The world’s divided into two sorts of people – there are those who, at the first mention of a new course or training day, feel their eyelids drooping and a creeping sense of impending doom. And then there are those who are immediately enthused, excited and invigorated and just can’t wait to get there and get stuck in. I’m afraid I have to admit I’m in the second category – nothing perks me up more than a new course – I know, I know, what does that say about me? Maybe I need to get out more.
I’ve just worked my way through a great one-day course to help me prepare my case study for my Certified Financial Planner qualification and yes indeed, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mind you, whilst it gave me some really great input on preparation and presentation, I did stagger out at the end of the day, a bit the worse for wear and wanting nothing so much as a can of full fat coke and a bit of a lie down!
The reason it’s so intense is that, unlike working opposite a real life client, where you can talk them through their planning journey, for the case study you have to write down absolutely anything and everything you’re thinking. These are thoughts you probably wouldn’t even pass on to your client, after all they don’t necessarily need to hear every one of the numerous options you’re considering and discarding if they’re not right, neither do they need to have listed every single financial criteria.
Just to give you an example of what I mean, take inflation. This is a fact of life which comes into most things I do, I take it for granted, know exactly what it is, how much I assume it will change in both the short and the long term, and am always looking at how it will impact on what we’re talking about now and how much on future planning. But when presenting a case study, I need to put all my knowledge and automatic calculations and assumptions into words – backed by evidence! An average report for this exam is around 50 typed pages of A4 although I suspect, if I were to present you with something that size at the end of one of our discussions, you’d also feel the need for a coke and a long lie down (or maybe something stronger!).
But I don’t want you thinking this last month’s been all work and no play making Madeleine a dull girl! For relaxation I’ve been reading a truly amazing book Happy Money by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton. It’s one of those books full of such brilliantly sensible common sense, you have to kick yourself for not reading it sooner, and even more for not thinking all these things through yourself. For example: “By consistently asking yourself how a purchase will affect your time, your dominant mind-set should shift, pushing you towards happier choices“.
Think about the must-have, must-buy, can’t manage without, sky-high priced appliances on the market and then ask yourself one very simple question. “Will all the extra features offered by this deluxe appliance alter how I spend my time?” If the answer is “It probably won’t.” Then why not go for the basic economy version? Because if you’re not going to save yourself time, you might as well save yourself money!
Enjoy the rest of your month.
