After all, each of us is responsible for our own happiness, and finding ways to be happy without overindulging in food, drugs, alcohol or some other external factor is important. That’s what pushed me to make my business more personal and meaningful, and why I believe there are a number of other ways, beyond what I have shared, that can be seeds for industry change. But it starts with you and what is important to you.
Take the next step by using my alternative thoughts and images to assess the way you walk into work, the look and feel of your office, and the way you project your “experience” to those both within and outside the industry. Do you need to make a change or a personal adjustment? It’s been said that minor adjustments can bring major improvements, a concept that reminds me of an inspirational piece of wisdom inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey:
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not
change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to
change only my country. But it too seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me,
but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realize:
If I had only changed myself first, then by example
I might have changed my family. From their inspiration
and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my
country and who knows, I may have even changed the world.
It’s a powerful reminder that change starts with each of us. Whether you start slow by wearing tennis shoes to work on Friday, don a fun or humorous tie during the week, or hang pictures of dogs, purses and golf clubs in your office, ask not what the industry can do for you; ask what you can do for the industry.
PS – if you found the article helpful, let me know by leaving a comment or sending me an e-mail. Also, ask about my newest free guide Three Things No One Tells You About Retirement, which advisors can use as a great way to inject some fun into retirement conversations.
Follow Robert Laura on Twitter @robertlaura. He is the president of SYNEGOS Financial group, co-founder of RetirementProject.org, creator of the Laddered Dividend Portfolio and author of Naked Retirement. He can be reached at [email protected].