"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi

As a financial adviser, I am reminded of this famous quote by Vince Lombardi time and time again, particularly when approached by people who are acutely aware that their financial situation desperately needs attention.

These people acknowledge that to reduce stress and achieve a desired level of success, changes must be made – yet instead they lie awake at night worrying.

Too much debt owed, tax to pay, not enough family time, an out of date Will, not enough life insurance, the desperate need for a holiday, can they afford retirement? Should they have superannuation? These are the lingering questions that keep so many people up at night.

Yet knowing you need to fix something and actually doing it are two very different things. This is what I call the “knowing-doing gap”.

In my experience, it’s those who progressively address the things that keep them awake at night that enjoy both financial and personal success, as well as having significantly less stress in their lives. That’s because their focus is firmly set on proactively making their business and family life great, rather than procrastinating and wasting time worrying.

It’s healthy for us all to reflect from time to time on whether we have a “knowing-doing gap” and if you do find some things that are keeping you awake at night, I suggest setting some time to address one key area at a time.

This is also where professionals such as financial advisers, accountants, lawyers and bank managers come into their own – getting help from a professional can ensure you have the best advice and can enjoy extra confidence in your financial decisions. Maybe they can also make your day and take that one nagging job off you and what do you know, you’re done!

There’s no better feeling than ticking off a list - and gradually the weight of the world lifts, and life becomes more enjoyable on all fronts.

Have a great month, let’s hope it’s a wet one!

Cheers

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