As a young child, I was fascinated by stocks. The idea of being able to make calculative decisions that could potentially increase my initial investment became a thrilling game for me. Admittedly, my investments were as big as I was in my youth. However, with every investment my passion grew, and I knew I wanted to be in the financial world when I grew up. Eventually, I decided to become a wealth advisor. In doing so, I realized that I was entering a highly male-dominated industry. Naturally, I engrossed myself in learning how to gain a competitive edge among my peers and colleagues.
“Experience is the teacher of all things.” Julius Caesar
As the years passed and my experience as a wealth advisor grew, so did my awareness of what untold lessons were important in advancing my career. Although I’ve studied a wide range of industry best practices, and read various books on human behavior, none of my studies have provided the three most specific keys I needed. Level Up as an Entrepreneur, These lessons were gained through experience – which is something that cannot be bought with money. Time had to move with me as one of the players in the game of chess of my career.
Here are three untold lessons I’ve learned through experience:
- practice the art of thanksgiving, We live in a world that requires us to be efficient with our time – so for many people, thanks come in the form of an email or social media comment. However, both the mediums lack warmth and the right investment of time. There are two things that money cannot buy – time and youth. In this case, the impact is greater when one chooses to invest the time in a handwritten thank you note. This gesture says, “I value you, and I wanted to take my time making sure you knew,” versus, “It’s a formality, so I wanted to check it off my list.” Remember that your actions speak for you too. Make sure you like what your actions say.
- Rethink the Power of a Tribe, Life – and business – are team sports. Having the right people on your team and a part of your tribe is essential to your growth. These people shouldn’t be just cheerleaders – they should be people who can provide you with support and constructive feedback to help you move forward. Valuable are those who dare to share the core perspective – especially if it challenges the popular perspective. It often contains the precise guidance you need to develop.
- Apply “off” time, Building a brand and developing a career is demanding and requires an investment of time above and beyond. Add to this the fact that we live in a world that is 24/7 where business professionals are expected to be available on any day and at any time. However, guidance can often be misunderstood when it comes from a trusted counselor who has been burned. Everything needs time to recharge – including our trusted devices like smartphones and computers. Don’t be afraid to look for off-hours to better serve your customers.
Implementing these three best practices has been a game-changer for me. By taking the time to put in proper “thank you”, I connect with clients and coworkers on a much more personal level. With whom do I choose in my clan, I have promoted it network of support Those around me who often say unpopular things to serve my best interest. The creative support I have received has allowed me to grow, which has been a gift. While implementing off time is more challenging than it may seem, I have noticed how my guidance has become more in-tune as I move forward with a sharper perspective. However, the biggest lesson of all is that choose to share what you know so that you can invest in others… it’s a lesson that gives back in priceless ways.
