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
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