When I first entered the financial services business, coaches and industry experts encouraged me to figure out a very specific narrow niche to become known as THE expert in. I was supposed to mine that sucker for all it was worth. According to all these gurus, it was THE way to success.
To be honest, I considered this very seriously. But after ten years in accounting, doing everything from mom-and-pop businesses to SEC Audits, from mid-size corporations to expert testimony in forensic accounting, the idea of doing one thing left me completely cold.
I loved the idea of doing the books for a medical practice one day and inventory at a drug company the next. The variety was stimulating, providing me with a breadth of knowledge and experience.
So, I thought about what I wanted to be known for and what specialty drew my interest beyond others. Of course, I had an affinity for musicians and teachers, but I also enjoyed working with corporate executives who grasped business ideas readily. The idea of specializing in left-handed ophthalmologists born in July left me cold.
Instead, I decided that my “niche” would be those who wished to work with me. People who were open to my practice methodology—financial life planning—AND willing to pay the fee. The result has been completely satisfying in the number and types of people whose lives I’ve touched.
In Chapter X, you can “specialize” in how you build your life. You might focus your time on one or two things that light you up. Or you can be a generalist, welcoming experiences and opportunities as they strike you. There is no right answer—just yours.
For me, well, I think you know that answer.
