Every month, I am reminded to write the preface for our newsletter. It is never planned as it’s important to me it comes from the heart. I have one fan that always comments on the month’s content. For all I know, she may be my only reader 😊, but it makes it worth my time knowing my thoughts and words can make a difference.

“How did you get started in business?”

Since turning 50, this question has become a popular one. When I started in the Financial Services industry over 28 years ago, I was told by my employer that it was a requirement to knock on 500 doors as a condition of employment. Being stubborn, I embraced the challenge and knocked on 1,000 doors. I had holes in both shoes. My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, duct-taped cardboard inside my shoes. If a prospect was washing their car or had turned on their lawn sprinklers, they were safe from a visit as walking with wet socks was unpleasant to say the least. While I was building trust in the community – one door knock at-a-time – there was criticism from many.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re too young.”

“You have no experience.”

“You’ll never make a living at this.”

“You should have went to law school.”

The criticism echoed through my soul for those first five years as I patiently established relationships and trust with every door knock. Many of those front-door conversations were very similar (and brief).

Homeowner: “How old are you?”

Me: “23 years old.”

Homeowner: “And, how long have you been in business?”

Me: “A few months.”

Homeowner: “Call me when you have five years of experience.”

How things have changed. Today, the daily question is, “What’s going to happen when you die!?” I can’t help but laugh and smile. There’s no winning – I’m either too young or too old.  I’ve learned a lot since those times. In addition to the power of persistence, I also gained a clear understanding of personal success. For me, it’s waking up every day doing what I love while avoiding all those things I would prefer not to do. Each and every day is a success and I still get butterflies in the morning, excited to work with my team and our clients.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that the most exciting part of life’s journey is the transition point! The question changes from why to how did you do it. My why is easy; I love helping people and businesses solve financial problems. My how is better said by Abraham Lincoln, Colin Powell and Zig Ziglar:

“Good things come to those who wait, left over by those who have hustled.” – Abraham Lincoln

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell

“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.” – Zing Ziegler

My greatest recommendation for a young aspiring entrepreneur; Earn holes in your shoes, avoid elevators and don't be afraid to take the stairs. And, along the journey, embrace both the why and how.

On behalf of everyone at KIG, thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter and the opportunity to serve you.

Best Regards,
Jack

Any opinions are those of Jack W. Kennedy and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Sector investments are companies engaged in business related to a specific sector. They are subject to fierce competition and their products and services may be subject to rapid obsolescence. There are additional risks associated with investing in an individual sector, including limited diversification.

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