Last week, while on a long hike with my husband I became acutely aware of our cadence. Tired and worn out I found just by staying in step with my husband seemed to make the hike easier. It reminded me of my days in the US Navy, marching and running in cadence; the rhythm of others just swept you along making the drudgery seem less painful. I found during our hike that when I would fall out of step with my husband I felt terribly uncomfortable to the point that I would adjust my steps just to get back into cadence and settling in to a sort of comfort zone. While cadence can be helpful in hikes and runs it can have the opposite impact for female financial advisors.
The financial industry has its own cadence that sweeps you up and pulls you along. It’s almost like a magnetic force causing you to follow the path and the business model created by hundreds of thousands of financial advisors before you. When you step out of line and incorporate something unique you immediately feel uncomfortable, out of synch as if you are going against the flow of traffic. As a result in most cases we avoid that discomfort and fall back in line with the cadence of the industry.
As a woman you must remember that this cadence was created by men, for men to attract male clients because that is what worked for them. While that cadence can facilitate growth for many as a woman chances are you step to the beat of a different drummer (nice pun huh?). But really, it’s so easy for women to get swept away into the traditional cadence of the industry denying yourself the unique talents and qualities that you bring naturally to your business. As a result you eventually lose a part of yourself and with that self goes your energy and passion.
To truly succeed as a woman you must recognize the value of that discomfort when you step out of line, the importance of creating your own rhythm, finding your own stride and the impact this will have on your business. When you find the courage to break cadence and forge your own path you will feel the true exhilaration that comes from unlimited and authentic success.
