Why Bother Writing A Business Plan?

February 2, 2011 by Simon · Leave a Comment

To be able to implement a vision, you have to be able to describe it.
To have your team be fully committed, they have to understand why it is important.
To reach your goals, they must be specific, accountable and in writing.
To build a business, everyone including you must know what action is expected from them.

Simon Reilly Makes The Final Round Of Advisor.ca Visionary Poll!

Dear All,

I’ve made the final round for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Poll’.

The Advisor.ca ‘Name That Visionary Poll’ started last April. The first step was nomination, the second step was shortlisting the top twenty and this final round is choosing a winner from the top ten so please click here to cast your vote for me.

There are two ways I could have played this:

Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – ”I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
Bold, outrageous and provocative – ”asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Another reason that I am doing this is to demonstrate the power of E-Nurture Marketing & Social Media as you are a reader of my Blog or E-Newsletter and we were initially introduced through financial advisor speaking or via the internet.

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this poll can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for one of the top ten finalists and you can do this by CLICKING HERE & PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.

Again, why am I asking?

■ The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development

■ The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages

■ The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors

■ My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied

To vote CLICK HERE.

Please note that given Advisor.ca is a publication for financial and investment advisors, I humbly submit that I do not profess to be a Financial or Investment Visionary as far as financial planning, products and services.

If one were to see me as a Visionary it may be because of doing my best to walk my talk as a Financial & Investment Advisor Coach, Speaker & Writer that uses systems like a E-Nurture Marketing & Social Media in their own practice and this is why I suppose I gained the nomination in the first place for Advisor.ca Visionary Poll.

To vote CLICK HERE.

Filed under: Vision & Planning
Tagged: financial advisor blog, financial advisor business plan, financial advisor business planning, Financial Advisor Coach, Financial Advisor Coaching, Financial Advisor Speaker, Financial Advisor Speaking, financial advisor trainer, Financial Advisor Training, investment advisor blog, investment advisor business plan, investment advisor business planning, Investment Advisor Coaching, Investment Advisor Speaker, Investment Advisor Speaking, investment advisor trainer, Investment Advisor Training, Leading Advisor, Leading Advisor Inc., One Page Business Plan, simon reilly

Super Brain Yoga Exercise

February 1, 2011 by Simon · Leave a Comment

My new addiction is Yoga and Laura are going to Penny’s Yoga classes three to four times a week and the benefits are enormous.

I’ve been going to yoga classes off and on over the past three to four years and until this year; I’ve felt awkward and clumsy as most beginners do because they don’t have enough flexibility, experience with the poses and the breathing to really get it.

This year’s new commitment to Yoga along with my past experience allowed me to fall right into the poses and the breathing and I’m really seeing the benefits.

I can feel the stress of hours a day sitting in front of a computer and being on the phone just melting away, I’m sleeping better and my blood pressure is down.

Penny has introduced us to Super Brain Exercise that helps to synchronize the right and left sides of the brain to improve memory and concentration and you can see the exercise by viewing this news cast.

Simon Reilly Makes The Final Round Of Advisor.ca Visionary Poll!

Dear All,

I’ve made the final round for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Poll’.

There are two ways I could have played this:

Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – ”I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
Bold, outrageous and provocative – ”asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this poll can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for one of the top ten finalists and you can do this by CLICKING HERE & PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.

Again, why am I asking?

■ The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development

■ The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages

■ The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors

■ My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied

To vote CLICK HERE.

Filed under: Personal
Tagged: financial advisor blog, financial advisor business plan, financial advisor business planning, Financial Advisor Coach, Financial Advisor Coaching, Financial Advisor Speaker, Financial Advisor Speaking, financial advisor trainer, Financial Advisor Training, investment advisor blog, investment advisor business plan, investment advisor business planning, Investment Advisor Coaching, Investment Advisor Speaker, Investment Advisor Speaking, investment advisor trainer, Investment Advisor Training, Leading Advisor, Leading Advisor Inc., One Page Business Plan, simon reilly

Giving Thanks For January

January 31, 2011 by Simon · Leave a Comment

In a perfect world, you start your year with focus and clarity …

1. Wrap up Year 2010 business

2. Allow time for reflection

4. Commit to a written plan for 2011

5. Act on your plan

6. Commit to an accountability process

What’s missing from this list?

Step 3 – Giving Thanks.

Step 6 … Accountability and no appreciation ( giving thanks ) makes Simon a dull boy.

“I find that the more willing I am to be grateful for the small things in life, the bigger stuff just seems to show up from unexpected sources, and I am constantly looking forward to each day with all the surprises that keep coming my way!” – Louise L. Hay

So why wait till the end of the year?

I ask myself a similar question; why wait till the end of the quarter?

I do my best to give thanks in my journal every single day.

Reflecting back, I have not done this on a monthly basis so this will be the new standard for 2011.

“To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.” – Albert Schweitzer

Giving Thanks For January

Thanks for …

• The ability to experience continued peace of mind

• My beloved wife Laura

• Visits to the Naturopath and to Yoga classes 3 – 4 times a week to achieve the low blood pressure reading of 110/79 on January 26th

• Our home office environment and aside from traveling for financial advisor speaking, we have the foundation to work all over the world

• Our clients who are very much appreciated who’s investment in themselves challenges us to improve our coaching program and this also helps us to help other financial advisors and to

• Chris Barrow, our Business Coach

• Deanne McAndrews, our Marketing Virtual Assistant

• Kim Black, our IT Expert

• Liz Urichuk, our Social Media Virtual Assistant

• Simon Parsons, our Computer Manager

• Theresa Haigh, our Bookkeeper

• The One Page Business Plan which allows us to attract inspirational ideas and thoughts and put them into action

• Our 2011 time management plan

• Our 2011 budget / cash flow and sales activity calculator

• Completion of the One Page Business Plan free webinars delivered 5 times in January, completion of paid webinar for February delivery and PowerPoint delivered 3 times in January … if you want to get good at something, take massive action

• Being 174% of our budget sales goal or 90% of our stretch sales goal – the best January ever!

• Financial advisor speaking bookings for Advocis Winnipeg, NAIFA’s National Conference and PPI Solutions

• Voted in the top 10 of the Advisor.ca Visionary Poll

• The invitation to write for The Senior Market Advisor

• The invitation to write for The NAIFA-IOWA Magazine

• A new HP Pavilion dm4 laptop and Nokia 3G Aircard

• The opportunity to blog and write our e-newsletter

Why give thanks?

To continue to ignite positive feelings and ideas.

Simon Reilly Makes The Final Round Of Advisor.ca Visionary Poll!

Dear All,

I’ve made the final round for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Poll’.

There are two ways I could have played this:

Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – ”I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
Bold, outrageous and provocative – ”asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this poll can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for one of the top ten finalists and you can do this by CLICKING HERE & PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.

Again, why am I asking?

■ The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development

■ The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages

■ The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors

■ My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied

To vote CLICK HERE.

The Excuses For Not Writing A Business Plan

January 28, 2011 by Simon · Leave a Comment

The Excuses For Not Writing A Business Plan

My business is too small
Plans are for getting financing
Plans have to be 150 pages long
It’s in my head
I’ll pay a consultant to write one!

Simon Reilly Makes The Final Round Of Advisor.ca Visionary Poll!

Dear All,

I’ve made the final round for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Poll’.

There are two ways I could have played this:

Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – ”I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
Bold, outrageous and provocative – ”asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this poll can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for one of the top ten finalists and you can do this by CLICKING HERE & PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.

Again, why am I asking?

■ The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development

■ The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages

■ The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors

■ My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied

To vote CLICK HERE.

When It’s Really Important We …

January 27, 2011 by Simon · Leave a Comment

Make a list
Put it on our calendar
Use post-its as reminders
Follow up w/ phone calls & email
Do research
Make a budget
Get instructions – or a map
Cross things off list when complete

Which are things on the above to do list are Tactics and which ones are Strategies?

Simon Reilly Makes The Final Round Of Advisor.ca Visionary Poll!

Dear All,

I’ve made the final round for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Poll’.

There are two ways I could have played this:

Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – ”I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
Bold, outrageous and provocative – ”asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this poll can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for one of the top ten finalists and you can do this by CLICKING HERE & PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.

Again, why am I asking?

■ The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development

■ The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages

■ The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors

■ My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied

To vote CLICK HERE.

I’m Making It Up As I Go Along!

January 26, 2011 by Simon · Leave a Comment

This is what people hear & think when we say “I don’t have a business plan”.

I’m not serious about my business
This is a hobby
It’ll never be a real company
I don’t think ahead

Simon Reilly Makes The Final Round Of Advisor.ca Visionary Poll!

Dear All,

I’ve made the final round for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Poll’.

There are two ways I could have played this:

Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – ”I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
Bold, outrageous and provocative – ”asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this poll can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for one of the top ten finalists and you can do this by CLICKING HERE & PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.

Again, why am I asking?

■ The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development

■ The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages

■ The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors

■ My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied

To vote CLICK HERE.

What Does Your Business Plan Communicate?

January 25, 2011 by Simon · Leave a Comment

Business Plans communicate more than we would like!

Most Advisors are bright, intelligent people … However, you might not think so after reading their business plan … if they have one!

There is all this talk about compliance and consumer protection.

This could be sorted out by the consumer asking their advisor for their Values, Vision & Mission Statement which are a part of their business plan.

Having a business plan demonstrates that the advisor is congruent meaning the outside matches what is going on on the inside.

Simon Reilly Makes The Final Round Of Advisor.ca Visionary Poll!

Dear All,

I’ve made the final round for Advisor.ca’s ‘Name That Visionary Poll’.

There are two ways I could have played this:

Pretending to be a shy and demure Canadian, because that is what Canadians do, in the hope that people will vote anyway – ”I don’t take part in these celebrity competitions because it’s beneath me”
Bold, outrageous and provocative – ”asking for the business” – vote for me because I love the exposure!

Honestly, it would cost tens of thousands to receive the exposure that this poll can create.

So I’m asking for your help.

The next step is to vote for one of the top ten finalists and you can do this by CLICKING HERE & PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.

Again, why am I asking?

■ The exposure is absolutely great for my professional career development

■ The publicity is a vindication for all the hard work done with clients and the philosophy and ideas that we share in these and other pages

■ The encouragement to me to keep fighting the fight for quality career and independent financial advisors

■ My coaches and mentors all get to take a break as my unmet need of recognition is satisfied

To vote CLICK HERE.