Einstein was a genius and the insanity quote is often attributed to him. But why is this a popular quote? I believe it’s because we are all guilty of repeating the same behavior over and over again and then being surprised when it doesn’t yield results.
Too comfortable
Back in 2004 when I was a struggling coach trying to build my practice with Financial Advisors, I did a lot of Business Networking in order to get out there and meet people.
I came across a gentlemen who I saw at the same event every week so I asked him, “Do you get much business from coming to this event?” He looked at me and said “No, I don’t but I attend because I am comfortable here.” I countered with “Why don’t you try going to other events if this doesn’t work for you?” He said “Someday maybe I’ll get some business.”
That’s crazy!
Things need to change in order to get different results. You may need to change. Your business may need to change. Your centers of influence may need to change. And definitely your Business Development strategies and tactics need to change.
Could this be you: Maybe you’re an advisor who’s been in the business 20 years. You’ve grown slowly but surely over time. You hired a marketing firm a few years ago to come in and analyze what you’re doing and what you need to do. They left you with a Marketing Plan that was never implemented. You have a template website that has never brought you a client and you’re quite embarrassed to send people to your site. You attend an industry conference and get some great new ideas but you get busy and not one of the ideas that motivated you are ever implemented.
Change and action equal growth
When things stay the same, we don’t grow. In order to grow, we must do scary things and take chances. Is there fear around this? Yes, most people have a fear of change. The difference between successful financial advisors and average financial advisors is in the change and action they take to be better at what they do.
Final Thoughts on Insanity
Don’t continue doing things that have not produced results over the last few years. This is the quote I prefer:
“The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.”
Bruce Feirstein
When you keep doing the same things over and over rand you’re not getting results, it’s time to change.
Coaching works because you will be motivated to make changes and you’ll have someone to hold you accountable.
When you work with me, you improve your results because you have an expert on your team who has seen it all and can offer guidance as to what works, in your special case.
You don’t know what you don’t know.
There’s no sense in banging your head against the wall. Stop being insane!
