Whilst we all want to get the most out of life that we can, there are moments when you realise that you are probably overdoing it. Sometimes, we are reminded of our inability to do it all by our bodies effectively screaming for us to “slow down”. Living a full life doesn’t necessarily mean, doing every thing. Most of us will have possibly uttered the words to at one point or another “its quicker for me to do it than to show you how to” or words to that effect. Whilst this may well be true in the moment, it is unlikely to remain true in the broader picture.
Work, rest and play..
Running my own business, I know that whilst I can do all of the tasks required, invariably it makes little sense to do so, hence the reason for employing others to fill particular roles. Anyway, just because I can do the task, doesn’t even mean that I am able to complete it the best. This enables me to focus on the things that “only I can do” so that my time is used more productively. However, even with this mindset, it is still often the case that most of us still find ourselves doing too much. It is important to know your limits without constantly having to find them. Unlike those that govern us and seek to maximise every working moment of our lives, I believe in the value of rest, play and reflection. I admit that perhaps this is something of a luxury, but to me its pretty vital. It is during these moments that I can gather myself for thought about how I might develop the business, how we can improve what we do and continue to think about clients so that they are at the centre of how the business is shaped.
Pie crust promises
Personally, I find my morning dog walk around Richmond Park a helpful way to clear my head and think about the day to come and the clients that I will be serving. Of course other intrusions and interruptions may take me a little off path in the course of the day, but in general, it is mapped out in my mind. I believe that keeping promises is important in life, so to make promises that I know I cannot keep runs contrary to my values. As a financial planner, the world of money is full of promises. The vast majority are little more than wishes. This is particularly so with financial companies promising a certain level of service, improvement or continuance but invariably is a “pie crust promise” – easily made and easily broken. It’s important to know your limits and whether your physical and mental infrastructure can take the strain. As the video of this unfortunate shelf-stacker discovers.
Dominic Thomas: Solomons IFA
