Some of you may know that I qualified for my first MDRT last year.
Wait ah, what is MDRT?
No I didn’t earn a million dollars. The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is an international trade association formed in 1927 to help insurance brokers and financial advisors establish best business practices and develop ethical and effective ways to increase client interest in financial products, specifically risk-based products like life insurance.
Having qualified for membership this year, I had the opportunity to attend the MDRT Global Conference and Annual Meeting held in Dubai and Anaheim respectively, where MDRT members from all around the world would gather to exchange thoughts and ideas with one another. Renowned speakers would deliver keynotes on various topics about the industry and the world, and there’d be so much to learn.
But unfortunately, due to COVID-19, both meetings were cancelled and shifted online 😩
Nonetheless, I got to attend the virtual meeting with my team and it was an inspiring and eye-opening experience.
While many of the sessions were about best practices in the financial services industry, there were also some that were ‘secular’ in nature, and they really hit home. Which is why I wanted to share some of my thoughts in this week’s article, in the hope that these may speak to you too!
Whole Person Concept
In the fast-paced work environment here in Singapore, how often do we hear people griping and grumbling about how they’re tired of their jobs? How often do we hear husbands/wives complaining that their other half isn’t spending enough time with the family?
One thing many of us would refuse to admit, would be that we constantly struggle to manage priorities between our work and personal lives. Whether we’re students or full-time working adults. And with all the demands for our time and attention, it is easy for us to lose touch with the other equally important aspects of our lives.
The Whole Person Concept talks about balancing one’s life in seven critical areas:
- Relationships – Whole Persons spend meaningful time with their spouses, children, immediate family and friends. They strive to make sharing, love, mutual respect and openness the cornerstones of these relationships.
- Health – Whole Persons maintain a sound mind and body through study, a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and lifestyle choices conducive to physical and mental well-being.
- Education – Whole Persons seek to enrich their lives through continual intellectual development. They enthusiastically engage in meaning pursuits that enrich their lives and the lives of others.
- Career – Whole Persons strive to become more productive, enhance their professional esteem, pursue increased knowledge, and contribute to industry and professional organisations. They also seek to improve the careers of fellow professionals through mentorship and leading by example.
- Service – Whole Persons contribute “hands-on” time, including energy and leadership, and financial resources to community organisations, educational institutions, government, civic and charitable organisations, and other worthwhile endeavours, voluntarily and without expectation of personal gain.
- Financial – Whole Persons know how to live within their means, to enjoy and share the fruits of their labour, and to plan and implement programs for the creation, accumulation and preservation of capital consistent with the stages of their lives.
- Spiritual – Whole Persons live their lives according to their faith and strive to grow spiritually while helping others toward greater fulfillment.
On a personal note, I realised I’ve been pretty lucky to have been brought up the way I was. At home, my parents have always been advocates of family time, as well as spending prudently. Having grown up as a Catholic in church, community service and faith has been a big part of my life. My boss also encourages our team to constantly seek knowledge and learn from one another. And I’m actually glad my girlfriend and I took the jump to sign up for a gym membership earlier this year, because now that we’ve paid money, we kinda force ourselves to work out regularly.
I was never truly conscious of how important these 7 aspects have been in shaping me into the person I am today. But learning about the Whole Person Concept helped me to physicalise these ideas, allowing me to be more intentional in how I spend my time.
While today’s article has been slightly (or perhaps radically) different from my other articles, I hope my written thoughts have been helpful for you, at least in some small way. If you’d like to have a conversation with me, be it on financial planning or about anything under the sun, you know I’m just a call/text away.
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My Money Musings 