Learning From Others

27 July, 2011

    Being blessed with a very large extended family in childhood meant spending a lot of time listening and being guided and encouraged.

      For my 60th birthday last year I prepared a three course dinner, just as my late Mum used to have.

     It’s amazing how we can be inspired by people when we are young and later, recognise their influence on both our attitudes and way of thinking.

     Influence on career paths came from people who had the runs on the board. With a radio career that came about through a five minute conversation, then being introduced to someone who trained ‘on air’ radio personnel. 

     “Old Man Murray, as we affectionately called him, taught many how to make a living using little more than their voice. Lee’s training also extended into many facets of the broadcast media. We didn't hold it against him that he was a dyed in the wool Collingwood supporter either.

   That career that spanned fourteen years working ‘on air’, writing advertisements, news items and documentaries. In the last ‘station’ a senior journalist introduced me to a friend who opened the door to firstly the insurance industry and later financial planning. 

     From this came many friends and mentors some still providing advice when working on new projects. The quality of service offered clients was tremendously influenced by people who had been in the industry much, much longer. This made the practice operate far more effectively because of the better ways of doing things.

    To have someone, teach us, show us and guide us doesn’t mean we’re inadequate rather that we may not have learned the skills yet or we may not have understood enough to improve on how we do it.

    It was the encouragement of others that lead to us walking, talking, reading, writing and being able to use those basic skills to produce an income. Did the people who taught us those skills or encouraged us ever perceive how far their influence would take us. 

    Probably not, but their encouragement led to us being able to do these things without even thinking about it.

   This weekend I attended a conference which featured  speakers who are highly successful in their own right and responsible for very large organisations.  They shared their skills and insights, from which many questions were answered about the way forward and  future of my Economic Vision programme.

   Knowledge is not hard to carry. 

    Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to learning from experience the hard way it’s better to learn from someone else’s mistakes or knowledge of a better way of doing things.

    All the time we spend fixing problems could be better spent with family.  In the end there are families who enjoy spending time together because have either consciously or unconsciously copied what they have learned from within the family unit.

  Like my memorable sixtieth spent with my brother, two sisters and their spouses who drove three hours to spend the day.

   What does all of this have to do with financial mentors.


    Only everything!

   Following the examples of people who were either good stewards with money or had created financial security for the family is a great way to learn.

   Fellow author Kathleen O’Dwyer, took an early retirement from teaching for health reasons. She was an excellent teacher and has often critiqued my writing. She has been a great support in the foundation of Economic Vision, providing a distinctive woman’s touch to a business concept that would have had mainly a mans perspective on homes, finance and budgeting. I’m still learning from her how to fine tune my household.

     Throughout life there will be many who will influenced our personal financial knowledge and attitudes. They have unique skills, insights and experiences that can help you move forward. 

    So what skills have you learned? What mentors do you have that can take you from where you are today to where you would like to be?

    Of course there are all the mentors who guide  through books as well to a wealth of ideas and disciplines. People John Wooden, Bob Proctor and Napoleon Hill to name just a few.

     The path to a sound financial future is not going to happen overnight. 

    First there must be  vision or a goal. Then working toward that goal every day. Having someone to be accountable to so that we stay focussed and being prepared to do what is suggested.

   There is a lot of truth in the statement that where you will be in five years time will largely be influenced by the books you read and the people you associate with.

"Never try to be better than someone else. 

Learn from others, and try to be the best you can be. 

Success is the by-product of that preparation."

— John Wooden