Mary had been thinking about a financial decision.
She had what seemed like a simple question for Breed.
“Should I do it?”
Breed smiled.
“It depends.”
Mary laughed.
“You said that last time.”
“I know.”
“But what does it depend on?”
Breed looked at her.
“That’s a better question.”
Mary waited.
“Before I can help you think through the decision,” Breed said, “I need to understand what you’re trying to accomplish.”
“Isn’t that what I just told you?”
“Not quite.”
Mary frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Breed continued.
“What is the money supposed to do for you? How important is it to your financial life? When might you need it? And what has changed that has you thinking about this now?”
Mary started answering.
Then she stopped.
“I guess I haven’t really thought about some of those things.”
Breed nodded.
“That’s why I say it depends.”
Mary thought about something that had happened recently.
At a doctor’s appointment, the doctor had asked her question after question.
What was bothering her? How long had it been happening? What had changed? What was the most important problem she wanted to address?
The doctor wasn’t trying to avoid giving her an answer.
The questions were helping the doctor understand the situation well enough to know what might help.
Mary looked at Breed.
“So you’re doing the same thing.”
“I’m trying to understand the situation before we decide what to do.”
Mary smiled.
“I think I was looking for an answer before I had really explained the problem.”
“That’s pretty common.”
The investment hadn’t changed.
The question hadn’t really changed either.
What had changed was Mary’s understanding of what she was actually trying to decide.
And perhaps that’s worth remembering the next time we face an important financial decision.
“It depends” isn’t the answer.
It’s an invitation to discover what matters.
Because before you decide, understand the circumstances surrounding the decision.
Sometimes the most useful thing a good guide can do isn’t give you an answer.
It’s ask the question that helps you find the right one.
Richard Sowa, Founder – Read The Money Mirror
FINANCIAL DECISIONS ARE NEVER JUST FINANCIAL.
Disclaimer:
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