What is often said to a person who appears lost?
Nothing, other than, “Are you lost?”
The person is left with few options. Saying “yes” requires admission of something that may be embarrassing.
Ignoring the question is rude.
Saying “no” requires the person to lie – which the questioner has often forced the person into doing because it’s a natural reaction to want to “save face.”
So, how is that question helpful to the lost person or to the questioner who is trying to be helpful!?
Yet, this kind of unhelpful question happens all the time in all areas of our lives – directions, career, family, and financial.
Unhelpful questions are common in the financial world.
For instance, a financial adviser often asks early in the conversation with a prospect, “What are your retirement goals?”
Discovering and deciding on goals is challenging in every area of life, and especially in the financial area.
How about this instead, “What are some things you always hoped you’d be able to do in retirement?” And, “If you had a retirement magic wand, what would you do, where would you go, and who would you be with?
If you want better financial answers, seek better questions that open up conversation and don’t seek out answers – solutions and products – which are most often being pushed by financial sales people masquerading as financial advisors.
Pass it on and share the insights like this that you find valuable.
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.”
― Yogi Berra