Bill is a financial services representative in the Southwest U.S. who told me that one of the greatest challenges for him was his fear of reaching out to the already “successful” people in his community who he thought he could help. “I have a list of these people I never call,” he told me. “The…
Two advisors start their careers with similar backgrounds—the same education and training—and similar connections and people skills. Within two years, one of them is extremely successful, and the other is struggling. Maybe “the other” isn’t bringing in enough clients, or the right kinds of clients. Maybe he is working so hard that he has no
Call me Crazy (or maybe just call me “Coach”) but when someone calls me and catches me off guard to try and sell me something, I usually don’t hang up on him. I listen and respond to his inquiry, and then I make suggestions to him on how to improve his approach. For most professionals,
While most people think that the biggest fear we face in our professional lives is the fear of failure, the fear of success is actually much more insidious and damaging. Lisa, age 28, had been earning $40,000 a year at her corporate job and switched to a straight commission financial job working for one of
“There’s just never enough time to do all the things that need to be done!” Dave, an insurance producer, told me during a recent workshop. “Is it possible,” I asked Dave, “that you’re focusing on the trivial many instead of the vital few, and that’s why you don’t have enough time?” I explained to the
To Whom Are You Offering/Selling Your Services? The wrong answer to this question is “I offer my services to everyone”. Financial advisors and coaches who tell me that they help [all] people reach [all of] their personal, career, or financial goals do not understand a critical truth about 21st Century business: clients want to work with experts and specialists. If You’re Everything
