Distraction-Proof® Advisor Ideas

Could your 2020 goals be too ambitious? What if you miss?
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But what if you don’t miss? What if you go on to achieve every objective you set out to achieve?

In talking with coaching clients this week, we were reviewing 2019, and they all have had phenomenal performances. Business has grown. They’ve hired new people. Things are working out really well.

So, when we were talking about 2020 objectives, a number of them have set really ambitious goals. As we were working through these, I would stop and ask them, “So what’s the downside if we miss here?” They were a little surprised to hear that coming from me because I’m a cheerleader, I’m their big fan.

But, as I mentioned to them – you’ll see where we’re going with this – I said, “What’s the worst-case scenario that could happen?” As they thought through, they came to realize that the potential downside wasn’t all that bad. So what if we go from 65 million and we set a goal of net new assets to be 85 million and we achieve 75 million? How bad is that? Or what if we want to write 30 financial plans and we end up only writing 22 financial plans? How bad is that? As I pointed out, unless they have those objectives that they’re pursuing, they’re never going to know what their full potential was to start with.

So, when you have that key objective in your sites, don’t focus on the downside – just look at what it could be and then move on.

In 1988 when we were setting down the plan to go and win an Olympic medal, we thought about, “What’s the worst-case scenario here?” Well, I don’t have a great day. I don’t make an Olympic final. I don’t win an Olympic medal. There’s only one way to find out: let’s set the objective, and let’s go after it and pursue it.

So, when you’re laying down goals and objectives for 2020, remember:

1. Take a look at what it is you want to achieve and get excited about it.


2. Consider the worst-case scenario. What if you don’t hit all your objectives?


3. Get excited again about, “Yeah, but what if I do?” Look, this isn’t skydiving where the worst-case scenario ends up in your death. This is just business stuff here, and we want to keep it in perspective. We want to get excited about reaching your fullest potential and turning 2020 into a phenomenal year.

So set down your objectives. Give me a call or shoot me an email if you want to discuss them and talk about them. We’ll talk about worst-case scenarios, and then we’re going to refocus on what it is you truly know you can achieve. We’re going to make 2020 a phenomenally exciting year for you and your firm.

I look forward to bringing you another Distraction-Proof Advisor Idea next week.