I love “boring” people. They are the most grounded, realistic and aware.
Many people find accountants and CPA’s boring. They may be “boring” but they are F-U-N.
You know why? Because they know the boundaries. They understand the things happening, what they want to happen and what could happen. So they plan. And if I’m being told that “this is possible”, I know that it is not only possible but it has also been vetted by stricter standards than my own. It is safe, okay and that all will be just as well afterward.
Boring is security. And you can’t have true fun without security. My body can’t.
I refuse to listen to any finance people who have a sales or “charismatic vibe.” If they paint rosy projections, talk a lot, won’t give me any information to look at and pressure me to decide, I run.
But if they are constantly, almost repetitively, stating limitations, making sure expectations are very low and engaging in such “Debbie Downer” talk”…those are my people.
Safety and Security in general but especially when it comes to money – it cannot be overrated or overstated. Even if there is too little of the money, knowing that what you DO have is secure and working for you in living your life is essential.
Again, boring is security and frees you and your mind to actually have fun and do other things.
That’s why all the “chase the growth things” (always require a stupid amount of $) don’t work for people. I’m not saying you can’t grow without safety.
What you grow without safety is totally different than what you would grow WITH the safety. And we wonder why we all feel crazy and a mess.
At the end of the day, in a world that (always was but is more than ever) is constantly changing and unsafe, why would you add another thing to the pile when you don’t have to?
We have limited control over a lot of things (whether we want to admit that or not). These lives we live and “design” are very much within a box that others (present and past) have decided for us. While we may choose what music we listen to and where, up until maybe 40 years ago it was whatever you could afford to buy, or the radio stations that broadcasted in your area. Plus you could only listen in certain places where your players were and everyone in that vicinity had to listen to it.
Now, it seems like we have more options, that we have more control over our lives. You and I can sit next to each other and be listening to totally different things. Crazy? Seems like choice right?
But is it really? We listen to what the apps and producers are willing to get behind. Or we listen to those who work quadruple hard and hustle to put their stuff out there without the help of those who control the apps.
I am always amazed (and still susceptible myself) when growth is packaged by more risk and more limitation. “You have to spend $ to make $.” Sure, compound interest, making a prototype of your item, and now it’s a website or an app etc.
Still, you cannot create a business or a life that will support and sustain you long term without without safety.
And without financial safety? Sure you can gamble, but who knows what you will build? And how fast it will fall apart or tear you apart?
That said, I do love taking risks. These seem like risks to others. But they never see the multiple pages of spreadsheets and planning I did before I took the risk (nor do they need to).
Sometimes I am okay to gamble $50 to learn a lesson that I thought I knew but I didn’t, just a little better.
But not unless I feel safe. If I don’t feel safe with myself with money, I’m not taking risks.
I am grateful you read what I write but I don’t want that to be it for you. I want it to help you in some way. So at the end, some questions to think about.
What does growing at the speed of safety look like for you?
In business?
In your finances?
In life?
When it comes to your dreams and desires, where does safety come in? (a time or money limit, talking it over with a friend or advisor, learning with a group or going solo)
Until next time…
