What did I learn recently, during a trip to the dentist?
During a procedure, my dentist paused and apologized by saying, “this is going to hurt a little. I hope
we’re still friends afterwards”. I understood exactly what he was saying. Sometimes I wish to express
the same thing to my clients. Preparing for the future isn’t always simple, easy or painless. Ever notice
when you go to the dentist the ceiling is your basic view of what’s going on in your mouth?
Your dentist on the other hand is looking through an arrangement of your individual teeth held together
by bone and gums. He or she wants you to have them all for your lifetime, if possible.
So, what does this all have to do with your financial life? You might have a great smile, but what’s going
on behind those few visible teeth in full frontal view? Without your back teeth, you can’t even chew
your food. Don’t you want all of your teeth? That’s exactly the same thought, regarding your entire
financial picture. Your dentist has a unique perspective. They’re seeing things you’ll never see and it’s
the same with a trusted advisor. When my dentist remarked, “this is going to hurt a little”, I replied
back “it sure beats the alternative”.
Sometimes preparing for the future hurts a little, but it sure beats the alternative.
