The Client-centred Blog

Getting the impossible things done

Do you want to get things done?

By this I do not mean your day-to-day routine work. I mean projects that are significant accomplishments in your life.

What is on your ‘impossible’ list?

*Writing the book you have always wanted to write?

*Completely re-engineering your business?

*Learning a new skill or ability?

*Creating financial security?

*Becoming debt free?

One thing I know from personal experience and working with dozens of clients is that if the energy we used talking ourselves out of things or putting them off was put into getting it done, our accomplishments would be astonishing.

About twenty years ago I did some training with Paul McKenna. He started out as a radio DJ, became a successful stage hypnotist and then a big name in personal development. He has several best-selling books out and I believe was at one time was the biggest selling non-fiction author in the UK. He gets things done.

I remember Richard Bandler (co-creator of Neuro Linguistic Programming) once sharing a story about Paul. Richard said that he would go out to dinner with Paul and they would be talking about an idea, such as for a new TV programme, and the next thing would be that Paul would be straight on his phone pitching the idea to a producer.

No over-thinking – he just does it.

I work with a client who has started several successful businesses and the latest went from start up to employing over twenty people within a year.

He thinks differently to most people and has this saying:

‘Fail Fast’

He said to me that the thought of not trying something is far worse than of trying something and having it fail.

What both examples illustrate is one of the most essential ingredients to getting things done…

The power of action

What action does is give you feedback. Thinking about something does not.

What so often happens when people get an idea is that they begin to over-think it. They come up with all the reasons it might fail. They think of how bad they will feel if it does not work out. They convince themselves that now is not the right time. Or that they will start it when they ‘feel right’.

If these kinds of thoughts are entertained the only thing that is certain to happen is the energy leaving the idea like the air from a punctured tyre.

These kind of thoughts are not a reason to hesitate. They are a reason to act.

The only thing that matters is the next action.

As you take action new, inspired thinking will emerge and signposts pointing the way will appear, often as if by magic.

I do not know how this works, but I know that it does.

P.S. What is your impossible project Take the next action and then schedule in the next one immediately.  

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Leave a Comment

Related articles

Why does attachment ruin client engagement?
Successful client engagement has many aspects and, in this article, I am exploring one of the most crucial. Do you ever find yourself being attached to an outcome? For instance, you are in conversation with a potential client, and you have something on it going your way. You feel an inner tension, anxiousness, or concern about winning the business.
Integrity: It is more important than we think 
As professional people we value integrity, right? We like to think of ourselves as being a person of integrity and we want other people to act with integrity towards us. To me, this seems at the very core of trust.
Value creation: the key to happy, loyal clients
This article is about value creation and why it is the key to happy, loyal clients and a thriving practice. Over the past couple of weeks, I have had two services come up for renewal. One was my car breakdown cover and the other was my car insurance. In both cases the premium had increased by almost 30% from last year. So, I rang both providers and invited them to reconsider their offer.
What use is financial planning without strong leadership?
Highly effective financial planners are not just good at delivering great advice; they are also strong leaders. One of the greatest challenges in the financial planning process is having clients consistently follow through on their plans and achieve the success they desire. So, leadership is an essential quality for financial planners.
The most dangerous word in the English language
When we think back to when we were little kids, we never knew what limitations were. In fact, to little kids the very idea of a limitation is absurd. Our imaginations knew no boundaries and we lived in a world of pure possibility. You could be a superhero, be invisible, fly, or travel in time like Doctor Who.  As such, life was full of joy, curiosity, and wonder.
The timeless wisdom of Charlie Munger
Charlie Munger (now 99 years young) is a billionaire businessman, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and business partner of Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors of all time. He is asked about the secret to a long and happy life, and he replies: ...
The little understood power of the present moment
In a world where we seem to be so focused upon 'doing' it is so easy to forget that it's our state of mind that determines the quality of our actions, depth of impact, and overall quality of our life experience. For instance, I realised: *To truly connect with other people I had to be fully present with them *To perform better at anything I do then the quality of my attention is the most significant factor *Happiness and contentment are not circumstance dependent; they are a function of how present we are in our lives
Twenty signs you are on the path to truly great financial planning
What is the difference between 'average' financial planners and those who become truly great at what they do? I have been reflecting on this question for a while now and wanted to share my thoughts on this with you. I think it begins with the 'want to'. Do you truly want to become great at what you do?
Four keys to highly motivated financial planning clients
In a perfect world all financial planning clients would be highly motivated to follow through with their financial plans and get the results they want. Yet this is not a perfect world and I remember sometimes getting frustrated with clients that did not take the actions they needed to take.   Do you ever feel like this?
My favourite Warren Buffett quote and why it matters
Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. He also has some very astute observations about life. My favourite is his observation that: 'Busy is the new stupid.' One time he was in discussion with another super successful person, Bill Gates, and they touched upon the subject of productivity.
A simple guide to living in flow
Would you like to spend far more of your time in a state of 'flow'? Flow is the experience of being totally absorbed in the moment, when time seems to stand still, and nothing else seems to matter. I was reading about the legendary tennis player Billie Jean King and how she described her experience of a game...
Why I stopped meditating
Last week I had a wonderful conversation with a friend who has a vast amount of experience as a coach and has worked with thousands of people. She observed that in her experience every single person always wants the same thing in the end. Ultimately, we all want to feel clear minded, present, happy, content, and free from the burden of worry and stress. Who doesn't want more of this?
The most popular client-centred blog posts of 2022
What have financial planners been most interested in over the past year? The following are my most popular client-centred blog posts of 2022. Most importantly, none of this would be possible without you. Thank you for your valuable time and attention - you are very much appreciated.
The 12 client-centred mind shifts - part 4
When 'The Client-centred financial adviser' was published back in 2015 the core message in that book was that who you are being is massively more significant than what you are doing. I even wrote a chapter titled, 'Being is the new doing'. For many years in my own business, I had focused upon doing with no real thought as to how I was being.
5 truths to help financial planners prosper in turbulent times
What prompted this article were a number of conversations I have recently had with financial planners who were worried about the current trading environment.  So, how do financial planners prosper in turbulent times when the economy is contracting, clients are tightening their belts, and media is spreading doom and gloom?
The twelve client-centred mind shifts - part 1
You have worked hard to become a qualified financial professional. You are making a difference in the lives of your clients and your business is steady. This is a big, well-deserved success and there is much to celebrate. Yet at this stage you might also pause, reflect, and ask yourself, “What’s next?”
What is the biggest factor in successful financial planning?
Just recently I read an article by a financial planner who said that a client’s financial success comes down to the advice they get or don't get. This article explores why this will rarely be the case and what really creates successful financial planning.
How to transcend the financial planner comfort zone
Our comfort zone can be very limiting. For instance, it can hold you back from realising your greater potential, making a bigger difference to your clients, and experiencing greater success. So, in this article I explore what a financial planner comfort zone is and what it takes to transcend it. 
How to deal with imposter syndrome
Do you ever feel like an imposter in your role, that you will get 'found out', or do not deserve your success? If so, you are far from alone as this is extremely common amongst business people.
Resilience: An essential key to building a financial planning practice
Have you noticed how resilience has become a hot topic in business? For instance, there are TED talks on it, articles in the Harvard Business Review, and covid brought into sharp focus how unforeseen events can literally change our lives in a moment. This article explores a deeper understanding of resilience and why it is key for building a financial planning practice.
How do you become a great financial planner... not just good?
How do you become a great financial planner? One who has a powerful, positive impact in the lives of your clients? Of course, there are many attributes but one in particular stands out. Read on to discover what this is and why it is so important. What do clients look for in a financial adviser?
Better time management for financial advisers and planners
As a financial planner are you as productive as you would like to be? Would you like to get more done, in less time, and with none of the stress? In this article I am going to explore the hidden factor that leads to genuinely better time management for financial advisers and planners.
Building a financial planning business - overcoming the biggest obstacle
Building a financial planning business is not easy! In fact, you are far from alone if you find it challenging. This article explores one of the biggest obstacles of all and how to rapidly get back on track.
Time management for financial planners - why helpful tips are not the answer
How often have you felt like you had way too much to do, way too little time to do it, and you've stressed out as a result?
To succeed you must have self belief... really?
If you have a goal or outcome that is important to you and you want to go for it, then what does self belief and whether you have it or not have to do with it?
Giving financial advice - 3 important steps
You no doubt put a great deal of time and effort into creating high quality advice for your clients. Yet this alone does not guarantee it will be accepted and followed.