Do you know the definition of the word "homeostasis?" If not, don't get the wrong idea - this word has nothing to do with sexual preference or red-blood count - it basically means, "striving for constancy." Homeostasis is a "relatively stable state of equilibrium";1 to remain consistent with the familiar and with what has been done and said in the past. It also means staying in your current comfort zone and resisting anything new and different. A person who only feels comfortable with the tried-and-true usually demonstrates homeostasis. A person manifesting homeostatic impulses tends to feel tense and uneasy about change, or even the thought of change.
Does this sound familiar to you? Does it sound like someone you know quite well - the person you see every morning in the mirror? Maybe you need to hear what Ralph Waldo Emerson had to say about that subject: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds!"
You can overcome the tendency toward homeostasis by recognizing it in yourself, observing it in others, and taking deliberate steps to move out of this false comfort zone and trying something new. Remember: The hallmark of creative people is an open mind on all subjects and the willingness to listen to new ideas without prejudice or jumping to conclusions.
I assume that's why you're reading this article. It's time to leave old concepts and ideas behind, and open your mind to new ideas that will help you take control of your financial future. It's also time to evaluate all of your advisors and see if they are earning their keep. It's amazing how many people want to be on your payroll! Are they truly worth it? If they aren't, get rid of them. You owe it to yourself to make sure that you are getting the best, most updated advice available that keeps you in control - not under the control of someone else.
Have I struck a nerve? I know that you have probably been thinking about doing this for quite a while, but just haven't gotten around to it. Well, the time to get around to it is now!
Are you getting the best advice your money can buy? I know you are spending big bucks for it! Ask yourself one question: "Is it worth it?" If you hesitate, the answer is "no." There are only two answers to that question: yes or no. A "maybe" is a "no." If you have to think about the answer, maybe you need to think long and hard before you write your advisor another check!
While we are on the subject of evaluating advisors, maybe it's time to evaluate one of your key employees, too. This is the one you usually forget to review and just let "slide by." Foolish move! This employee is the one who will work the hardest for you and will never ask for a day off, but one you never put any demands on, and accept whatever you get. Although this employee never asks for a vacation, you approve time off at his or her discretion.
Are you curious as to whom this employee is? You should be! This employee is your money! It's your hard-earned money that you just let lie around, barely earning enough to keep it ahead of inflation. It will obey your every wish and command, if you issue them - but is that what you are doing?
Isn't it time to let your money work its hardest for you? Isn't it time to maximize your return and minimize your tax liability? You are the boss, so act like one and demand that your dollars get to work for you. Now, there's a radical idea! Have your advisors ever made that suggestion to you? Why not?
As I've said, it is time to take control of all of your financial matters, because when all is said and done, it does matter! You need to know what's going on and if it is really in your best interest - and earning you the best interest! When fees start exceeding the interest you earn, it is time to evaluate the true value of those so-called advisors. The rest is up to you; it's your life and your money. Don't let anybody else tell you how to live it or spend it, unless you feel they have earned the right to do so.
Reference
- Webster's Universal Encyclopedic Dictionary, 2002. Barnes and Noble Books, New York.
Stanley Greenfield, RHU
1829 Green Heron Court
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
(800) 585-1555
Fax: (904) 247-1266
stan@stanleygreenfield.com
