The Confessions of a Financial Pro

The following is not at the level of the confessions of St. Augustine, but a confession nevertheless from Justin Shaw.

Achieving personal success stands at the crux of the American Dream. Whether it’s the dream of a large house or an early retirement, many people chase financial success with the same vigor as those that previously sought the proverbial “fountain of youth.” I used to be one of those people. Once I tasted financial success, it totally consumed me. My professional success was a mere reflection of my clients’ financial success. Within the first 10 years of my career, I had achieved levels of professional and financial success that would have taken most others 20 years to accomplish. I was driven, regardless of the ultimate price, to prove to my family that I was going to be professionally successful.

It wasn’t long before a vicious cycle formed whereby my perverted version of success became correlated to the material possessions I owned. Success was measured by material wealth and not by the understanding that money was but a mere tool to be used to achieve personal growth and success. Interestingly, the more I bought, the larger the void within me became. My troubles manifested themselves when I foolishly spent money on things to fill that emptiness within me. The more work consumed me, the less time I had to devote to those I loved. I had put work first, family second, and my relationship with God third. Soon it became apparent that this “lifestyle” was having a detrimental effect on my family life. My marriage suffered. Little time was dedicated to my kids during their formative years and at only thirty-five, I was the quintessential example of having more money than wisdom. While I was quick to dispense advice to my clients, I hesitated to apply said wisdom to myself. – Justin Shaw

This press release contains selected content from Amazon Best Seller Lists The Soul of Success featuring Justin Shaw.