WHAT INSPIRES YOUR GRITTIEST SELF?

"Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you're willing to stay loyal to it."- Angela Duckworth in her book GRIT.

I am re-reading Grit right now and I am struck again and again with how important a single-minded passion is to being gritty enough, long-enough to be successful in an endeavor.

People aren't just gritty out of sheer will power, they are gritty because something deeply matters to them.  They have found their passion that they care about so much they are "willing to stay loyal to it."  Not for a month or a year, but for decades and maybe a lifetime.

Of course, you can't help but ask yourself, am I THAT passionate about something?  If so, what is it? 

My answer has been bubbling to the surface for a while.  I have described it many ways, but my latest iteration feels the most complete.

My purpose is to help people live more SECURE, FREE, and MEANINGFUL lives through Advice-based Financial Planning.

What I wish for myself, I wish for my clients and I endeavor to empower advisors to deliver to the world.  There is something so powerful in realizing that one over-arching theme runs through every aspect of my life.

You might ask, but does Advice-based Financial Planning really play into the theme of your personal life Lucila?

I asked myself that question and I realized that the methods I personally use to live a secure, free and meaningful life are  the same I recommend to my clients and teach to advisors. 

-Security to me is about knowing that I have enough and I have planned for contingencies so that I don't have to worry.

-Freedom is about knowing that nothing owns me and I am free to make decisions based on my own values.

-Meaning is about contribution and my work is the most significant source of meaning and purpose in my life (outside of my family).

I grew up with a widowed mother who did not have significant financial resources.   She did an amazing job with what was available to her, but our life was not very secure.  As a young person, I didn't have the freedom to make choices to follow my passion, but had to make practical decisions to build security first.  And when you don’t have security and freedom for yourself, the primary meaning in your life is fighting to survive and, hopefully someday, thrive.

This is my purpose, my meaning and hopefully my gift to the world. 

Back to Angela's observation about the source of grit.  Do I care about my mission enough to "stay loyal to it?"

I have been a financial advisor for 16 years and I have been sharing my ideas with advisors for about four and a half years and I feel like I am just getting started!

My desire to build a community of advisors who are working together to build a profitable, purpose-driven Advice-based Financial Planning culture in the industry is my absolute passion.

It's the thing that has me writing blogs on a Sunday.  It's the primary motivation for reading, learning, studying.  It is even the source of many of my closest friendships.

Helping people live more SECURE, FREE, and MEANINGFUL lives through Advice-based Financial Planning is the thing that drives me!

What is the thing you care about so much that you're willing to stay loyal to it?  What inspires your grittiest self!?

If you haven't already read GRIT by Angela Duckworth, I highly recommend it!  Get it HERE. 

She doesn't just tell you that you should try really hard and never give up (my first impression of the concept of grit).  She breaks down the what, why and how of grit and actually shows you how to develop it in yourself and those around you.

Believe it or not, I really don't care very much about "accomplishments".  I care about feeling like I am doing something that matters in the world.  To me, the passion that makes you most gritty also unlocks the deep satisfaction of meaningful work and the beauty of it is that through that natural progression comes accomplishment.

I wish that for you!

-Lucila

PS Whether you have read GRIT or not, I would love to hear about the passion that drives you!  Join the TIA Mastermind Group on Facebook and share it with the community!  We would love to support your on your journey!