I love the modern world. I love the computer, transportation, TiVo, and my iPhone.

Perhaps one of the reasons technology is so quickly embraced by us human beings is because we struggle to delay gratification. We spend more than we earn to live a lifestyle we can’t really afford, we get duped into believing we can get rich quick and without risk, we waste billions of dollars a year on fad diets that promise weight loss without effort, and we do the same with fitness equipment and programs that promise to make us fast and strong without breaking a sweat. Most of us joined the Financial Services industry, in part, for the unlimited income and total time freedom.

The “app” is the ultimate promise of instant gratification. Just download the app and you’ve got a way to do something you want done right now. It’s very cool. I love apps! Wouldn’t it be great if there was an app for everything? Need referrals instantly? There’s an app for that! Need to execute a brilliant client interview right now? There’s an app for that! Need to know the right advice to give a client so they achieve their goals for a meeting in 10 minutes? There’s an app for that! Need to hire a great assistant tomorrow? There’s an app for that! Need to know what to say to engage strangers at a social or business networking event so they want to meet you for business tomorrow? There’s an app for that! Need more confidence to build your business? There’s an app for that! Need to know how to get wealthy people to trust you with all of their money? There’s an app for that! And of course they are either free or only 99 cents and there is very little effort involved in using them and the results are guaranteed.

Sorry. I was being tongue in cheek to make a point. Of course, there are no apps for these things because not everything can be taken care of with an app.

What technology can’t change, not even the brilliance of the iPhone or the iPad or the many apps, is the fact that there are universal laws and principals that govern real and lasting success in life and in business. No matter how cool the technology becomes there will never be an app for those things that require mastery.

This is good news and bad news.
The bad news is that there is no app for that.
The good news is that there is no app for that.