Hindsight is Always 20/20
There are times that one gets advice, and it is simply ignored or believed not worthy of further thought. Almost twenty-five years ago, a good friend and successful business owner, told me he just implemented a program he conceived. Mike, who was also approaching fifty, explained the concept was simple: he was going “fire’ his well-established advisors: doctors, dentists, accountants, financial planners and many more and replace them with thirty five year olds. At the time, while the idea was interesting, I had a hard time coming to grips with ending relationships with people who had taken care of me for many, many years. Not only did Mike conceive the concept he put the plan in place saying goodbye to those that had served him well.
For the last twenty-five years Mike and I remained friends even though most years we seldom saw each other and only communicated around the holidays.
Over the last twenty-five years, one by one, “my team” retired or died leaving a person at the age where finding new team members is not easy. Try asking a friend, your same age, for a referral and you will soon find out they are in the same boat. All that is except Mike.
The Covid19 pandemic and my wife’s medical condition resulted in us making Spokane our home early last year. I quickly reunited with Mike playing golf a couple of times a week and talking business. It wasn’t long before I asked him for a referral to a chiropractor. He did and I made an appointment with one of his team thirty-five members. Over the next several months I asked for referrals to doctors, dermatologists, dentists, attorneys, and financial planners to name a few. All of these professionals were between fifty-five and sixty and were willing to take care of our needs.
My point? If you are fiftyish seriously considering implementing Team Thirty-five. I wish I had.
Ed Wright
Author, entrepreneur, ultimate optimist who believes hard work - works!