New people reach out to us nearly every day. Looking to talk about their money, and how they could improve their financial situation.

Whether that’s paying off debt, saving and investing for the future, or buckling down to get ready for retirement, they want their finances to be “better.”

Some folks are ready and raring to go. They come in, visit with an advisor. Discuss their current situation and their goals. Come up with a plan of attack. And start taking action.

Others may reach out once, twice, three times — or more.

Each time, eager for something to change. But just on the cusp of taking action, they disappear. We don’t hear from them again for weeks, months, or years… Until they show up again one day, just as eager as the last time for something to change (though nothing really has).

Now before we go any further, we recognize: There’s a lot that impacts your specific personal financial situation. Things like income, opportunities, life situations, and more. But that’s not what we’re talking about.

What we’re talking about here is ACTION.

Zoom out. This is about making a decision, setting a goal, and taking steps towards achieving it. Moving from wherever you are now, towards where you wish to be.

It may seem like some people just have it, and some don’t.

But we don’t think that’s true. Because we’ve seen people change. Three months ago, they were all aspiration and no action. Now, they’re ready to get down to business.

What’s the difference?

At the core, it comes down to three decisions.

Once someone decides these three things are true, they are far more likely to act. And this could apply to almost any change they wish to see, not just finances.

They decide:

1. Something has to change.
2. It’s up to me to make it happen.
3. It needs to happen now.

Without all three, you can make any number of justifications as to why things aren’t changing.

But then something shifts. It could be big or small.

Maybe there’s birth or death in the family that causes the mindset shift.

Maybe there’s some other big life or career change that makes this a priority.

Or maybe one day you just wake up and realize the future you’re rapidly barreling towards is not the one you want. That you’re sick and tired of the way things are, and you’re done putting off the changes you know you need to make.

At this point, it’s not just that you want things to be different. You realize that you’re just done waiting for it to happen on its own. And the day to start getting things done is today.

When someone comes to us with this attitude — client or perspective client — it’s much easier to focus on getting the work done. Creating a plan and putting it into action.

And because there’s action, progress is far more likely.

Many folks got to this point before they ever became our client. Some got to this point on one issue, but aren’t quite there on the next. Some are still getting there.

The good news is, any day is a good day to decide: something has to change, it’s up to me, and the time is now.