When We Need Professional Help
We all need professional help or advice on occasion.
Introduction
Sometimes we need professional help or advice for things we don’t know about or are better suited to a professional. What are some of these things?
Professionals you should have as part of your life
Here is a list of some of the professionals you should have in your life. Depending upon your circumstances, you may want or need others:
A financial advisor.
Insurance agent
Attorney
Primary care physician
Dentist
Real estate professional
Various home maintenance professionals
A professional network that includes membership in professional organizations.
Do you know where you would go for professional assistance in these areas?
A few examples
Financial Advisors-I really didn’t use a financial advisor until I approached retirement, when my investment style changed. This is not to say that I did not have a relationship with an investment company or more than one. Note that I developed a financial plan early in my life and educated myself extensively on investments. I was conservative and stayed on track, so I didn't need someone to help me. Before I retired, I was able to validate my plan using my advisor's software. Your case may or may not be different, but a good financial advisor, the right one, is a good thing to have throughout your life. Like everything, you need to educate yourself.
Doctors and Dentists-One of my first tasks upon moving to Oklahoma was to find a primary care physician for my family. These are getting harder to find as the medical field is changing, but I believe it is very important to find a trusted doctor you can go to for preventive care and who can document your medical history. Notice I said preventative care. It’s best to have your medical condition established, and then changes can be documented over time. It’s being proactive, something I recommend in all areas of our lives. I’m sad to say I know people who have passed away because they never went to the doctor, and by the time their medical condition was diagnosed, it was too late. How sad. Especially since many common illnesses can be caught early and successfully treated. If you need to make an appointment with your medical professional, I would like to suggest you do this today. It’s the same with your dentist.
Before I leave this important topic, I just want to make a comment about medical insurance. Yes, I know, it’s crazy expensive. Buy the absolute best policy you can that offers the most choices and doesn't limit you to which medical professionals you can see when you need them. If anything bad ever comes up, you will want to have as many options as possible. Again, I’ve watched this play out, for better and worse.
Attorney-You need a trusted attorney for your will and trust.
Real Estate Agent-As I write this, the world of real estate agents is changing dramatically, but if you ever plan to sell your home, you will likely need their services. The average American stays in their home less than 15 years. While that number may be increasing post-pandemic, I think you see the point. Staying in your first home for a lifetime, as your grandparents did, is just not a reality today.
Home Maintenance Professionals-Develop a good network of home maintenance professionals and seek advice from neighbors for trustworthy partners.
Professional Network-The final thing I will say about this list is your professional network. As I’ve previously mentioned, you will, at some point, be without a job or have your career interrupted. At this point, you will be glad you have friends who can help you. And remember, it’s a two-way street; there are times you can help them. This is called a win-win situation.
Something to consider
Before we leave this topic of professionals to help us out when we need them, I’d like to mention one more thing. Then you can ponder it for a bit if you want to, and perhaps reconsider what you are currently doing.
I’ve mentioned in the past that, because I’m mechanically inclined, I like to do a lot of things myself when I can rather than call a professional. These tasks typically include most auto repair, home repair, and yard and lawn maintenance. In the case of yard and lawn maintenance, a secondary benefit is the physical workout I get. I believe I save a lot of money by doing these tasks myself, and I also get the satisfaction of a job well done, and typically, I’m learning along the way, which increases my knowledge base and keeps my mind active.
But then there is this issue. There is a school of thought that says we should direct our efforts toward the activities that yield the greatest benefit to us. What does this mean? Let me give you a few examples:
Would your time be better invested mowing the lawn or spending it with your family?
Instead of resetting the toilet on Saturday morning, would it be more productive for you to spend the morning in the office doing strategic planning or completing the project due next week, and call a plumber instead?
Rather than changing the brakes on your car, should you be networking with other professionals, or take your car to the shop?
I could go on and on, but you probably get the point. Our time and money are finite, and we only have so much of each. The question is: what is the best way to spend that time to help us achieve our goals in life? Each of us has to answer that question.
On the other hand, I often used these “do it yourself” opportunities as teaching moments for my kids. Yes, it’s important to have basic knowledge of a lot of things, and here is why: More and more, I see and hear people being taken advantage of because they don’t know enough to tell when someone is trying to take advantage of them.
Now, of course, all of this assumes you have the discretionary income to even consider these choices. Then again, this whole topic does give us something to think about, doesn’t it?
Bottom line
None of us can do it all on our own; we don’t have the needed expertise in all areas of our lives. Establish these relationships before something happens, and you find out the hard way the value of the advice I’m giving you today.
That’s all for this week!
Let’s help our friends and loved ones, shall we?
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What’s in it for me?
If you want to get ahead in life, if you want to achieve your dreams and live your best life, you must take meaningful, deliberate action that follows a proven path. Getting ahead is about learning what to do and then doing it over time.
Call to Action
Just. Do. Something. Make a decision on what you want or need to do, define the path, and get after it. Do it today.
Recommended Resources
See notes below for either of my books.
Up Next
Time to celebrate.
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life, by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/3IxEFgy
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us, by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/437OhVQ