I was working with a private client who had a lump-sum of money available to invest.
asserted
who → work → money
We’d spent some time getting her clarity on her financial position, adding some structure to her finances, and building her understanding of investing.
asserted
We → spend → investing
This gave her some assurance, calmed her nerves and improved her confidence in preparation for investing.
asserted
This → give → investing
But the money was still sitting there, in her account – uninvested.
asserted
money → sit → account
Despite all the progress, she felt restless: that task was looming over her head, waiting to be ticked off the checklist.
asserted
task → feel → checklist
This is something I see in clients a lot: urgency, restlessness, impatience.
asserted
I → see → clients
This feeling of: “I should be further ahead than where I am right now,” or “I’m behind”, or “This is taking too long.
asserted
This → ’m → ?
That’s understandable.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
There is messaging everywhere that reinforces this: from gloom-and-doom headlines that make you lose sleep at night, to the never-ending comparison one can fall into on social media, so no matter how far you get, it never feels like it’s enough.
asserted
it → be → media
Many people are convinced this anxiety is helpful.
asserted
anxiety → convince → ?
It’s what motivates you to get things done, to achieve and progress.
asserted
things → ’ → you
However, often, this anxiety also pushes people into rushed decisions that just cause more anxiety down the track.
asserted
that → push → track
For example, you have a lump sum of money you know you “should” invest, but you don’t know how – so you hand it over to the first financial adviser you talk to or buy the first property some family member says to because you just want it off your plate.
asserted
you → have → plate
For a short time, you’re relieved.
asserted
you → ’re → time
But quickly, you’re now worried about whether it was the right move.
asserted
it → ’re → ?
One of the most powerful but underrated skills you can develop on your wealth journey is the ability to tolerate anxiety without reacting to it.
asserted
you → develop → it
Here are some perspective shifts that will help:
asserted
that → help → ?
Learn to measure progress differently
When it comes to money, we are often so anxious to fast-forward to the outcome that we don’t consider anything else progress.
asserted
anything → learn → outcome
We want more money in the bank, we want the house bought, the money invested, the ROI delivered – we want tangible results, and we want them fast.
But that’s not how it works.
asserted
it → want → them
There could be many steps before you arrive at the outcome.
uncertain
you → arrive → outcome
Maybe you never had much exposure to the idea of investing until later in your life.
asserted
you → have → life
Perhaps it took a while for you to overcome your fear of risk.
asserted
you → take → risk
Getting to the finish line isn’t progress – every step towards the finish line is.
asserted
step → get → line
Maybe you never thought it was even possible for someone without a professional financial background to invest on their own.
asserted
someone → think → own
Maybe you first had to figure out how to stay out of debt and save consistently before investing was an option.
asserted
investing → have → debt
Maybe you had to make a few mistakes and lose a bit of money to learn a few lessons.
asserted
you → have → lessons
If you’re impatiently waiting until you finally have $X in investments or $Y net-worth you’re missing (and devaluing) all the progress you’ve made until that point.
asserted
you → wait → point
Getting to the finish line isn’t progress – every step towards the finish line is.
asserted
step → get → line
Sustainable progress beats fast wins
asserted
progress → beat → wins
Everyone will sell you fast results – because fast sells.
asserted
Everyone → sell → results
But having now supported hundreds of clients in creating (collectively) millions of dollars of financial outcomes – I can tell you that it’s usually the ones who aren’t trying to rush to the end, who end up growing the fastest long-term.
asserted
who → support → end
The ones who have achievable goals that they can be excited about.
asserted
they → have → that
The ones who aren’t measuring progress solely by the number, but by how much they’re learning and growing.
asserted
they → measure → much
The ones who are enjoying the added clarity and confidence that comes with figuring out one more piece of the puzzle – knowing, trusting, that piece by piece, the puzzle will be completed.
asserted
puzzle → enjoy → piece
This is what gives them the ability to stay the course, without getting tired, frustrated, impatient, burnt-out – and ultimately, why they get faster, bigger results, long term.
asserted
they → give → results
This takes the ability to enjoy the journey – and not just the outcome.
asserted
This → take → journey
This can be tough when it comes to wealth because – well, of course you just want the outcome, duh.
asserted
you → come → outcome
Everyone just wants the money, right?
asserted
Everyone → want → money
Surely, no one enjoys something as dry and boring as investing, right?
asserted
one → enjoy → investing
Listen, I get it.
asserted
I → listen → it
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
