Each of us may be the star of our own show, but think about how long the credits would be! You don’t have to be Wonder Woman. Be in a Wonder Woman movie: rally your crew, pick your favorite director, and gather your favorite cast members around you. That’s how things get done. Together.
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We live our lives minute by minute, day by day, and only in hindsight do the broad patterns emerge.
And sometimes, it helps to think through those patterns out loud.
As it has been for decades now, working to age 92 is a cherished goal of mine. With a goal like that, sustainability is key. To that end, I work four days a week, and I spend some weeks at a time working from afar, enjoying other scenery while I stay connected with you and with my teammates via the wonders of the internet and mobile telephones.
My partners and I have been putting some energy into thinking about how I spend those working hours.
A few months ago, Billy, Greg, and Caitie asked me what I wanted more of, so I told them about what I enjoy most. I love our business objective: striving to grow your buckets. My favorite activities are talking to you as well as researching the opportunities and challenges that might impact your portfolios.
So then, we realized: to do more of what I want at work, don’t I need to be doing less of everything else?
Clients, that was a moment when I realized how blessed I am to have the partners I do. They asked me that question, and I could almost feel a load lifting from my shoulders as I shouted, “Heck yes!”
You see, there are tasks that have long been on my plate because once upon a time, mine was the only plate. Parts of my role have included a lot of logistical overhead, the type of detail work that I don’t always enjoy having to do—especially if I could be talking with our clients or researching investments instead!
All this is to say, there are some exciting organizational changes on the horizon. I’ve long believed that we are all better off working from our strengths and passions, and we’ve got a chance to reshuffle what goes on each of our plates.
What will not change is the four-person collaborative ownership and management team that shapes the enterprise that works to take care of your business. I simply will get to spend more time doing the parts of the work that are most gratifying to me.
We’re looking forward to less stress, and more joy, all around. And I’m excited. Stay tuned in the coming weeks: details are on the way!
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Animal metaphors are all over the business world. There are cash cows and fat cats and top dogs—oh my!
And maybe you’ve heard of bull markets and bear markets? Bulls swipe their horns up to attack; bears swipe their paws down to attack. Bullish investors are preparing for prices to rise; bearish investors are preparing for prices to fall. These terms are common in investment and market news, but as you’ve learned with us, we don’t like to follow the herd. (See what we did there?)
We don’t need an animal mascot that’s ready to “attack.” Business isn’t war. We’re trying to grow something here.
But we could use an animal that’s flexible, light on its feet, and can think for itself. It should be a strong climber, too—ready for all the ups and downs of investing!
And if we’re picking our own mascot, would it really be so bad if it also happened to be adorable?
Enter, the red panda.
Maybe you’ve already heard of these little cuties, but did you know how unique red pandas are? Red pandas are sometimes confused with foxes, traditional panda bears, and even racoons, but they are none of those things! In fact, they are the only species within their genus. They’re one of a kind.
At first glance, you might also think most financial advisors would all be alike. But once you get to know us, you might find out we’re more like the red panda. It’s hard to put us in anybody else’s category. We’re unique, and we can’t help but be ourselves.
As for the other qualities? Red pandas hit the mark.
They’re fabulous climbers, easily scaling mountains and getting up and down trees and bamboo forests. They aren’t afraid to climb down headfirst, nearly vertical (it’s like they know that even the steepest drops won’t go down and down and down forever!). Red pandas have adapted over time and have a “false thumb,” an extra little feature that helps them grip as they climb all over. Flexible? Check.
On their feet, red pandas have special hairs on the soles so that they don’t sink in the snow, even when they’re running and have to change directions. Their bushy tails also help them stabilize, keeping their balance as they walk along tree branches. Light on their feet? Check.
Red pandas prefer solitary thought to group-think, so we know they won’t be getting caught up in any herd mentality or stampedes.
And to top it off, did we mention that red pandas are a symbol of good fortune in some cultures?
No guarantees, of course, but beyond the bulls and the bears… red pandas might be the animal mascot we’ve been waiting for.
Clients, what do you think: is it time for 228 Main to adopt an animal friend for a mascot? Call or write in, any time.
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What does it mean for our business to be “client-centered”? (Wait, shouldn’t all business be “client-centered”?…) In this week’s video, Mark and Caitie talk about the role the firm plays in our relationships with you, what the client’s job is, and more.
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When The Jetsons first aired, the idea of a robot maid or a flying car seemed too good to be true. Now, we have moving walkways, Roombas, and flying car prototypes. With the growth of green energy, could we live in Orbit City by 2062? Get more here.
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Our daily struggles might have more going for them than we first think. Imagine tripping on the coffee table and thinking, “Gee, it sure is nice to have toes to stub!” A little perspective goes a long way. So “rock bottom” may sound like a terrible place to find oneself, but it also could make a solid place to push off from. This week’s video: a serious lesson from a funny show.
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