Fresh Eyes
I started playing golf approximately 35 years ago and it remains one of my favorite leisure time activities. As with anything, after that much time I’ve fallen into some habits. Some of those habits are good, some are bad, and some, like which pocket holds my scorecard, are inconsequential to anyone but me.
A few years ago while playing in a golf outing with some coworkers, I was lamenting the fact that I can’t hit a ball that moves from right to left in the air, a ball flight that, based on a player’s skill level and intention, is called either a draw or, derisively, a hook. “Every time I try,” I said, “I just wind up hitting it straight.”
A coworker looked at me, confused, and said, “Why don’t you do that every time?”
The idea had never occurred to me. My golf swing had basically been the same for more than three decades at that point. My swing was different when I was trying to hit a draw, but it had never entered my mind that perhaps that was a better way to go about my business.
I think we all have blind spots like that in our lives; glaringly obvious to everyone but ourselves. An unbiased, fresh set of eyes can have a staggering influence. This very website came into being similarly, thanks to a conversation with my business coach, Kelly. She was quick to see that, while Centennial was easy to find online, I, as an individual advisor, was not. It took some prodding before I could see what was so obvious to her.
One of the biggest blind spots people have, in my experience, is with their finances. Money is very personal and emotional, which can be a recipe for poor decision making. Sometimes, an outsider’s prospective is what’s needed. However, because money is so personal, it can be hard to seek help.
I am here to help. I have talked through a myriad of financial questions with clients outside of their investment portfolio in an unbiased, non-judgmental, and confidential manner. I would be happy to do that for you, too.