“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem.
We all have 24 hour days.”
-Zig Ziglar
The First Sip
Chris Yandle had it all.
Then a series of setbacks made him feel as if…well…he didn’t.
After moving his family all over the country – city to city – to pursue a public relations career in college athletics, he lost the high-paying job he’d worked so hard to earn.
That feeling of professional failure quickly spiraled into a feeling of personal failure.
Most of all, Chris felt like he had failed his kids.
“[As a child], I never really had a place that I could call home,” Chris says. “I didn’t want to do that to my kids, but I ended up doing it to them anyway.”
Looking for specific ways to become a more supportive and engaged father, Chris did something simple and innocent…
As he packed his daughter’s school lunch, he included a note on her Ziploc bag.
The rest is history.
Chris began a tradition of writing a note every single day as a way of helping his daughter, Addison, combat the trials and tribulations of middle school.
Some of the notes are funny.
Other notes are inside jokes or personal anecdotes.
But most of all, the notes are the sort of encouragement only a dad can give his little girl.
When Chris and his wife picked up on signs that Addison was being bullied at school, he adjusted his notes to make them even more encouraging.
“I want her to know that, hey, not everything is going to be sunshine and rainbows,” Chris says. “Lunch notes might not be the way that other dads do it, but this is my way to help.”
I tell that story to you today, because I know so many of the Advisors in our community are incredible dads and moms.
I hear about it every single day when I meet with you all.
I see it on your faces.
I heart it in your goals and dreams.
And even those of us that don’t have children in this season of our life, I know there are people who are special to you.
People you care for deeply and want to see succeed in life.
So let this be a reminder that encouraging and supporting others doesn’t have to look like some MASSIVE leap of faith.
There’s no requirement to be the lead story on the national news.
You don’t have to write a check with a bunch of zeros.
Sometimes it’s as simple as writing a note on a napkin and slipping it to someone you love!
1 Caffeinated Neurohack
It’s the last day of January, which means we’re exactly one month into the new year.
This is the moment when many goals and resolutions go to die.
To be more specific, nearly 36% of all goals will be counted as a failure by the end of today.
🎵 Wah…wah…wah…wahhhh. 🎵
And by the end of the year, 92% will not be met.
But don’t worry…
I want to share a little mind hack you can use to increase your chances of reaching your goals and fulfilling your resolutions.
It’s super simple, yet scientifically-proven to improve results.
It revolves around how you talk about your goals.
Instead of saying “I can’t” do something, rephrase it to say “I don’t.”
For example…
Don’t say: “I can’t miss my workout today.”
(That indicates you don’t want to miss your workout, but you probably will.)
Insteady say: “I don’t miss workouts.”
(This is a confident declaration. You’re digging your heels in and taking a stand.)
Sounds like a simple turn of phrase, right?
Well, according to one study, saying “I don’t” is actually 8X more effective than saying “I can’t.”
More specifically, those studied were 80% likely to reach their goals when using the phrase “I don’t,” compared to the 10% who persisted when saying “I can’t.”
That just goes to show the power of words and how retooling our approach to challenges can lead to better outcomes.
You’ve got this….I believe in you!
Marketing Psychology Quick Hit
Let’s say you’re sending out an email blast to your list of prospects and clients.
You have a lot of information to convey, but there’s one point that you absolutely want them to take away from the email.
What can you do to make sure it stands out?
Well, there are three things, actually – all rooted in psychology.
- Include the most important item FIRST on the list.
The Primacy Effect says that people are more likely to remember something if it shows up at the beginning.
- Repeat it three different times.
You’ll also want to include the most important item somewhere in the middle of the email. The principle of repetition states that people are more likely to remember something the more often it’s stated. (Duh!)
- Include it at the END of the email.
The third time you’ll mention the item as at the end. (Recency Effect.) But not just anywhere – put it in the postscript. The data shows that 90% of people will read the P.S. before the rest of the copy.
There you have it!
Once at the beginning.
Again in the middle.
And a third time at the very end.
Follow this strategy and you’ll be able to deliver massive value in your emails, while encouraging the right pieces to stick.
Do This First Thing Monday AM
Ever feel scatterbrained in the office?
As insurance and financial advisors, we often find ourselves juggling dozens of tasks at once.
A client needs you to do one thing…
You have this marketing initiative you need to handle over there…
You have to remember to pick up the kids in the afternoon…
It’s easy to get overwhelmed and sideways.
So here’s my little trick for you:
When you sit down at your desk on Monday morning, grab a notepad and write down every single task, question, or bottleneck that’s on your mind.
Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.
Write. It. Down.
By spilling it all out on paper, you’ll relieve some of the pressure.
You’ll also find that everything makes a little more sense.
There’s a quote that goes,
“Thoughts disentangle themselves passing over the lips and through pencil tips.”
And I’ve found that very thing to be true in my own life.
Give it a try and see what you think!
What’s New With Advisorist
We’re just a week and a half out from the Virtual Financial Advisor Summit, which is happening on Wednesday, February 10.
If you haven’t already, I’d highly encourage you to reserve your FREE pass as soon as possible.
We’ve already had thousands of insurance and financial advisors register and the guest list is getting PACKED.
This FREE, 1-day virtual summit is all about what’s NEXT for YOU.
Marketing. Sales. Virtual Meetings. Prospecting. Tax Laws. You name it.
Hear from the industry’s top experts and thought leaders, including names like:
- Michael Kitces, Thought Leader
- Ed Slott, America’s IRA Expert
- Tom Hegna, Industry Legend
As well as authoritative figures from Facebook, J.D. Power, CNBC Squawk Box, and Money.com.
There will be LIVE keynotes, interviews, Q&As, entertainment, giveaways, and HOURS of never-released on-demand content for you to sink your teeth into.
And Discover The Best-Kept Secrets
Of the Industry’s Top 1% of Advisors
Let’s talk soon,
Jeremiah
