The Dreaded-Beautiful Plateau!

Feeling that I had reached one, I was looking for an article about reaching a psychological plateau. A Google search gave up lots of articles and I couldn’t believe how many different areas of human endeavor one can reach a psychological plateau. I was specifically interested in plateaus reached while learning to play golf and starting a new business. I found out that in almost everything we try to do we will eventually have a drop in enthusiasm or effort and the desired results seem unattainable, at least in the short-term. This was one definition I found for what has become for me - “the dreaded plateau.” There were articles describing plateau syndromes concerning dieting, learning languages, sports, sexuality, job satisfaction, I could name at least a half-a-dozen more.

A few months ago I started out very enthusiastic about chronicling my exploits of learning how to play golf for the first time and starting a new business from scratch. It has been a lot of fun and I loved the wonderful feedback I have gotten. Yet just two months in, the novelty has begun to wear off and I know I need something fresh, some new motivation.

So I hit the books, er, well Google to learn more about this phenomenon. While doing my research I discovered that this plateau syndrome is so common we might as well just consider it part of the process in gaining any type of success. Let’s first take golf for example… for those of you who actually manage to get a lot of practice in (no jealousy here), you'll find your skill level hitting a plateau. Follow-up lessons will allow your golf instructor to teach you additional skills, for example how to hit a fade or draw, and how to control the spin of your ball. All of these will give you better accuracy in your swing; thereby giving you more reason to be enthused about your next time on the links.

How about if you are trying to drop a few pounds like me: You're exercising, eating well, and steadily losing pounds. Then all of a sudden... BAM!. You reach the “dreaded” plateau. The scale seems stuck, week after week. Don't think you're the only person this happens to (although most people DO believe this only happens to them) - nearly everyone trying to lose weight experiences a phase when the scale won't budge and there's still 5, 10, 15 pounds to go. So, when this happens, you've got a choice to make. You can either call your diet a success (or a failure), or you keep plugging away; which means you’ll have to add something new to your game…a diet fade or curve as it were.

Having worked with hundreds of clients over the years who were starting new business ventures, I know the process is one of peaks and valleys and plateaus! I know that eventually a plateau is reached - where one can be so far from any mountains or valleys where it feels like you’re just treading water – working hard, staying afloat but remaining stationary.

But have you ever taken-in the beauty and majesty of a plateau in nature? It does not possess the low-lying dangers of a valley or the treachery of a rushing river. Nor is it the jagged peak of a mountain. A plateau is a wide mainly level area of elevated land; a land area having a relatively level surface considerably raised above adjoining land on at least one side.And though by definition, a plateau is a period or state of little or no growth or decline; also as a verb it means to remain at a stable level for a relatively long period. Hmmm, so if I were going to be stuck somewhere would I rather be down in the valley with all of the dangers and pitfalls that accompany it; or would I rather be safely perched up high on a level plateau where I can see uninterrupted for miles around and assess my situation and plan my next move?

So as I sit here, looking out across the horizon…I can appreciate that I have reached this inevitable dreaded and beautiful plateau. But from this elevated, safe position, I can determine my next course of action. I can contemplate and ruminate on what has impeded my enthusiasm and excitement. I can work on adding a fade or curve to my game! I will sit down with a trusted adviser, trainer or coach and look at things from various perspectives.

In my Golf game – perhaps I will take a lesson to work one thing for the next few weeks instead of trying to learn so much all at once. Dieting – I can put some air in my tires on my bike and ride at least once a week to increase my exercise. I will talk to my weight reduction counselor for her objective opinion. Finally, for the Business I will meet with my marketing adviser and my business partner and say, “Hey guys – I am totally open to some new ideas and approaches” maybe they won’t faint!

In the meantime, I will enjoy this majestic view and perhaps get in some meditation while I’m up here!

If you would like to read more on the Plateau phenomenon in golf or dieting and fitness, check out the suggested links below:

http://www.healthdiscovery.net/articles/15Plateau_tips.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Golf-Lessons---A-FAQ-For-Beginners-Learning-Golf-For-the-First-Time&id=1703612

The Wacky World of Golf!

Lots of funny and weird things happened while I was learning to play golf. Unfortunately no cameras were present. So in a tribute to new golfers everywhere he is a look at the wacky world of golf!

"Swing and Take Your Cuts" as an Economic Strategy!

Sunday morning I left the house early to meet a high school friend I hadn’t seen in over 30 years. He was down in SWFL with his wife visiting their children and grandchildren, enjoying the Bonita Springs area. I have never been to a high school reunion so we reconnected through Facebook.

While we were sharing our lives we both realized the community we grew up in was unique. It was a small town with a very diverse population, located only 25 miles from New York City. Everyone enjoyed sharing their different cultures, knew each other’s families and played sports together from little league through high school. In fact, my high school graduating class was only 60 kids and most of us had been together since grade school.

Sitting across the table from him, the more we shared the more I realized how much fun I had growing up and how those boyhood experiences have helped define who I am as a man. Certainly I have changed, but there were core values that were instilled in me by coaches and community. I always remembered baseball coach Jim Durling, putting his arm around me before an important at-bat and saying, “ Ike, you have three swings to change the course of this game – I don’t care if you strike out – but please take your cuts!”

Standing at home plate with a fireball pitcher throwing 90 mph fastballs under my chin to push me back from the plate, is not something I could do without confidence and courage. Taking my cuts meant digging my feet into the batter’s box and staring down the pitcher. Maybe just maybe my confidence and determination will make the pitcher just a bit tentative, and then I would increase my chances of making solid contact with the ball and getting a hit. Of course, I could try and wait out a walk, but as a life lesson, waiting for someone else to make mistakes is not what champions are made of! I learned that starting a business from scratch requires taking my cuts at every opportunity and every time I am up to bat! Coach Durling’s advice was good then and it’s good now!

On the way home I stopped to fill the gas tank. Someone yelled – “Hey you, how’s the economy?” I looked around and there wasn’t anyone else getting gas so I pointed to my chest – “Yeah you in the black shirt, How’s the economy?” I had never seen this man before. Did he know I was a financial consultant? He had a white beard and rosy cheeks. He looked like Santa Clause in shorts!

I yelled back, “I’m doing ok!” He answered “I’m doing a personal survey. Every Sunday I drive from Marco Island to San Carlos Park and I make note of all the stores that are newly closed; and then I ask 100 people ‘How’s the economy’ and 99 out of a 100 either have no answer or say it’s not so hot.” He started walking to his pick-up truck when he turned around and said, “I never believe what they say on TV, so I always check things out for myself and my research says the economy stinks!”

My high school buddy and his wife were vacationing with his children, their spouses and four grandchildren. They all came to Bonita Springs from Tampa and North Carolina to enjoy the Waterpark, shopping at Coconut Point, and the restaurants. They liked the small town feel, the beautiful beaches with the city amenities of the Naples-Bonita Springs area.

In a matter of a few hours I had seen two diverse perspectives of our local economy. On one hand, three families enjoying a wonderful vacation and family reunion and on the other hand, a stranger barking at me in a gas station how the economy “stinks.”

During my thirty years as a financial adviser I have seen many recessions come and go. It is clear to me that whether the economy is good or “stinks’ depends on our personal perspective. How we fare in a down economy depends on whether we have the courage and determination to swing and take our cuts! Standing with the bat on our shoulder waiting for a walk may help us get to first base, but taking a full cut with an eye on the fences is more fun and more rewarding!

Golf in Retrograde

Can we be making progress when what we are doing seems like it’s taking us backwards. Yesterday, I played the most bizarre round of golf yet. I warmed up ok but when I hit the first hole the bottom fell out. My usually consistent tee shot was out of control time after time. I tried four times and in the end I was left with the choice of picking - the best of the worst! Not a place I want to be, ever!

Riding back to the clubhouse after the round I mused “my golf game is in retrograde.” I have a few friends that are into astrology and from time to time they talk about, “Mercury (the planet) being retrograde. This is usually when all the communication stuff like emails, phone calls and even contracts are getting all screwed up.

The idea of being retrograde is when a planet appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac when it really isn’t. It's a bit like travelling on the road watching another car beside you: when the other car slows down, or you speed up, it looks as though the other car is moving backwards. Planets are never actually retrograde or stationary, they just seem that way due to this cosmic shadow.”

Well, this cosmic shadow is being cast on my golf game – I know I am much better than when I started, my score went from 64 to 54 for nine holes and I actually made par on two holes. I know I am better but it feels like I am going backward.

How can this be?

When we throw out our old habits and belief systems we can develop a sense of not being grounded. We try to extend our arms out to touch the walls but the old walls have been moved. Our old way of doing things had become a basis for defining our comfort zone. Getting out there or doing things in a new way requires us to travel upon unchartered waters.

I have learned to rely upon my partners, advisors or coaches to help me feel grounded. I look for support to someone whose steady hand can be relied upon.
Putting my clubs away in the garage I was thinking about discouragement and how that way of thinking often precedes making real progress. I walked up the stairs from the garage, my wife asked “How was golf?” The word horrible slipped out. Talking to her made me realize my expectations were way too high for playing for only a few months

So, back to fundamentals for me in golf, I must have changed something on my swing and a few sessions at the practice range and a lesson or two will correct it! When I shift focus from what I couldn’t do to what I did do it made all the difference!

You’re a Little Off Balance…. You Need Rhythm Too!

In early April I knew I was going to be completely absorbed in the opening of our new business venture and that stress levels could become elevated from time to time; I needed a way to deflate that stress. I tried yoga and I liked it but I wanted an outdoor sporting activity where I could also make some new friends. I envisioned my late business partner and mentor sitting me down and whispering in my ear, “Ike, you are starting a new business and you need to get out there and do something fun! Make new friends, challenge yourself, try something brand new – why not play some golf?” S.D.B. always knew how to press those buttons!

I thought about trying it out more than once. I always said, “Who has the time for golf?” I’m now into my fourth month of learning to play and the other day Richie Packish, the PGA golf pro at Spanish Wells Country Club took hold of my arm and said, “Ike, your balance is not so hot and you really need to work on your posture! Let’s take a few weeks off from lessons and you hit the gym and do those exercises I gave you! Balance and rhythm is everything in developing a good golf swing!” “You need good posture too.” Richie said as he walked away bouncing the golf ball on the face of the head of the club.

So, how did I get out of balance, have crummy posture and no rhythm? I thought about this the other day and it seems while I was expanding my horizons on sabbatical, I kind of let myself go - physically. Gained a few pounds, stopped working out and worst of all - stopped taking long walks around the neighborhood or the beach. I needed to change my habits and make time for what I needed as much as for what I wanted. How could I change things around so that I wanted what I needed!

I had participated in a special training a few years back that addressed this very thing. I took out my notes from the training sessions and I immediately knew which technique I had to employ to change old habits to new habits. I had to visualize myself as a thinner, light-on-his feet golfer; who swung the club with grace, rhythm and aplomb. These techniques are explained in sports books like “The Inner Game of Tennis – The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance” by Timothy Galleway. http://tinyurl.com/22sgdj2

Often, I am looking in my schedule to find time for not only practicing or playing golf, but also getting to the gym and going for walks on the beach! If we tie changing habits to accomplishing something we need, we will be more inclined to do it! When we tie changing habits to something we enjoy it’s easier to make the changes.

He Said, “Bring the big stick!”

Do you like getting an expert’s opinion? Doing things by trial and error is frustrating, time consuming and expensive. Two months ago, I decided to learn how to play golf. I value the advice of two experts; my cousin Bruce, who generously gave me some golf clubs and Richie the golf pro, who’s teaching me how to play. My cousin ‘took apart’ the local golf store to find used clubs to round out the set. He made sure they were just perfect for me! I learned from Richie the pro, that cousin Bruce found a high quality used driver that would cost at least $400 brand new. My entire set of clubs, including the used irons and woods; re-gripping and bag costs only $400. It sure pays to rely upon the voice of experience. I saved lots of time and money!

I’ve done some homework these past two months. I discovered there’s a lot more to golf then I ever could imagine. I learned how important it is to play with a set of clubs that match my ability level. My web research revealed, “Whilst it's tempting to use the big stick, how often are you really going to be using it on course? The driver is a hard club for a beginner to control. The majority of beginners would be better served with a 3 wood to achieve decent results”. I avoided practicing with the driver until a recent lesson when Richie said “bring the big stick to the range.” “Oh no, I thought, I haven’t taken even one swing with it.” It turns out I have a natural swing with the driver and it is the strongest part of my game. Every player is unique and every situation is different.

When I was a CPA practitioner, clients would often ask,” What would you do? My answer:” I can provide you with accurate information and all my experience and expertise. I can be an objective sounding board and together we can examine all the options available for you to make a sound business decision. However, you are always the best judge of what is right for you.

I like to work with experts, but I trust my business intuition, experience, training and common sense. My father was an expert with tools and home improvement. “I use my ‘know how’ to set up the project in my mind. Once the project begins I use my ‘gut feelings’ to actually do the job!” This also applies when working with experts and consultants. Before the project begins, do your homework and ask practical questions. Once the project begins, make sure it’s progressing according to your needs. Give your constant input along the way.

It’s wise to seek the advice of experts in all areas of life. Keep doing your homework until the project is finished. You will want your consultant to see the whole picture… to understand your personal goals and aspirations. Rely on your consultant’s expertise to present options and choices and rely on yourself to make the best decisions for your future.

Breaking Away!

I originally wrote this blog entry for our new website that will be launched on July 12th, or perhaps July 15th. Hopefully you will be seeing parts of this blog post again very soon. If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may recall me mentioning it earlier when I said it would be launched July 5th. Those of you who have launched a website, or a business or even a blog... I'm sure you can appreciate this (flexible) time line. Hopefully the upcoming launch also explains the 2 week gap from my last blog post!

After completing this post for the new website (due sometime in July!), I realized that it would be the next chapter in the story I began sharing in my initial blog post here on "From Scratch to Riches." So allow me to share with you how we got to scratch...

Sitting on the steps of the New York City Library I was filled with self doubt and questioning whether I had made the right decision. I had just left the accounting firm I helped build. I was there for fourteen years. I broke away from the firm and I was on my own. Even though I had advised hundreds of businesses concerning their finances I had never been in control of my very own business. Sitting between the famous Library Lions on those steps I truly felt I was walking into a jungle with nothing but my wits and intuition to guide me. In reality, this was not the case, because I was equipped with training and experience... but I sure was nervous!

As a partner in a regional CPA firm in New York City, I was responsible for internal operations. I developed the billing and management systems and trained the junior accountants during their first year. When I joined the firm there was three partners, two bookkeepers and me. I was the accounting staff.

When I left we had close to 60 employees, 5 partners and three offices in NYC, Chicago and West Palm Beach, Fl. The growth of the firm had been phenomenal. I suggested to the other partners that we modernize our internal systems. I was put in charge of the project. I still remember walking into the office of the most senior partner and his bald head just visible over the pages of his huge client ledger book. All he needed was a quill pen and a green eye shade and he would have looked like he came right out of a Dickens’s novel. This was going to be a big challenge indeed!

Over the next several years I gained valuable experience upgrading the management systems of the firm and spearheading the conversion of our client base from manual books to automated systems. The accounting world was in the midst of huge changes due to the development of the personal computer and I was in the eye of the storm. Actually, this situation reminds me of today, how some businesses are embracing social media marketing while others are resisting using it. Twenty-five years ago some small businesses were resisting automation itself!

As it turned out, my fears and worries never came to pass, my clients followed me, new clients developed and before long I had a staff of four to manage. This was a new business but it was not started from scratch. I started with several clients, a line of credit with the bank and a reputation that invited referrals. I bought a state of the art computer system which had 3 terminals, a magnetic tape backup system, and used 40 megabytes of memory. Yes, that’s right 40 megs. It cost $ 20,000 too!

But this time I am starting from scratch. We have computers, access to capital, and state of the art management systems. But our new client base is entirely from scratch; as my wife (and co-founder of our business), and I develop new friendships, new contacts and build new collaborations from scratch. We've already made new friends, joined new clubs, taken on new hobbies and interests. All things you do when you are starting from scratch.; not even realizing all the benefits in learning new things and building new relationships.

Ironically in golf, scratch is a good thing; a very good thing. To be a scratch golfer means you shoot par or better. I think scratch may very well be a good thing all around.