Institute of Financial Planning Annual conference keynote speaker Derek Mills believes the key to success is setting daily standards rather than goals.
Mr Mills, who is a financial adviser and IFP member, is a global speaker on standards and his 10-second philosophy.
He said there were three reasons that goals fail:

• Goals mean people put unnecessary pressure on themselves to achieve them.
• Goals create a gap between who we are now and who we want to be.
• Goals cause us to be distracted from the present.

Mr Mills said: "If goals worked for everyone then wouldn't everyone be happy and successful?
"The third point is the most important, if we say we want to be happier when we lose weight, get that job, have that relationship then we attach happiness to the future. But happiness is key because it's a now experience."
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He suggested people set people daily standards which have to be committed to "only until you get your head on the pillow". Some of these standards could be set every day until the person sees a result from them.
For Financial Planners, Mr Mills said standards could include setting a minimum premium on clients' wealth, encouraging clients to come to you to avoid so much travelling and not working evenings and weekends. These standards enable a better work-life balance and higher levels of happiness.
"Many IFAs work so hard in the office that they neglect their family and their health. You have to take care of yourself or else what are you earning all that money for?"
Mr Mills had been working as an IFA for 18 years but said in the eight years since he developed the Standards philosophy, clients treated him differently and he saw a better level of clients.
He has since given talks all over the world in India, America, Indonesia, Bali, Holland and Dubai including at the Million Dollar Round Table in Anaheim, California.
The IFP annual conference is being held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport from 30 September – 2 October.

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