mistakes and finance

Did you ever mail a check to the wrong vendor? Have you ever missed due dates for your credit card payment? Are you frustrated about the mistakes you make that cost money? I recently read a great book, Why We Make Mistakes by Joseph T. Hallinan [www.whywemakemistakes.com]. This in depth yet easy to read book covers a variety of typical mistakes and then breaks down the reasons why they happen. Based on research studies, quoting anecdotes, and some philosophy the author manages to really help us understand not only why the brain tends to make mistakes repeatedly, but how we can perhaps train ourselves not to do it again. I found this new knowledge enlightening and it forced me to change the way I do certain things, and gave me reasons behind why I've made mistakes in the past. Particularly for visual people, it's important to setup new systems to help avoid mistakes. I've known clients who repeatedly paid late fees simply because they had no system in place for knowing the due dates on bills. While having a bookkeeper helps, unless that person is working full time some of the responsibility of mailing out bills on time still falls on the client. Focus + Finance works with clients to develope easy to use systems so that mistakes are less likely to occur. Do you have a good habit that has helped you avoid mistakes, or an story about a mistake that cost you? Do share!