As the title goes, it's about my feelings and reflections. Feel free to skip this post as it has little correlation with the insurance or investment products or knowledge.
However, if you are keen to see what you can glean from some lessons I had learned through this year, I'm more than happy to share it with you.
Overall, I like 2019 more than some of my other years.
Probably it was the mix of ups and downs.
I met some very nice and appreciative clients. I am constantly touched when people refer their friends, family members or colleagues to me to assist in their financial planning. Some were also very kind to leave behind appreciate and encouraging words here.
Some view that page as a marketing tool. I view it as my source of inspiration.
Because truth be told, during my down times when I need someone to give me a boost, this is the page I turn to for keeping this fire burning.
Let's be honest, in the financial planning line, most people don't quite appreciate what we do. And this is where I always like to joke that it's for that reason, I have a job.
I had met a couple of "not-so-nice" ones who tried to take advantage of me. There was one where I almost blew up in his face but managed to somewhat control my emotions.
It wasn't because he was a major client therefore I swallowed it down. It was the opposite.
This client wasn't happy with one of my colleagues' service and I took over as the servicing agent. Only after seeing him a couple of times did I learn why the client complaint.
This client was so demanding beyond reasonable grounds and constantly changed the meeting dates, time or venue. There were other things that happened but I guessed it's better to leave it like that or this post may sound like me ranting :P
Looking back, I had learned to stand my ground and value my own time and service. There are many other advisors out there. Just as a client chooses his advisors, the advisor reserves the right to choose his clients too.
Be firm, be humble, be patient.
Even if we were right, sometimes it is better to be humble and let things slide. After all, if we constantly try to fight our way each & every time to be right, we won't have the energy to enjoy what we love doing.
Another hiccup that happened this year was I lost one major corporate account. That account makes up about 13% of last year's business.
Not to another competitor. Nor was it due to my poor service. Rather, the brunt force of the economic slowdown.
Instead of backing down and end the year with a fall in revenue, I stepped things up.
I'm proud to say as of now, my business is up around 4% despite the missing corporate account.
This year feels like I'm fighting tool and nail to keep up. And I'm glad I did because...
Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!
If this paragraph is familiar, it's because it's from one of Rocky Balboa's movies.
Step up or step out. Ain't no other way, from where I stand.
And over on the investment end, it brings me much joy when I was doing recent quarterly updates to my clients. More than 90% of them are in black (after costs). Some are enjoying double-digit returns (as of this writing). Most of them had a time horizon of 2.5 years or less.
The best part is, most of them are first-time investors and had no investment knowledge or background.
Oh, this article that you are reading right now, the backend is done by yours truly :)
Like my clients, I had no computing knowledge or C-programming. Thank god for having such technology where noobs like me can create a decent looking website.
That, sort of sums up 2019.
So if 2019 had given you a hell of a hard time, don't give up! Life has some interesting ways to test your resolve. Keep moving, keep working.
I'm sure one day, you will be successful beyond measures others will deem of you as lucky. After all, luck is nothing more than being at the right place, at the right time because you had been to SO many places at different times that one of them, is bound to be right.
Failing so many times is what makes successful people, "lucky".
Hopefully someday, when someone says in my face that I'm "lucky", I'll be grinning from ear to ear.
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