Why We Lose from Quick Wins - FP Advance

Why We Lose from Quick Wins

BY brett

Why We Lose From Quick Wins | FP AdvanceThe secret to smart success

Do you have some goals, dreams, and ambitions for 2017? I sure hope so.

Whatever it is you’re aiming for this year, you can do it.

You can achieve the incredible, if you work smart.

You can achieve the incredible, if you focus on the bigger vision (a goal bigger than money).

You can achieve the incredible, if you improve; and there’s always room for improvement.

You can achieve the incredible, if you put the good of your team and your organisation first.

There’s a formula for success. But it’s not what you might be thinking.

I’ve been trying to find the right words to communicate to business owners what it takes to succeed. And then I read this blog by Seth Godin and he’s said it all.

Read on. It’s important.


The myth of quick

In his day job, The Wizard of Oz sold hokum. Patent medicines guaranteed to cure what ailed you. And none of them worked.

Deep within each of us is the yearning for the pill, the neck crack, the organizational re-do that will fix everything.

Sometimes, it even happens. Sometimes, once in a very rare while, there actually is a stone in our shoe, easy to remove. And this rare occurrence serves to encourage our dreams that all of our problems have such a simple diagnosis and an even simpler remedy.

Alas, it’s not true.

Culture takes years to create and years to change.

Illnesses rarely respond in days to a treatment.

Organizations that are drowning need to learn to swim.

Habits beat interventions every time.

Consider these boundaries…

  • Avoid the crash diet.
  • Fear the stock that’s a sure thing to double overnight.
  • Be skeptical of a new technology that’s surely revolutionary.
  • Walk away from a consultant who can transform your organisation in one fell swoop.

Your project (and your health) is too valuable to depend on lottery tickets.

There are innovations and moments that lead to change. But that change happens over time, with new rules causing new outputs that compound. The instant win is largely a myth.
The essential elements of a miracle are that it is rare and unpredictable. Not quite the reliable path you were seeking.

Seth Godin


Does this apply to you?

When you start out in business it’s important to take good ideas from wherever you find them. You have to work on the life-threatening issues to ensure your business survival.

There comes a point though, where focusing on short-term issues and lacking a cohesive view of how your business will eventually look, becomes business limiting.

Take a long-term view

It’s all too easy to become target focused; trying to hit the weekly, monthly and quarterly financial targets you’ve set for yourself and the business. Constant short-term decision making leads to short-term results, but creates no foundations for future improvement.

Taking a long-term view gets you focused on improving the inputs that will help you achieve your targets at some future point.

An example:

You try to extract some information from your back office system, but the report is useless because the data you’ve captured is no good. Clearly, you can just find a workaround for this problem. The trouble is that with pressure to get a range of other time-sensitive work done, it’s easy to believe this is the right call. However, if you were taking long-term decisions, you’d identify the real issue and create a plan to address it. In 12 months time that long-term decision sees your business in much better shape. It may not seem like a big decision at the time, but I believe it is.


Get some outside accountability

For some reason we’re all pretty adept at identifying everyone else’s issues, but not our own. So another step in improving your business is to get some outside accountability.

No one likes to turn up and say they haven’t done what they promised, so this simple step can really make a difference to your execution skills.


Uncover Your Business Potential

uybp-2017-sqIt’s because of these truths that, three years ago, I stopped doing short-term consulting jobs with clients and created Uncover Your Business Potential (UYBP). UYBP is my three-year course that teaches adviser-owners the A-Z of how to run a high-performing Financial Planning business.

On the course I play the non-exec role for all delegates. Both they, and I, find that it really helps keep the focus and accelerates development.

The course means that you can create a business that:
  • Succeeds financially, without losing your soul
  • Makes a positive impact in the community or region that you operate
  • Provides freedom and lifestyle for you, the owner/s (regardless of its size)

I know through honing this process with hundreds of businesses (including my own) what is required for you to achieve the incredible. I’m not promising that it’ll be easy, but you’ll be well supported as you learn and use the new skills that are essential for your success.

The biggest change that occurs in Uncover Your Business Potential delegates is their mindset and approach to business. They start to think like business people, and it’s this change that provides skills that last a lifetime upon completion of the course.

We’ve got four courses running right now, with this year’s annual intake in June 2017.


Testimonials

Here’s what some of our current UYBP course participants have said:

“I felt that suddenly someone was actually speaking my language and really understood the challenges faced in financial planning firms.”

“Brett’s common sense approach, straight talk and level of support has been a real game changer. ”
Shona Barr – Affinity IFA (Class of 2015)

“I wasn’t sure what I would get out of the course because I thought my business was doing alright, but I joined with an open mind and have been blown away by the difference it has made.”

“A fantastic way to ensure that all those things you always wanted to do in your business actually get done and that you unlock the amazing potential in your business. I strongly recommend it.”
Tina Weeks – Serenity Financial Planning (Class of 2015)

“The UYBP program literally supercharged our progress. We rapidly gained clarity on our business plan and the steps we needed to take.”

“Our clients now receive a full fat and outstanding financial planning experience that’s built on a solid and sustainable business foundation. UYBP has transformed and supercharged our business across the board.”
Tracey and Derek Evans – Juno Wealth Management (Class of 2014)

“Overall there has been a big shift in our mindset and we now have the confidence to work exclusively with our ideal clients.”

“There is lots of practical information and suggestions that you can start implementing immediately.”
Emily Turgoose and Graham Day – Maybury Financial Planning (Class of 2016)

“With Brett’s help, all four Partners have reached agreement on so many important business areas and as a result,  we are now certainly starting to fulfil our full potential as a business.”

“We have a clearly defined strategy for the future which is exciting for all concerned.”
Robert Corbett, Senior Partner – Simpsons Wealth Management (Class of 2015)


“There comes a point where focusing on short-term issues becomes business limiting.”

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ABOUT BRETT DAVIDSON When you work with FP Advance you work with me, Brett Davidson, directly. My motto is ‘advise better, live better’ and I practice what I preach. I’m straight talking and get to the heart of an issue quickly. There’s no beating about the bush, just a focus on helping things improve. Ask my clients – what I teach works.