There is a famous quote by Lewis Carroll that says, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” Having a vision and knowing where you want to go is one of the cornerstones of your business. By communicating what it is you want your business to look like, you will be able to focus …

Since business coaching is about you doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to setting goals and implementation, it’s important to be prepared for the experience and see if it fits your needs. With the choices of having a mentor, consultant or coach to work with, it’s important to determine what approach would work for you to overcome your …

When meeting with a client or prospect, being able to tell a relatable business story can help build an unparalleled rapport and trust. It’s easy to learn to tell stories. We tell them every day and don’t even realize it. A general definition of a story is, “an account of something that happened.” They can be imaginary, traditional, or true …

Networking is the art of building and sustaining mutually beneficial relationships. The goal of networking is to communicate with a stranger and make a connection.  Depending on the firm you work for, networking events may be mandatory for you to attend, so it’s good to look for ways to make networking easier for you and more comfortable. When you are …

There are many advisors that volunteer, give back to their community, and use their skills and talents to become board members for not-for-profits, foundations or endowments. They bring their strong financial background to the table and usually take on the role of treasurer or part of the finance committee for the charity. Their intention is to contribute in a meaningful …

The financial industry is rife with rejection, and some agents/advisors deal with it better than others. How do they deal with it? By building up their emotional strength and not taking it personally.  Indeed, it is possible for advisors to desensitize themselves to rejection and become like Teflon. However, if your days are filled with calls and meetings that are …

Some advisors hold onto clients that they consciously know are bad for them instead of taking one bold step that could improve the quality of their business. The challenge of letting go is tough for some people especially if they see their business situation as less-than-ideal but are more afraid of the unknown. It’s been said that the unknown is …

Trust can mean different things to different people. Trust is also a function of both character and competence. To demonstrate trust, we need to see it in action. For some advisors, establishing and extending trust can be accomplished quite quickly. If there is trust between an advisor and a client, you’ll see more effective communication and collaboration, and of course, …

If we consider a simple definition of accountability as, “the ability to account for your own actions,” it seems surprisingly straightforward.  But, accountability also involves having clearly communicated objectives, being granted authority over those objectives and having predetermined outcomes for either success or failure. Any ambiguity over outcomes, objectives, and timeframes will affect your ability to be accountable.  If someone …

When we hear the word “negotiating,” we often think of closing a big sale or making a big purchase, but negotiating is something that can happen every day with family, co-workers and clients. You are negotiating any time you tell someone that what you want is different from what they are trying to give you. The common goal of negotiation …