Chip Murray: Picking up where he left off
item->publication_title; ?>
Chip Murray: Picking up where he left off
Financial planning in the economic maelstrom can be a rocky ride, but Paul “Chip” Murray, a financial adviser for AXA Advisors, says he’s had his best year ever.
Why have this money man and his clients done so well?
“I hired a business coach,” says Murray without hesitation. “When I saw things going south in mid-2007, I started rethinking strategies for my clients. I’ve been in this business since 1994, which was a very down year for both bonds and stocks. We all know the market is always going to be up and down, although this is probably the worst most of us have ever experienced.”
Murray, who likes to play guitar and write songs, “had a few garage bands back in the teen years,” but had put his music aside for more than a decade to focus on business. “Eventually, my life became all business,” said Murray. “I’d occasionally play for my family and friends, but that was about it. I thought about business, strategizing, networking and everything connected to helping my clients be successful.” In the process, Murray forgot about making himself happy. If all work and no play can make Jack a dull boy, Murray says the old adage held true for him.
“Last year, I decided to hire a business coach,” said Murray. “It’s quite different from a life coach, who helps you deal with every day stress and strain. A business coach is a successful business owner, usually worked for a Fortune 500 company, and helps you to learn to strategize better, maximize your potential. It helped make 2008 the best year I’ve ever had, as incredible as that may sound.”
The business coach did Murray one better: She also told him he needed an outlet in his life. Perhaps it was time to pick up that guitar again and do something just for himself.
“She was right,” said Murray. “I was so focused on business, I lost my personal creativity. It can impact you, even though you don’t realize it. Although I felt successful in my professional life, something was missing. She encouraged me to reach into myself and start connecting with my artistic side.”
The result? Murray’s been playing the guitar again and is back to writing music, “which I love. I love playing for people and bringing joy to them. I love writing songs that help people find a common bond.” One song Murray just wrote is particularly poignant. “It’s called, ‘Please.’ I wrote it for a high school friend who just committed suicide in January. We were all together over the holidays. None of us had any idea he was even contemplating such a thing. You’d never know it. Even his family and people closest to him had no inkling this was on his mind. The song helped me put into words how I felt about what happened to my friend and how it affected me and the people he left behind.” Murray plans to record the song next month.
Murray has introduced his personal passion to his money associates. “I went to a networking event where I had two minutes to give my presentation. I spent one-and-a-half minutes talking about my financial planning. I spent the last half minute talking about my music and how much it meant to me and helped me in my professional life.”
Murray’s also developed some musical connections since he’s reintroduced himself to his guitar. “Kim Peralta – ‘Rebel Red’ is her stage name – is not only helping me navigate the Internet to connect with other musicians but helping me put together my own Web site. It’s a great feeling to be talking with others who love music as much as I do and getting back into it again.”
Murray attributes “80 percent of his success to my business coach. I’m glad I made the investment, especially at this time when everyone is holding back. It’s actually the best time to make an investment – especially in yourself.”
1 Comment
FeedAdd Comment
Popular
Latest
Westfair Video
News by Topic
- Advertising
- Architecture
- Arts
- Aviation
- Banking
- Colleges & Universities
- Construction
- Credit Unions
- Economic Development
- Education
- Golf
- Green
- Health Care
- Hospitality
- Hospitals
- Insurance
- Law
- Leisure
- Marketing
- Nonprofits
- Real Estate
- Restaurants & Food
- Retail
- Sales
- Schools
- Small Business
- Taxes
- Tourism
- Transportation
- Travel
Lisa Sajna makes this comment
Saturday, 27 June 2009