In David Brooks' insightful book, "The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life" he presents a compelling metaphor for life's journey, distinguishing between two mountains we all climb.
The first mountain represents traditional success—achievements in career, accumulation of wealth, and personal gratification. Many of us, especially in the modern high-paced world, focus on climbing this mountain, seeking external validation through professional milestones and financial growth.
“You don’t care about money and I love that!” Said a friend of mine recently. “Look at your car, you don’t care what it’s worth!” they exclaimed. How strange I thought. I spend my life thinking and talking about money.
And I do place worth on a car, just a different worth to my friend. When I was looking into getting a new car in 2021, I simply Googled “safest family car” and out popped this creditable reply;
“In NCAP safety tests, the Volkswagen Tiguan achieved a 96% adult occupant score and an 84% child occupant score, making the Tiguan one of Europe's safest cars.”
It’s not to say there can be no value found in owning a nice car. Far from it. Many clients enjoy the feeling of achievement when they own a beautiful car, the sound of the engine, the aesthetic lines. I don’t but it's just because I have a different perspective on the value of cars.
However, Brooks highlights a crucial turning point. After reaching the summit of the first mountain, a sense of unfulfillment often sets in. This prompts a profound shift towards climbing the second mountain, which symbolises a pursuit of deeper, more meaningful goals. The second mountain is about committing to others, embracing community involvement, and nurturing moral and spiritual growth.
As a financial planner, I've observed a similar transformation in the financial journeys of many clients. Initially, the focus is on building wealth—creating a solid financial foundation, securing assets, and achieving economic success. This stage is vital; it's about establishing security and enabling the freedom to explore further opportunities.
However, just as Brooks describes the transition to the second mountain, there comes a moment when the focus shifts. Clients begin to seek significance beyond financial success. They start to ask different questions: How can I make a difference with my resources? How can I ensure my financial decisions reflect my values and contribute to a larger purpose?
At this point, a holistic approach to financial planning becomes essential.
This is a good note to leave you on for this month as we wind down, hit pause and do some reflecting (hint: for tips on how to do this see my post Here’s 7 Reasons Why Summer Holidays are the Ideal Time for Financial Planning).
Next month we will delve deeper into these questions and explore how to align your financial planning with the pursuit of a more meaningful and impactful life.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we will discuss practical steps to transition from focusing solely on success to achieving true significance in your financial journey. We'll cover strategies for giving back, investing in your community, and ensuring your financial decisions reflect your values.
See you in the next post!
Copy here introducing the client stories section and examples of testimonials
