How to Unlock Success as a Financial Advisor

Hey there,

You know, I’m just like a lot of you – I’m a self-help, entrepreneurship, personal development junkie. And there’s a common thread in all these areas – an intense focus on the present and the future. But, hang on a minute, what about our past?

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We can’t deny the past shapes our present. Sometimes it even sneaks up on us, flooding us with emotions. ?So, why do we often downplay the incredible power that mastering our past can unleash?

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Your life story is like a frame, and it’s what makes you believe you have a calling. A purpose with a capital P! A life mission! (Okay, maybe I’m getting a tad carried away, but you get the point.) The more momentum you create around your story, the more real it becomes.

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The Momentum of Meaning

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Many of us harbour a reactive narrative about our past. We view past events as obstacles, failures, or sources of regret - heavy anchors that hold us back from pursuing our goals and dreams with confidence.

But here’s the thing: when you take ownership of your past, you get to decide what it means. You can determine if it's useful or if it's not, whether it’s a source of frustration or liberation.

Everything we do is filtered through our perspective. How we perceive, interpret, and frame our past experiences has a profound impact on our present decisions and future outcomes.

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What truly holds us back from reaching our full potential isn’t so much about figuring out the next big step. It’s more about the stories we tell ourselves – sometimes without even realizing it – that stop us from embracing all the amazing possibilities out there.

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The Power of Framing

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The solution lies in assigning a new meaning to your past and mastering the art of framing. Framing involves consciously shaping your perspective (and the stories you tell others) around your life experiences and beliefs so that it's the present feeling that changes the meaning of the past.

When I work with advisors, I help them evaluate which current beliefs and goals serve their greater purpose. I take their biggest reactive narratives and help them see them from a different perspective.

Advisors have been gaining momentum in their authority for a while, and I just help them see it. This is how you create a past that serves your future, one that makes the future bigger, not worse.

The Keys to Transformation

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There are 2 crucial keys to unlocking this for yourself:

1. Realizing Your Current Frame

You have to realize that you are currently living in a frame of your own design.

2. The Power of Belief

You have to continually ask yourself, “What would I need to believe about that experience so that it would serve me well?”

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Your past frames everything you're seeing and doing now, but you can be the one who now frames your past.

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The Transformation: Shaping Your Narrative

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Now, you’re in the driver seat in the present, so you’re the one driving the bus for the future. You get to realize that it's your choice. How you frame the past is either useful or not useful.

For example, my dad’s stroke, which moved my family from one income to none - is that useful or not useful? It's actually my choice. I get to decide in the present what that means. I chose that I'm better (not bitter) because of it.

But it's also actually making my present and future. I’ve turned that into a mission to ensure more people understand how advisors can help them. These kinds of mental muscles mean that no matter what happens, it's making you better and your future better too.

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By choosing empowering frames that align with your most significant goals, you can transform your perception of your past. I recently was asked to do a podcast focused on my experience growing up as a blue-collar kid in one of the roughest neighbourhoods in London. They wanted to explore the relationship with a scarcity mindset, and I had to turn it down.

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Yes, growing up, I had a scarcity mindset, but I don’t have it anymore. Why? Because I’ve reframed my past entirely to serve me. Rather than seeing past experiences as setbacks, you can reframe them as stepping stones to your success. These empowering frames propel you forward with a newfound sense of purpose.

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Now I see abundance everywhere and I have a filter for my brand and business decisions.

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Your Power to Influence

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But your transformation doesn't stop with you. As you master the art of framing, you have the opportunity to empower others. The designs of other people once left up to their interpretations about you, your life, your services, and where you're going? That all ends.

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Sharing your journey and insights attracts people who resonate with your transformation and vision. Your story becomes an inspiration for those on their own quest for growth.

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When you have a concrete brand story, you not only gift yourself the benefit of the lesson but allow your identity to grow, and the frame becomes whatever you want it to be. That’s not just a skill set; it makes you more confident and enabled. Plus, you share the gift of your knowledge with others.

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Embrace the Power of Your Past

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In a world that often emphasizes the present and future, don't underestimate the power of your past. Your past experiences, reframed in the right way, can be your greatest assets. By consciously choosing how you frame your past, you take control of your narrative and shape your present and future.

So, why wait? Start assigning new meaning to your past, learn the art of framing, and watch as your life transforms in ways you never thought possible.

Branding is not about any specific output, it’s about the process:

1. Dramatically expanding your vision for what you do and how you do it
2. Clarifying your purpose and focus, identifying and removing non-essentials
3. Assigning meaning to your past and telling a story about your mastery
4. Empowering others who want your transformation and excitedly share your vision
5. Connecting with prospects and clients in meaningful ways
6. And figuring out how to consistently bring it all together

Each layer you peel away helps you to let go of your former self, bringing you closer to your true self.

How would you feel if you could confidently express who you are, and then let that be the frame for how you operate?

To have your work feel like a calling in your heart, connect with clients on the deepest level and create a business so intuitive that the next right step seems obvious?

If you liked this and want the next article to focus on this, tap that like button and let me know in the comments.

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P.S. Interested in the process above? The 6-week workshop starts October 27th.

Check out nataliehales.com/workshop for all the details.