“Add value to others” are perhaps the four the most powerful words in business and life. The kind of value that I am referring to is not about just meeting one’s expectations. I am talking about going far beyond that. I am talking about creating the kind of value in which we become primary, critical, and essential to our clients, customers, family, and friends. I am talking about the kind of value that is provided before, during and after any engagement. I am talking about the kind of value that makes folks say, “Wow”!
If we work relentlessly to show people that we actually care about adding value to their lives, I put forth that they will care back. Teaching someone to care is futile. Either we care, or we don’t! People know when someone genuinely cares. Of course, some folks think they can fake caring as if they were using a tactic out of the book of deception. Sure, this could work for a while, but in the end, I suggest, their perverse ways will cause them tremendous pain, regret, and the ultimate demise of their business, family, and friends.
I wholeheartedly believe that the reason people flourish in their profession and life is due to their commitment to caring passionately about people.
Regrettably, far too many people have little or no passion in life. Moreover, these same individuals believe their lives revolve around them. For them, it is all them! These folks appear to be scarcely aware that other people actually exist! I encourage these peeps to get outside of themselves and begin to contribute to others, and then they will really start to live with passion!
Because of my fervent passion for my business and clients, I do not feel that my job is work. I am as excited for Mondays as most folks are for Friday afternoon. As I like to say, “I don’t do this stuff for fun, but I have a lot of fun doing it!” I love being a financial advisor. I do it exceptionally well, and I am incredibly grateful for the money I earn. Moreover, when I have genuine passions about something, I am usually cheerful, self-motivated, fulfilled, and engaged. To the contrary, when I disconnect from my passion, I am often unhappy, frustrated, detached, and irritable.
In business and life, most people trek down the road most traveled. I describe this as the first mile, the complacency mile, which is rather smooth and uneventful. Relatively few people will journey down the potholed second mile, the extra mile, the mile that delivers real value to others. The first mile is a relatively easy drive, and most people handle it with few problems. It is the second mile, that extra mile, the value mile where we take ourselves from the sea of sameness to one that is different from others. Most people will not take the extra mile because it is a difficult and challenging voyage. What is interesting is that folks who take the extra mile are so driven by their internal belief system that they do not consider the extra mile as being anything but normal. At its core, it is just two miles. Even so, when we go the extra mile, we go beyond just being good. We give more; we work more, we are more and we do more for our clients, friends, and family. Essentially, we are doing things that others will not do. By providing consistent evidence that we always give and do more than required, over time, our journey of the extra mile builds a rock-solid foundation of trust with the people that are most important to us. Yep, it is all about passion and the four simple words. It is magical!
Harry Pappas Jr., CFP®
Managing Director-Investments, Certified Estate and Trust Specialist, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Pappas Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
818 A1A N, Ste. 200, Ponte Vedra, Florida 32082, 904-273-7955
harry.pappas@wellsfargoadvisors.com
The use of the CDFA™ designation does not permit Wells Fargo Advisors or its Financial Advisors to provide legal advice, nor is it meant to imply that the firm or its associates are acting as experts in this field. Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, Member SIPC, is a Registered Broker-Dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. The report herein is not a complete analysis of every material fact in respect to any company, industry or security. The opinions expressed here reflect the judgment of the author as of the date of the report and are subject to change without notice. Statistical information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. The material has been prepared or is distributed solely for information purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Additional information is available upon request.
