“Now is the time to be Bold!”  This clear and unequivocal advice was offered by a business veteran with 30 years of exceptional client service experience.  He spoke these words within his team in the context of the moment, but with the perspective of one who understands what clients need now, more than ever.  He spoke from the heart. 

The encouragement to be Bold is not cocky or arrogant.  And it is not aggressive.  Instead, it is experienced and it is confident.  It is rooted in the belief that the actions we take now will be of great value later, magnified by the benefit of hindsight.  It is a belief that boldness breeds momentum, which will propel us forward.  

When I probe beneath the surface of this bold encouragement, I see three related underlying qualities that lead to desired outcomes: 

• Positivity.  When we project a belief that decisions and actions taken now will result in positive outcomes, it makes us feel better and clients respond favorably.  We both gain something valuable, so it’s truly a ‘Win-Win’ approach. Clients  gravitate to advisors who will find and communicate the good things present in the moment.  Focusing on what we can do, as opposed to worrying about forces beyond our control, elevates our mindset. 

• Proactivity.  Waiting to see what happens isn’t a strategy for success.  Seeing and seizing opportunities is the essence of being bold.  Clients want an advisor who doesn’t wait for them to point out the possibilities and necessary actions.  There is important work to be done now. 

• Potential.  A future-focused outlook is a helpful thing, especially when the circumstances of the present are not ideal.  It is one thing to see and accept present circumstances as they are, yet quite another to envision a positive outcome.  This guides us on the path from here to there. 

The future belongs to those who make the most of the present. “Now is the time to be Bold!” 

Tempus Maximize!