BY: Glen E Wright, II
The concept of Dollars + Change = Sense comes with nearly 30 years of combined experience in advising, consulting, counseling, and coaching. During this timeframe, we have worked with clients that were not willing to follow the recommendations we presented based upon their needs and overall goals. Just as some clients have chosen not to make the changes that are necessary to reach their full potential, you too will be faced with the decision to follow or not follow the principles that have been set forth in this book (The Financial Shepherd- Why Dollars + Change = Sense). The following list includes the top five reasons potential clients elected not to follow our proposed recommendations.
FEAR – Ben Franklin wisely stated, “When you are finished changing, you’re finished.” From the very moment of our conception until the time of our celestial discharge, we are in a state of constant change. Although it can take on many forms, the truth remains that change is inevitable, and with it comes a natural anxiety that has the potential to be as unsettling as the sea. As a result of fear, many people fail to plan, prepare, and essentially embrace the unavoidable.
STUBBORNNESS – “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So, I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.”- Psalm 81: 11-12 (ESV). As stated in the previous verse, stubbornness is a refusal to listen to wisdom. It is often associated with self-will and can even be confused with persistence.
Although both stubbornness and persistence display endurance in the face of resistance, the difference between the two is not always as obvious. As it relates to change, stubbornness is refusing to change something that needs to change, while persistence is making the necessary changes that it takes to achieve a specific goal.
LACK OF COMMITMENT – Truthfully, it is much easier to maintain a non-committal stance because it comes without responsibility. Usually, a lack of commitment is preceded by experiences that involve difficulty with trust and loyalty. Positive changes require commitment.
SELFISHNESS – Change requires the consideration of the needs of those that are important fixtures in our lives. Unfortunately, many people do not consider the impact of their decisions on those around them. Simply put, failure to plan for the future of those that depend on you displays a blatant disregard for their overall well-being.
POOR RELATIONSHIPS – The old adage, “You are the company you keep,” is especially true when it comes to change. If you lack the support from those that are closest to you, then the challenge to make and accept change becomes all the more difficult.
Excerpt Adapted from: ”The Financial Shepherd® –Why Dollars + Change = Sense” by Glen Wright and Sy Pugh.
As a Certified Financial Planner, Accredited Investment Fiduciary and Investment Advisor Representative, Glen E. Wright, II is a Top of the Table member of the Million Dollar Round Table, an exclusive honor achieved by only the top one percent of all financial advisors worldwide. Glen is passionate about philanthropy and actively gives back to the local communities in which Worth Financial operate.