of the need to ground my son in his personal identity as a Canadian born young man in a family of mixed race heritage I thought Barak would be a good role model for him so I went out and bought Dreams Of My Father for him, one more tool in the arsenal for raising a successful male.  My son is doing very well for himself, by the way!  After that DNC speech in 2006 I became fixated. I have learnt a lot about emotional intelligence - EQ, by observing Barak Obama through a brutal campaign and watching him through his years as President of The United States of America.

Everything I have read about high states of consciousness, being "awake" spiritually and having a high emotional intelligence leads me to believe that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are people who have achieved extremely highly developed emotional quotients.  Their high EQ's along with their high IQ's have enabled them to be so successful in the face of unprecedented racism, bigotry, unwarranted mean and degrading criticisms and outright obstructions. Compare how they deal with these pile-ons with how Mr. Trump deal with the smallest slight.  I will let you do the grading.

It has been said that a high EQ will take you further that a high IQ and I can tell you that I agree with this as there is much evidence to prove this theory.  One of my favourite motivational speakers, Bob Proctor said "Education alone will not bring you success, the world is full of educated derelicts."  Where to start?  Get a good book on the topic, read it, follow the example of John C. Maxwell and develop a growth plan. Then take it from there, one step at a time.  Let your intuition be your guide.

Today is the day.  Happy journey,

Beverley

How Does Self-Leadership Affect Our Finances

According to the teaching of John C. Maxwell, author of over 70 books on leadership and self-development and rated #1 leadership expert by Inc. Magazine, the most difficult person to lead is self.  If you can lead yourself successfully, then you will definitely have success in leading others.  Since this Spring, I have become a student of John Maxwell Team and I have been reinvigorated with the desire to learn, grow myself and to help others grow to new heights in their personal life, businesses and careers.  As I delve into the subject of self-leadership, light bulbs have just been popping on all over the place because I can connect so much with self-leadership.

First, what is self-leadership?  Law #1 in John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Law Of Leadership is The Law of the Lid.  John teaches that leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.  In simple terms, the Law of the Lid states that everybody had a "lid" or a ceiling on their leadership ability and no one can lead beyond this lid.  So then, my answer without referencing any material, is the ability to effectively master and grow one's self in the development, with consistency, of discipline, character, knowledge, focus, dedication and awareness to achieving one's life purpose through career and personal endeavours. 

It goes without question then, that in order to be successful with money, just as with business and career we need to apply the Law of the Lid and grow our knowledge and awareness, and part of this awareness is knowing what to do when you don't know what to do.  Having the right people on your team including having an advisor who is knowledgeable in the areas of money management and financial security that are important to you.  Self-leadership with money also means being disciplined to use tools and services to manage your income and debt; being proactive in planning and organizing your financial affairs.  Planning allows you to be strategic and effective in areas of tax reduction and deferral which will pay tremendous "dividend" in the long run as those tax savings can be reinvested for your own economic benefit.  The opposite is doing this in a hap-hazard way, where sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss.

Over the years what I have observed in my career as Investment Fund Advisor and Life & Health Insurance Advisor, it's not the people who earn the most or who are better educated who end up with the most money.  I see many examples of immigrants who didn't even go to high school, came to this country (Canada) worked hard, took some chances, and end up with very decent net worth where as their Canadian born highly educated children are not as successful with money or even struggle financially. The main differentiating factor?  The first generation immigrants have habits, attitudes and disciplines that is lacking in their offsprings.

The long and short of the matter is that our financial results are directly correlated to our self-leadership and we need to have a growth plan for ourselves which includes a growth plan for our money.  In other words, a financial plan.

BEVERLEY ALLEN, FLMI

Beverley

Investment Fund Advisor & Life and Health Insurance Advisor
Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc.
Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network
Ontario Central Region (OCR), GTA West Branch
5070 Dixie Road
Mississauga, On L4W 1C9

#MoneyTalkwithBevAllen