Watching the Olympics a couple of months ago reminded me that people in all walks of life rely on others to help them fine-tune their talent and provide support, guidance, education, and accountability. Olympic athletes have trainers to help them become the best in their sport and win gold, silver or bronze ribbons. They regularly work with their coaches to perfect their talent.
For the past several years, I’ve been struggling to lose weight with little or no success. Last December I hired a personal trainer because I’m not disciplined enough to exercise regularly—and I really don’t like to sweat! I’ve been working out two to three days a week, but my weight remains the same. I know how to lose weight—eat the right foods and eat less. But, I just couldn’t do it by myself. I finally decided I needed someone to tell me exactly what to eat, provide me with a menu and the food. I joined Jenny Craig in early August and with the guidance of a counselor, I’ve begun to experience success. I had been berating myself for not having the willpower to lose weight on my own. But, I came to the conclusion I’m at a different place and time in my life. What worked for me twenty years ago wasn’t working today. It was like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
I’m sharing this with you because as I’ve been reflecting on my experience I realized how similar it is to getting a professional expert to help with your finances. We think we have to do it alone; wonder why we can’t do it alone; berate ourselves because we can’t figure it out—when there are lots of financial professionals available. It’s not only okay to have a professional expert help and guide you, it’s probably one of the best steps you can take to build a financially healthy life. Why try to teach yourself everything you need to know about money, when you can work with a mentor who can spend the time teaching you while you’re investing money. You’ll be watching your money grow with the magic of compounding interest while your mentor is educating you.
