The Next Bull Market—You

Stuart Zimmerman

Have you ever cried, lost sleep, or fought with someone about money? Have you noticed that no matter how much you have, you are perpetually living in a state of insufficiency, also known as “not enough”— not enough time, not enough energy, or not enough money?!

I know what it is like to have millions of dollars in the bank but still feel like it’s not enough. I’ve called myself names that I would never dare call anyone else, all because of financial insecurity (I was a hedge fund manager at one point—the expletives I used would have made you blush). Maybe you’ve felt the same way. In fact, I’m pretty sure each of us has made mistakes or fallen short in achieving our goals and felt awful as a result.

Even though I was wealthy—in the top 1 percent of net worth in the world—I often felt anything but. Enough was never enough. No amount of money or Ivy League credentials could change this negative opinion I had of myself. One of my clients whose net worth exceeded five hundred million dollars was truly miserable because the guy down the street had a bigger, newer private plane. He couldn’t sleep at night, obsessing over his “failure” at not being as smart or rich as his neighbor. Talk about “jet envy!”

By this point, I’m sure you’re wondering where I’m headed and why you should have any empathy for me or someone with five hundred million dollars and a used private plane! You shouldn’t. The reason I’m sharing these two extreme examples is that in both cases, there was a failure to appreciate. We were both focused on “not enough”—not enough money, not enough intelligence, not enough inherent goodness. At its core, wealth is a state of abundance—a sense of “more than enough.” Isn’t that why you continue to pursue more financial wealth—to have more freedom of choice in your life?

You know what wealth feels like, and I’m guessing many of your clients do as well. It’s a vibrant, kinetic, and interactive sensation. You want to share your bounty with loved ones and be generous with others less fortunate. You have a deep sense of gratitude for all your blessings. Real wealth is more than a stock market appreciation. The more you love yourself and your life, the more your personal stock will appreciate, resulting in real wealth:

The more you love your life, the more your personal stock appreciates, the wealthier you are. 

Life is a lot more like the markets than you might think. For example, when you’re feeling in love, confident, or happy, you are upbeat. When you’re afraid, disappointed, or worried, you are down. Thus, your life is like a stock with daily fluctuations of highs and lows. As with the market, the goal is to have higher highs and higher lows––characteristics of a bull market.

Just like those bull markets, you’ll always have down days and down moments, even if they’re induced by low blood sugar or lack of sleep. The lows in your life need not be so deep or long lasting, no matter what the root cause.

What can you do right now to launch your own personal bull market? As is the case with financial investments, you want to take actions that will lead to appreciation. The more you appreciate your own life, the better you feel, and the higher the return on your personal stock. Here are three ideas you can take right now to kick off your personal bull market:

1. Complete this simple exercise each day; it takes just five minutes of your time and will help you learn to appreciate your life:

Step 1:  Consider that you are alive in your body for a limited time only. 

Step 2:  Consider that this moment has never existed before. 

Step 3:  Consider that whatever you focus on expands, leading to outcomes you may or may not intend. For example, if you focus on numbers only, you risk not connecting with your clients, and your practice will suffer. If you focus on listening to your clients, you will provide great service. As a result, both you and your clients will be satisfied.    

Step 4:  Now, focus on this statement: “It’s great to be alive.”

Step 5:  Repeat this statement to yourself silently three times.

Step 6:  Inhale deeply and whisper this statement aloud as you exhale three times.

Step 7:  Take a deep breath, turn up the volume, and declare this statement aloud three more times. Notice how you feel in your body as you contemplate this statement. You probably feel better, lighter, more alive, and/or more energetic. It is practically impossible to perform this exercise with intention and not feel better immediately.

Step 8:  When anyone asks you innocently (or even mechanically), “How are you?” respond, “I feel great! It’s a gift simply to be alive!” You’ll not only feel great, so will the person you said it to (it’s contagious).

2. Another simple and fun exercise to ensure your personal stock appreciates is to create and listen to a playlist that uplifts you—classical, classic rock, new age, salsa, an eclectic mix of genres. It doesn’t really matter what you choose. Just listen to the music every other day and share your playlist with others. Observe how your energy literally rises to a higher level than before you started listening. If music isn’t your thing, try some inspirational quotes. Two of my favorites are “you get what you settle for” and “don’t believe everything you think.”

3. The third way to stimulate your personal stock appreciation is to create an “appreciation circle” with your friends and loved ones. Start with one simple and true statement of what you appreciate. For example, “I appreciate my physical health.” Have each person in your circle share—in one sentence—what they are grateful for. Take a few seconds or minutes to contemplate what each person says before moving on to the next. Don’t be surprised if you find yourselves going around the circle multiple times, sharing new insights or heartfelt blessings you may have either overlooked or taken for granted. Observe how your energy shifts as a result—how much richer your life is as you share appreciation with, and for each other.

If you do practice these actions regularly, you’ll become more aware of the things around you—colors are more vivid, food more satisfying, and work more fulfilling. Your clients will also notice and—just like that unforgettable scene in “When Harry Met Sally”— will want what you’re having!

Just remember, that as with any bull market, you will have down days. That’s OK. After all, we are energetic beings, and energy does oscillate like a sine wave with higher and lower frequencies. By practicing appreciation, we achieve higher highs in our life. And even our lows will be shorter in duration and not as deep.

Real wealth is a state of being, not a number. It’s not about return on investment—as Mitch Anthony likes to say, it’s about return on life. The truth is, it really is great to be alive. Like golf, tennis, or any other skill, you need to practice. You can’t create your own personal bull market in a day or even a week—bull markets occur over time. However, if you apply what I’ve outlined in this article, you will see a definite change: your highs will be higher and your lows won’t last as long as they once did. Real wealth is available to you—if you just know where to look.

Stuart Zimmerman was a stock broker, RIA, and hedge fund manager for twenty years. At the peak of his financial success, his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer leading him to focus on wealth beyond money. Co-author of Inner Security and Infinite Wealth: Merging Self-Worth and Net Worth, Stuart co-founded Inner Securities, Inc. (www.innersecurities.net) to consult with and coach high net worth clients on issues surrounding security and wealth. He also leads workshops for financial advisors and other executives who want to master the energetic states of security and wealth.

Stuart has also hosted the nationally-syndicated radio show, Inside Wealth, interviewing such diverse luminaries as Ken Fisher, George Zimmer, Deepak Chopra, and Tony LaRussa. You can reach Stuart at stu@innersecurities.net.