By Christine Williston, B.A., FPSC Level 1™

What an amazing two weeks of athletic competition at the Olympic Games in Rio. Rosie MacLennan soared through the air with grace and precision and landed a gold medal in the gymnastics trampoline final. Andre de Grasse took silver (men’s 200m less than 1 second behind powerhouse runner Usain Bolt) and two bronze (men’s 100m and men’s 4x100m relay). Penny Oleksiak swam into Canadian hearts with a gold, a sliver and two bronze medals. Derek Drouin leapt to Gold in the men’s high jump and Erica Wiebe pinned a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling. In total Canadian athletes brought home 4 gold, 3 silver and 15 bronze medals.

The side of Olympic glory that we don’t see

The moments of glory are electric and inspiring, but what we don’t see on the Olympic stage are the years and years of training, the tired muscles, the setbacks, disappointments, sacrifices and deep commitment to a goal. In the moment of triumph the athlete stands alone on the podium, but the path to the podium is paved by supporters and coaches. Becoming an Olympic calibre athlete starts with a personal dream, but also requires a great deal of financial resources for equipment, practice space, travel, physical therapy, and many other sport specific costs.

What’s your dream?

You may not be an aspiring Olympian, but you probably have your own Olympic sized dream:

• Is there a business venture you want to invest in?
• Do you want to provide private school and university tuition for your children?
• Are there charitable organizations you want to support in a meaningful way?
• Do you want to own a summer or winter home?
• Is a retirement lifestyle of travel and comfort something you look forward to?
• Is a financial legacy for your children and grandchildren important to you?
• Are you interested in Real Estate investments?
• Do you want to leave your current career to pursue work you are more passionate about?

Or maybe you just want to take control of your finances and lead your richest life possible. Whichever achievement represents your personal Olympic podium, you will need a high level of commitment, dedication and financial resources to make it come true.

Success is not a solitary pursuit

How does a young swimmer with passion and a dream, like Penny Oleksiak, become a Gold medal Olympian at age 15? She doesn’t do it alone. A key component to that kind of success is a coach that understands the dream; has the knowledge and experience on how to achieve the goal; and is able to develop a plan that gives a big ambition the best possible chance to become reality.

If you have Olympian-sized goals you would also be well served by a coach, someone who understands the financial terrain and can help forge the appropriate path to success. A coach can see the big picture and anticipate hurdles. A big life goal requires a long term commitment that will inevitably be peppered with setbacks and challenges; having a financial coach as an ally can help you stay focused and moving towards success.

Five ways a Money Coach can help you reach your “gold medal” dreams

1.  A clear target and actionable plan

You won’t hit a target you can’t see. A Money Coach can help you drill down and become very specific about what you want, when you want it and how much it will cost. You’ll understand how to balance today’s goals with a secure financial future. You’ll have peace-of-mind that you can create the retirement you desire. You’ll understand which investments or financial products support your plans. But that’s just the beginning. It’s vital to know what, when, and how much, but without a clear how to, there is no forward movement.

A Money Coach will develop clear action steps so you can begin to create measurable results while building confidence and momentum.

2. The shift from plan to action

Even with a plan of action, the action part can be a challenge. Life is busy and unexpected circumstances make a great scapegoat for delaying change. But excuses simply mask fears and limiting beliefs about our capabilities. A Money Coach can dissipate your fears and encourage the confidence needed to take action. Our 7 Stages of Financial Well-Being ^TM helps clients focus on the right things at the right time.

3. Sustain motivation over time

Anyone who has ever set a New Year’s resolution knows how difficult it can be to stay motivated over the long haul. A Money Coach will help you adapt to shifting situations and keep you engaged with your goals. Engagement fuels your motivation when your energy and enthusiasm are put to the test.

4. Expert knowledge

A Money Coach has expert knowledge in money management. You won’t get personal, tailored advice from a book, blog or video. A Money Coach has tools and strategies that get results and will create a money management system that reflects your goals and lifestyle. A Money Coach is an ally with whom you build a trusting relationship – someone that inspires and never judges.

5. Outside perspective

Sometimes we are so close to a situation that we can’t see it clearly. Couples especially can be blinded to patterns that enable each other’s unproductive habits or conversely sabotage new positive behaviours from taking hold. We all carry “money baggage” from our childhood, and these often unrecognized pain points can create a lot of relationship stress. A Money Coach can serve as an engaged but impartial advocate, helping to keep the bigger picture in perspective.

Olympic athletes build a team to support their success, and a knowledgeable coach that helps them push their limits, improve their skills and have their back, may be the most important element leading to the podium. When Wrestler Erica Wiebe captured gold she was so elated and emotional that she picked up her coach and carried him on her shoulders in a victory lap.

Are you ready to bring your Olympic sized dream to fruition?

No athlete would shoot for gold without a coach. Stack the odds of success in your favour by working with a Money Coach – someone whose sole interest is your financial success.

You deserve to be part of a winning team.