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25400 U.S. 19 N, Suite 221
Clearwater, FL 33763
All of my adult life, I have battled with my weight. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not morbidly obese. But I’m overweight, and I don’t like it. It’s not about aesthetics. It’s about my health. Logic tells me I’m no longer a spring chicken, and I best start taking better care of myself.
I’ve had periods when I have done a pretty good job of managing my weight, but I always come up short of doing a great job of managing my weight and my health. I get to a certain point where I feel pretty good, and I simply lose my motivation.
In those times when I was doing well and losing weight, I learned a few things about myself. I learned what I need to do to succeed. I set a specific and realistic goal. I logged my weight and my caloric intake every day. (What gets measured gets done, right?) I made it a point to never eat anything after 7:00pm.
I’ve had periods when I have done a pretty good job of managing my weight, but I always come up short of doing a great job of managing my weight and my health. I get to a certain point where I feel pretty good, and I simply lose my motivation.
In those times when I was doing well and losing weight, I learned a few things about myself. I learned what I need to do to succeed. I set a specific and realistic goal. I logged my weight and my caloric intake every day. (What gets measured gets done, right?) I made it a point to never eat anything after 7:00pm.
Oddly enough, I actually came to appreciate the feeling of hunger when I went to bed each night. I knew if I was hungry when I went to bed, I was losing weight. I knew that being hungry was a good thing.
It’s good to be hungry.
The same is true in business. I have seen many advisors grow their book of business to a certain level, and then hit a wall. They reach a self-imposed limit on their success. More often than not, they don’t even realize they’re doing it. They get to a point where they are no longer hungry, and they stop doing the things that got them there in the first place. They get complacent. They settle for a good little practice when they could have a great practice.
They’re not hungry anymore.
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, explains it this way:
“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.”
At some level, we all do this. We achieve a certain level of comfort, and we settle. This level is different for all of us. For some, it’s just enough to pay the bills or match what they could make working a factory job. For others, it’s enough to live comfortably and put a little away for retirement.
For some of us, that’s all we really want, and that’s fine. This is still America, and we still have a right to decide when enough is enough. For those of us that want more, how do we keep the fire burning inside? What actions can we take to keep growing and not fall into the complacency trap?
If you’re like me and want to create something more than a “good little practice,” try a couple of these things and see if it helps keep you driving ahead. Dream big and don’t settle for mediocrity.
Stay hungry, my friends.
Note: Join me Wednesday, April 29, for what is sure to be one of our most interesting webinars of the spring. One of my favorite people in the industry will be with us to talk about working with business owners. Most agents agree the business owner market has great potential, but it can be a tough nut to crack. If anyone can show us how to penetrate that market simply and effectively, it’s Dave Murphy. For more information call 877-512-9287 or click here to register.
It’s good to be hungry.
The same is true in business. I have seen many advisors grow their book of business to a certain level, and then hit a wall. They reach a self-imposed limit on their success. More often than not, they don’t even realize they’re doing it. They get to a point where they are no longer hungry, and they stop doing the things that got them there in the first place. They get complacent. They settle for a good little practice when they could have a great practice.
They’re not hungry anymore.
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, explains it this way:
“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.”
At some level, we all do this. We achieve a certain level of comfort, and we settle. This level is different for all of us. For some, it’s just enough to pay the bills or match what they could make working a factory job. For others, it’s enough to live comfortably and put a little away for retirement.
For some of us, that’s all we really want, and that’s fine. This is still America, and we still have a right to decide when enough is enough. For those of us that want more, how do we keep the fire burning inside? What actions can we take to keep growing and not fall into the complacency trap?
- Reconnect with your why. Find creative ways to remind yourself why you do what you do. The answer is NOT for the money. The money is a result. Your why is more emotional and is the real driver that gets you up and going every morning. For example, if your why is your family, keep photos of them nearby as a constant reminder. If your why is your clients, create more opportunities to hold regular appreciation events so you can get to know them better and build on those relationships.
- Become a habitual goal-setter. It’s a fact. People that commit to goal-setting achieve greater things. Your goals should be realistic, but they also should stretch you. Make it a habit to review progress against your goals quarterly. Annually is not enough.
- Read daily about successful people. Most achievers read daily. They commit to lifelong learning, and the best learning and inspiration comes from reading about people that have accomplished amazing things.
- Surround yourself with winners. Dennis Postema often says, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” I’m not suggesting you should ditch all of your less successful friends, but if you want to be a big dog, you gotta run with the big dogs.
- Take time for yourself. Everyone needs to recharge the batteries from time to time. Get away, and clear your head. Spend a little time in the classroom of silence. You’ll be amazed at the great ideas and divine inspiration that can result when you tune out the world and just listen.
If you’re like me and want to create something more than a “good little practice,” try a couple of these things and see if it helps keep you driving ahead. Dream big and don’t settle for mediocrity.
Stay hungry, my friends.
Note: Join me Wednesday, April 29, for what is sure to be one of our most interesting webinars of the spring. One of my favorite people in the industry will be with us to talk about working with business owners. Most agents agree the business owner market has great potential, but it can be a tough nut to crack. If anyone can show us how to penetrate that market simply and effectively, it’s Dave Murphy. For more information call 877-512-9287 or click here to register.
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Written by: Paul M Mallett SVP/COO Postema Marketing Group, LLC
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