Opportunities

As I'm reflecting on the past 26 years, I've learned that education and learning goes beyond academia. Every opportunity is a lesson to be learned.

In the two years I worked 70hr weeks as a Financial Advisor for a Fortune 200 Company to build my book of clients and get my name out there I had the opportunity to learn an important life lesson. 

People only do business with people they like. Whether you like to believe it or not, we make decisions based on our emotions. There are thousands of financial advisors out there. All of them able to provide the exact same thing. You want Apple or Google stock? We all have it. You want life insurance? We all have it. You need a detailed financial plan on how to get from point A to point B? We all can do it. But what sets all of us apart is how deep our connections run with our clients. 

The deeper the connection, the deeper the loyalty.

So as I move forward in my career and leave the 70 hr work weeks behind, I am reminded of this lesson I once learned. Back in the good ol days all you needed to do was show up for work, do the work, do a good damn job of the work and you'd get promoted through the passion you showed. Now, it's all about who you know and how deep those connections run.

I'm slowly learning how to play office politics, and just like everything else I've done I'm gonna do a good damn job of it.

Sent from my iPad 

You are the best

I try to tell him those four words every single day, and hopefully he won't forget it. 

Sent from my iPad 

He's offered me the world, and I have nothing but my love to offer in return.

How did I get so blessed?

Sent from my iPad 

Debts

There are two kinds of people in this world. 

There are the givers, those are people you see who give unconditional love to everyone. The people pleaders, the ones who will drop everything they're doing to help in time of need. The ones you think of as selfless. 

Then there are the takers, those are people who are constantly willing to suck everyone's time and love with no regard for anyone other than themselves. The ones who will wait until they're finished with what they're in the middle of, and start what they want next before helping anyone in need. The ones you think of as self centered.

I have this ridiculous habit of trying my hardest to be in the middle. I keep tabs of when and what someone gives me for my birthday, Christmas, just because and try my best to give the same amount back. I also keep mental tabs of when someone has gone out of their way to spend time or help me so I'm able to give the same back. 

But then there are these handful of people...my mental list of what they've given me in a lifetime just keeps getting longer and longer and I'm not able to cross them outs cause it's been difficult trying to give the same back. 

And maybe that's the culprit of this spring of the moment behavior, why I can't stop crying. I just want to clear myself of all debts. 

Sent from my iPad 

I feel like a worthless POS

Right now I feel like a waste of oxygen.

I'm thinking of all the ways people have contributed to my life, well being, and happiness and I can't say I even remotely do the same for anyone else.

I feel like I'm just there and that's it. 

I can't stop crying because all I can think of are the millions of ways I've made life more difficult for the people I love. I'm so sad I bring anything other than happiness into their lives, I'm so sorry.

I was such a foolish girl to think the world was limitless.

I was such a foolish girl to think money doesn't matter.

I'm sorry I am such a terrible daughter, older sister, girlfriend, and friend.

Sent from my iPad 

Stop comparing where you’re at with where everyone else is. It doesn’t move you farther ahead, improve your situation, or help you find peace. It just feeds your shame, fuels your feelings of inadequacy, and ultimately, it keeps you stuck. The reality is that there is no one correct path in life. Everyone has their own unique journey. A path that’s right for someone else won’t necessarily be a path that’s right for you. And that’s okay. Your journey isn’t right or wrong, or good or bad. It’s just different. Your life isn’t meant to look like anyone else’s because you aren’t like anyone else. You’re a person all your own with a unique set of goals, obstacles, dreams, and needs. So stop comparing, and start living. You may not have ended up where you intended to go. But trust, for once, that you have ended up where you needed to be. Trust that you are in the right place at the right time. Trust that your life is enough. Trust that you are enough.

--daniell Koepke