The Team

Stepping out can be seriously scary, however if we have done our research, talked to people in the field we want to step into, counted the cost and in a good support network then it isn't so bad.

Something I have not talked about until now is the support network. This can comprise of your accountant, broker or bank manager, you financial planner, your ra! ra! team, and perhaps your legal team.

Finding a good accountant, financial planner and solicitor is a must. Have they experienced similar things? Do they work in the field you are going into? Do they understand business or are they just bean counters.

It took me quite a while to find an accountant who I could relate to and one who encouraged me and supported me, was accessible and most importantly gave me guidance.

The financial planner, well that's me! I must admit there are some folk who do not relate to me but they are few, fortunately. It is my job to paint the big picture and solve the problems, give strategy.

Legal counsel is important especially when others are involved, these people help us understand our rights and obligations, important before we sign anything.

Now the ra! ra! team. Don't expect family to automatically support your ideas, they may not want the stress, they may not have vision, they may be fearful. Find someone who you can listen to and they listen to you and support you, not try to give you advice, advice is best coming from those who have the quals. This is very important! Don't allow unqualified individuals without experience to encourage you to do something risky, count the cost with advice.

Who Are You?

Do you enjoy what you do? Are your customers blessed just by knowing you? Do they know you will do good by them?

When we are walking in a path that brings life to us and those around us we could hazard to guess we have found that place of contentment in our chosen career and radiate that to all who meet us.

When I do what I currently do, a financial planner, I love going to work, I love to study, to care for my clients. My clients tell me 'Di you are a good business woman because you listen and care for us.'

My clients let me care and I am glad because I need to care. I cannot see them as dollar bills but living breathing friends.

When I was given 760 clients by AMP I was ecstatic, finally I am given 760 possible friends. How blessed will I be?

I have an opportunity to do life with all these people and be a source of guidance, inspiration and growth.

Make sure you are doing what the real you is best at. Find it if you are not living it now. Go be a blessing!

Dealing with Self

Dealing with ourselves is a constant given. We range from arrogance to self-doubt and the whole spectrum in between.

As a woman I recognised that my emotions were like a handful of hot-air balloons. I needed to hold them tight or they would fly off in all directions. Emotions are not truth they are usually a reaction to something.

My goal had to be ensuring that my emotions responded to good input. I know the good feeling of achievement and satisfaction that comes from doing the work I have planned. Focus rather that fritter gives good satisfaction and reward.

What governs my life has to be a plan and discipline to carry out that plan. Doing this brings a success in achieving what I had planned to do. For example when I study I have a plan to complete a particular unit and do an exam. Finishing that exam can be exacting but rewarding.

Remember if we fail to plan we plan to fail. Discipline is the grunt that brings the result.

Love yourself enough to plan each day and then work your plan, you will be a happier you.

Get Educated

For us to change direction we may need to enroll in some form of education. Perhaps you can do a course online. This is where I do most of my study as I am continually having to study to reach my goal.

Sometimes the education that stands before us is years of study. If I want to become a doctor as a matured aged student I would have to study for two years to even get back into the ball park and be able to apply.

I have a student boarding with me who wants to get into a certain restricted path so she is doing a year of a related study so that at the end of this she she can apply for her heart's desire.

Perhaps you did not complete school and now you now what you want to do you have to go back to school through TAFE (in Australia) or college in America.

I assure you that when you have completed school the sense of achievement will be great. You will know that you have one something. No longer will there be a sense of not quite making it when you think of school.

Study and achievement will take you where you want to go, give you the skills you need, help you obtain that raise in pay, the sacrifice will be worth it and most importantly you will be walking towards your dream.

Smell, Touch and Taste

When we finally decide to change and recognise the cost we need to help ourselves to achieve the goal.

There is so much in our world that will try and destroy the dream. You have heard of the tall poppy syndrome? It is real and it is called destroyer.

To stay on the road of change we need images of what the finished product will look like. Our mind is full of same old, same old and will replay these images unless we replace them.

What will you look like when the desired goal has been achieved? Perhaps you have a goal to climb Mount Everest. Do you see yourself at the top? Do you watch videos from those who have made the top? The movie in your mind has to be the new not the old.

Do you want to travel around Australia on retirement? What will you go in? Where are the pictures?

Do you have a desire for a career change, what does that look like, what does it feel like, smell like?

When I am needing to sleep and have a busy mind I go to a place I went as a child. I see it, smell it and feel it and it is real.

My future has to be seen, felt and smelt. I know the smelling bit can be a challenge but if it is travel, smell the sea air. When I walk through the bush near my home I am now smelling the wattle, I love the smell. Smell is an important part of vision, find something to smell, touch and taste if possible and then it is real.

Finding Your Gift

This world needs you to be who you are meant to be. As you shine in your gift you add and do not take away.

Perhaps you gift is restoring broken individuals or broken animals. How can you do that? What do you need to study to do that? What will you need to do to prepare for that?

When I was in my 20s I struggled with which way. I had started out as a nurse but found that career incompatible with my marriage and my family. As I matured I discovered there was more inside me than I ever knew. Which way was I to go?

You might be someone who has a whole lot of ideas and interests and are struggling with which way.

The important thing is to start something and get guidance, you will find your direction if you seek it diligently and not float. Floating is demoralising.

If we fail to plan we plan to fail. In any planning you need advice, get the best.

Purpose

There is a certain destiny we are all born for. We can't always find our way ourselves and need help. That is why we have friends, counsellors, coaches, pastors, trainers.

I remember being so focused on nursing and not being able to see past that. I love to care for people and loved medicine yet there were others parts of me I had not discovered.

I married a man who started a career in finance and went on to be a financial planner with AMP. He cajoled me to help with phone calls and door knocking. I hated it at the time but in 1996 I too became a financial planner. I loved helping with their life goals and I did not have to do shift work.

We are wired to primarily do something and at the core of our being are meant for relationship. We cannot do life alone.

Discovering our purpose enables us to unlock our dreams. Remember to ask for help and you will be on your way.

Counting the Cost

Every decision in life that we make carries a price tag. If I choose to do nothing it has a price tag. If I choose not to exercise my body seizes up. If I choose not to eat right heart disease, diabetes, intestinal problems come knocking.

Acknowledging my dream then requires me to count the cost. What will this take in time, energy, money, relationships?

When I decided to acknowledge my dream of competing in a triathlon event I had to recognise I needed a road bike, all the right gear, good running shoes, swimmers, goggles and a pool membership.

The next cost was disciplining my body and learning how to manage pain, fatigue; how to strengthen myself so as to endure.

I was troubled by a tight muscle in my left thigh and learned through trial and error I was riding wrong. I had a riding buddy who did not work the gears but stood up on her bike and pushed through. I had to learn to work my gears and the pain went away.

I had to learn how to stretch out sufficiently so that my legs were not dead the next day. I had to learn to eat right and exercise right and not overdo things. This was probably my greatest challenge.

I had to learn how to combine my exercise routine into a busy life so that neither were neglected.

Most of all I had to learn to endure and discipline myself to keep going.

Now I must say that I do not believe I am an athlete yet but I am working towards having the mindset of an athlete. An athlete is focused and has a mindset that does not think it can't but know it can and knows how it can, and keeps going. As I watch Cadell Evans and his grit and determination and ability to keep going and come back from incidents that would take him out, I say 'now there is a true athlete.'

To become all I want to be I must keep my eye on the finish line and not look around, nor be distracted by all those who would pull me away from my goal. There are plenty of folk who have not found their purpose yet.

If we sat down and talked to Cadell he would tell us the cost to himself to fulfill his dream. The dream of winning the Tour de France. His dream is great and doubtless the cost huge. What is your dream?

When counting the cost you need to talk to a finance coach, that's me! Give me a call.

Releasing Your Dreams

I meet many people who say "I have a dream but it is too late".

I know of a man who has beaten cancer, kept running in marathons and is now at university at 71.

What have you had to overcome? Is your age limiting you? Is your health? Is you bank account?

All things are possible to those who believe. Yet you have to know that where you are now may be a place that is covered in 6 feet of dirt.

To realise your dreams you have a digging expedition on your hands. You can't look at the big picture but the spade in your hands and the project of releasing your dreams.

Too many people see the 6 feet of dirt and say 'It is too late". What they really mean it is hard and will require me to develop some muscle, some determination, some stickability.

Cadel Evans would not be the bike rider he is now if he stayed at home when it rained. He had to go out every day and ride, so that he could build his strength, so that he could endure the gruelling ride to the finish.

What I am saying is first believe then be brave enough to do, be determined to be the somebody your were meant to be.

Where are you now?

Are you living a fulfilled life? Do you have enough money? Are you worried about how you will cope if you are sick or have an accident?

Did you know that if we fail to plan we plan to fail?

What is your plan? Do you have one?

Is retirement looking good? Will you have enough money to enjoy it or is the pension looking good?

Did you know that financial planners help you plan the big picture that you don't need to wait until you have money to see them, in fact it is when you don't you should.

We are more like finance coaches, we help you find what you want for the future, plan for it and see it come to pass.

If you don't take time to exercise you become unfit, if you don't bother to eat well you become sick and if you fail to plan for a future it won't happen.

Start by releasing your dreams, then come and see me and I will help you plan to make them a reality.

Give me a call.