Perseverance -
It seems like perseverance is something we lack. Perhaps, because it’s hard. We may have goals, but may also wish that the goals were easier or that we could have a guide. We may have a goal, but to persevere through to it, that’s hard.
When I was young, I really wanted to say my name correctly. You see, I could not say my “R’s” correctly, which is very difficult when your name is Mark Bertrang. Way back in 2nd grade, I was assessed by a speech teacher. She had various pictures and you’d have to look at them and say the word. It was fine until she got to a picture of a car. I paused and looked at it, and I said “automobile”. I had learned ways of getting around what I thought was my disability. She asked me to say the other word for the picture. I couldn’t. For the next 5 years, I would meet with this speech teacher and very slowly she taught me how to properly say my “R’s”.
That grade was also difficult because I was not much of a reader either when I was younger. We all remember that there was the really smart group in school. Then, the middle group where most people fell, and then there were the special kids, and I’m sorry, no matter what name you want to place on it, I knew I was in the dumb group. I had difficulty sounding words out and putting sentences together, and the readers that we had when I was a child were pretty simplistic - “See John. See John Run. Run, Run, Run.”
It wasn’t until practically 5th grade that I discovered that I loved reading, but I had had many tutors over the years. I had summer classes to learn phonics. I needed teachers and guides to help me get from point A to point B. Eventually, I was able to read and speak the English language (most of the time correctly), and I was surprised when, at my high school graduation, the teachers who came to my graduation party were the speech teachers and people who had guided me through those difficult times of my life.
Some people might find this story a bit embarrassing, and we may see people hesitate to share their stories here at the office. They feel like they don’t have control over their financial life. They have talked about getting a Will for the last three decades, but it’s still not done. They have a 401K, but they took advice from a co-worker who probably knows as much about 401Ks as they do. People think they should be embarrassed by what they’re sharing. Don’t be.
You are looking for direction. You’re looking for a guide. You’re looking for someone who will help you along those mileposts to get to where you feel that you can finally say - I’ve arrived!
If you are that person and want help getting past those mileposts, then perhaps it’s time to schedule your Financialoscopy®.
