Ask a Question Day

Do the questions you ask determine the direction of your life?

I love asking questions.  

In all my years in business (and in life), I have found a powerful correlation between the questions I asked, and the guidance I was given.

It was John DeMartini who said that the quality of your life is dictated by the quality of the questions that you ask.

…The better the questions you ask… the better advice you get and the better the outcome will be.

…Poorly thought out questions means bad advice and bad outcomes.

Some of the questions I would encourage you to ask yourself (and others) in the coming weeks or months will determine the positive outcomes you get.

Things like…

1)  Think of a time when you received outstanding service.  What was it about the service that was memorable?

2)   Think of a time when you received poor service.  What was it about the service that disappointed you?

3)   If you could offer just one piece of advice to businesses in your community – what would that be?

4)   When you received exceptionally outstanding or exceptionally poor service – did you tell the service provider or business?  If not – why not? 

Life Questions:

1)  If you could have lunch with any three people alive today – who would they be and why?

2)  What 3 questions would you ask them during lunch?  Think about it: if you were limited to only 3 questions – what would be the most powerful questions you could ask that would give you the greatest insights into your personal success and fulfillment?

3)  What would you do if you knew you could not fail?  Would you do things differently?  What specifically would you do differently?  What’s holding you back now?  If there is something holding you back, how could you eliminate the obstacle just for a month?  Do it!

Good questions make you think.  Hard.  

And well thought out answers should seriously make you evaluate how you will use the advice or answer given.

So I will leave you with this…

…what one or two things could you do in the next 30 days that will make a positive impact on your health, wealth, or happiness?

Will you commit to me right now that you will do at least one of these things?

Please do – then let me know what happens!

I love a great story.

This was sent to you compliments of Stephen Cox, a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA)®.  CPCAs are committed to providing exceptional service, and have supplemented their professional training by learning about the unique and changing needs of the 50+ population.  Make sure that the professionals serving you have taken the time and made the commitment to learn more about YOU!  To find CPCAs in good standing in your area, go to www.CPCAcanada.com.

To Find out how I serve Boomers and Seniors, please call me at 902-446-4563.

Article written by CPCA (Certified Professional Consultant on Aging) and reproduced with permission.

Stephen Cox is a Certified Financial Planner professional with Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc. and Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network in Halifax, NS.  7001 Mumford Road, Suite 312, Halifax, NS, B3L 4N9. Email your questions or comments to Stephen at steve.cox@dfsin.ca or check out his website at www.stevecox.ca.

Mutual Funds Distributed by Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc.

Life & Health Insurance Distributed by Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network.

Fee for Service Financial Planning is done through S. Cox & Associates Wealth Management Inc.

Know a workaholic? Read this, it may save their life...

Workaholics Day According to Wikipedia, “An ergomaniac or workaholic is a person who is addicted to work." Do you know one… or a few? Maybe you are now… or were one yourself? Being passionate about your career, your business, or your job is a good thing.  But, when it interferes with your family, your social life, or your health… it turns from a good thing to a dangerous thing. I am not here to convince you of the detrimental effects of working 80+ hours a week – you probably know it, or aren’t willing to admit that it applies to you. In honour of national workaholics day (July 5th), I would like to share a few ideas that may help you get more done in less time (whether or not you are a workaholic or not, these will still help you get more done). Technology has made it FAR easier to become a 24x7 workaholic.  The tools are there to keep us plugged into work every waking moment.   Email at our finger tips. Phone calls can be made from anywhere (including your child’s or grandchild’s school or sporting events). You may be at the event, but your child will see you working while there… defeating the entire purpose of you being there for them.  So I want to challenge you to try a few new things in the coming week: 1) 1.) Become a chunker.  Work in uninterrupted time chunks of 30 minutes.  Block off 30 minute chunks through your day – at least 4 of them.  2 hours of your day isn’t much to ask if it saves a relationship or your health. Plan out what exactly you will work on during that chunk.  And block out everything else. No phones. No email. No chat fests with colleagues. Just you and your project, and 30 minutes of uninterrupted time.  Use a timer to keep yourself on track.   Promise me you will try this?  You can get FAR more done in a 30 minute chunk of time than hours of ‘multi-tasking’ All the scientific research proves this as true 2) 2.)  Use the chunking method with those you love as well.  Book off time to be with them and promise them you will NOT check email or answer your phone during that time. The punishment if you do?  Cash – you pay them $20 for every offence. That will help! 3) 3.)  Find an accountability partner that can help you stick to the plan. Talk to them once a day for 5 minutes – reporting in on how you are doing and where you faltered. Admitting your mistakes publicly, regularly will help you see how bad it has become. There, 3 simple tips that anyone can try out. Are you up for the challenge? Will you give it a go for a week, at a minimum? Good – now block off some times for your chunking – and stick to the plan. It will do far more for your health, your relationships, and your productivity than anything else. Try it and let me know how it works out…please. This was sent to you compliments of Stephen Cox, a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA)®.  CPCAs are committed to providing exceptional service, and have supplemented their professional training by learning about the unique and changing needs of the 50+ population.  Make sure that the professionals serving you have taken the time and made the commitment to learn more about YOU!  To find CPCAs in good-standing, go to www.CPCAcanada.com

Stephen Cox is a Certified Financial Planner professional with Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc. and Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network in Halifax, NS.  7001 Mumford Road, Suite 312, Halifax, NS, B3L 4N9. Email your questions or comments to Stephen at steve.cox@dfsin.ca or check out his website at www.stevecox.ca. 

Article written by CPCA (Certified Professional Consultant on Aging) and reproduced with permission.

Mutual Funds Distributed by Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc.

Life & Health Insurance Distributed by Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network.

Fee for Service Financial Planning is done through S. Cox & Associates Wealth Management Inc.