Who Are You? Knowing Yourself To Find Success

I'm back! Before I jump into this week's topic, I owe my loyal readers an apology. I have been caught up in some other endeavors that have drawn my attention from this blog the last couple of weeks. No, I did not start collecting Beanie Babies or stalking Milwaukee Bucks players. My wife and I bought an investment property! It's quite the project: far from just a standard turn-key property, we will need to put a little time, money and effort into it to realize our vision. I will be glad to share more on our journey as we progress. Now, to the previously-promised conclusion on the success series.

Each of us have different definitions of success in personal finance or our careers. Some of us value wealth and income - Cash Rules Everything Around Me. Others want independence, whether that's just being financially comfortable or having free time or flexibility in your work. Regardless of motivation - getting what you want really starts with knowing yourself. Having the self-awareness to know your strengths - and weaknesses - will help you apply yourself in your career and make the best financial decisions.

This guy knows who he is: a man, in a cowboy hat, who smells bacon in the distance.

Who Are You?

It's really a simple question, but holds substantial weight. It's not so much about the facts - age, height, weight, or Crocs size don't really apply here. The question is really more about what skills makes you special. Understanding what you can do better than others helps you recognize the value you can bring to your career. And, here's a shocker: you like doing tasks better when you're good at them! With that, you perform better when doing something you enjoy. In turn, you become more valuable (and may get paid more!) if you are performing at a high level.

Also, it can help define your personal finances. Knowing your personal preferences will help you prioritize your spending and saving accordingly. Do you need to have a big house? Fancy car? Vacations? Pick your top choices within your budget and financial plan, and you will get the most out of your hard-earned cash.

The Right Stuff

Let's take this more globally. Why is it important to have people in roles that they enjoy (and thus thrive in)? Having the right people, in the right place, doing the right things, makes companies, teams, and even families successful. We've all seen the person in a misfit job. The waiter that acts inconvenienced when you ask for something, the customer service rep that provides no service, or the manager who is disengaged from her team. No one wins when a person is in a bad spot - the employee is frustrated, the company isn't as productive, and the customers/co-workers can suffer. Finding the right fit for the individual is of the utmost importance to an organization's success.

As an example, let's get back to my Bucks! General Manager Jon Horst assembles the team, Coach Budenholzer sets lineups and design plays, and the players execute. Each player brings his own skill set, and with that, has a role to play. Getting complementary players on the court is half the battle, but those players have to execute. If anyone started playing "hero ball", taking every shot himself instead of finding teammates with better opportunities, the team would fail. With all three levels (GM/coach/players) understanding the objectives, you are not guaranteed success, but you're on the right path.

This starts on an individual level. Do you know yourself? Where are you strong, and where do you need help? Ideally, you partner (either in your personal or professional life) that brings something else to the table. This allows you to focus on your best qualities while he or she does the same, and you will be more likely to have mutual success.

Before I wrap up this week's blog, I do want to set some expectations going forward. While I have been able to write every week for the last year plus, I don't think I can be as prolific going forward. As much as I enjoy creating content for an internet that I've taken so much from, I need to keep my family, career, and finances first and foremost. Since I started this blog, I have: invented a device and applied for a patent, started a new job, broke ground on a major landscaping project, undergone two surgeries and dozens of medical appointments, accepted an appointment to my city's planning commission, and now purchased an investment property.

Between these events and trying to be a good husband and father, Dough-Nuts has to fall back for a minute. Honestly, it has crossed my mind to pause this blog altogether so I could get my arms around my other duties. Instead, I will simply write when time allows and focus on quality over quantity. Please don't be concerned if your Saturday Dough-Nuts doesn't arrive every week. Thank you for your continued readership and please still feel free to reach out in my Ask Me! section as usual. Until next time, be well and talk to you again soon!