Additional Strengths: Business development, business finances, employee benefits

My First Job Was
One of my first jobs was really not a job, but a small business. I wanted a motorcycle and the guy who owned it had a marvelous old mansion in Key West. We struck a deal where I would do some cleanup and pruning once a week all summer and then he would sign the title over in the fall. It was great! Since I was doing that, I also started cleaning other neighbors’ yards and cutting their grass as well. This was the summer before high school. Previous to this I did in fact have my own paper route and did that for about 18 months or so. All in all, I should have seen the writing on the wall and realized I was destined to be an entrepreneur. By the time I graduated from high school I had worked as an Ice Cream Server, a deep-fry operator for KFC, a busboy, carpenter apprentice, roofer, apprentice bricklayer, the gas station attendant, assistant mechanic, lobster fisherman and did a one week stint at a shrimp house de-heading pink shrimp. Through it all, I always had at least one or two side gigs going on.

Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
During my time as a financial planner and tax advisor I have learned that in order to build trust, I have to show whoever I am sitting across the table from that I CARE about them at that moment. This requires me to SHUT UP and really listen to the other person and to ask questions to let them know I am listening and that their story is the most important thing to me at that moment in time. As a result, I have made numerous friends and have clients that I really enjoy hanging out with. Two other things have become quite clear to me and I have adopted them into my business processes. First, it is never about my timing but about the prospect’s timing. Second, if you treat people with respect when the timing is right they will ask you to help them. Case in point, I met with a client for the first tie in 2010. The timing wasn’t right for her. In 2018 she called and has since become one of my best clients. The power of respect is amazing (as is the power of a good marketing drip campaign!)

Best Advice I’ve Received
One thing I have learned from working with various coaches and mentors is that I am intrinsically motivated. Talking about numbers of contact, closings and how much revenue I want has never worked for me as motivation. I measure success simply: 1. Did the person I just had an encounter with leave feeling like it was a valuable use of their time. 2. How many people have I impacted this week, month or year. This insight has allowed me to approach every encounter as an opportunity to have a significant impact on another person’s life. As a result, I am always looking forward to the next opportunity I have to serve another business, person, or family.