Little Choices
This past week (the first of the new year) I had three separate instances where I had to use the heavier side of what it means to be a "Wealth Coach." That side involves calling it like I see it from my outside perspective and exercising my role as the accountability enforcer for clients' goals and actions.
What I "get" to do as a Wealth Coach many times is to let people know when their habits (the way they have always done it) are getting in the way of their own goals and desires. Some of these habits are nothing more than defense mechanisms used by the subconscious mind. New and different is often viewed as dangerous, even when it is something desirable. Changing direction implies that you were WRONG before.
Our educational system teaches us that making mistakes is BAD - even though it is the only way to really learn.
Reality Checks
In recent weeks I've had multiple new clients postpone the first meeting because "something came up" or "we're really busy right now." The thing is that something will ALWAYS come up. Life is messy and your brain can always find something to latch on to as a reason NOT to change direction.
Business Coaching clients are afraid of getting more clients so they procrastinate on their homework or postpone meetings (for weeks) rather than figuring out how to be more efficient and handle more business.
Cash Flow Hydrant™ clients put off starting the process because they fear they will be judged for their current cash flow (mis)management. They believe what they have done in the past is WRONG and they don't want to admit that to themselves, their family or anybody else, much less a stranger.
The reality is they CAN improve ... but then again, everybody can improve. Even an expert can get better at something.
The difference is that the expert isn't threatened by the fact that they are not perfect. In fact, they embrace the opportunity to understand their situation better and find new tools to improve their performance. That's what gets them to the top of their game.
Choices = Results
Understand this simple truth - wherever you are in your life is a direct result of ALL the choices you've made in the past. You didn't just make one big choice and that was it. You made dozens of little choices every day. They each built on each other (like compound interest) to bring you to the results you are "enjoying" today.
You didn't create this reality in one shot. You can't undo all those choices in one shot. That would be like an overweight person becoming skinny and perfectly toned by eating right and exercising for one day. That would be way too easy.
It takes months, years or even decades of little choices and habits (often the hardest part to change) to get you to where you are today. Likewise it will take months or even years of conscious choices and reprogramming those habits to make a substantial change in your results in the future.
Results Rule
What often gets missed in all of this angst about admitting mistakes and learning from them is that once you accept that things can improve and once you begin making different decisions, you actually start to get the results you are looking for.
All it takes is a strategic approach and someone to help make sure you don't fall back into those old habits and unconscious choices.
While better results don't happen overnight ... they DO happen ... IF you let them.
John