I was listening to a podcast the other day and the host asked their guest:

 “If your life was a film, what would people be shouting at the screen?” 

It really caught my attention. This type of question sticks in my brain, and it really made me pause for a moment, take a step back and look at things differently. 

And if I’m being honest, there are definitely scenes in my own life where the audience would be shouting, “Just say something!” or “Leave already!” or “For goodness’ sake, stop overthinking it.”

Because that’s what we do, isn’t it? We get stuck in loops. We put things off. We stick with what’s familiar – even when it might not be working. We wait for perfect timing, the right moment, a bit more certainty.

And in the meantime, days go by. Months pass. Sometimes even years.

We say stuff like, “I’ll figure it out next week,” “Once we’re back from holiday,” or “When work calms down.” We sleepwalk through the bit where the action should happen.

That’s the problem with being the one living the story. We can’t always see the bigger picture. We’re too close to it. Too bogged down in the day-to-day to realise the plot isn’t moving forward.

We’re in our own version of Groundhog Day.

Seeing the bigger picture

Weirdly, that podcast host’s question also made me think about the client videos we work on here at Yardstick.

Because when someone sits down to tell their story, they naturally zoom out. They reflect. They tell us what it felt like before receiving financial advice – the confusion, the fear, the overwhelm. The pensions in 11 different places, the lack of confidence, the fear of making a wrong move.

And then they tell us what it feels like now.

They’ve got a plan that works for them. They’ve got peace of mind about their future. They’re no longer lying awake at 3 am wondering, “Are we going to be okay?”

If I had £1 for every time I’ve heard, “We wish we’d done this sooner,” I’d probably have enough to retire myself.

Okay, maybe not, but you get my point!

They’re going on holidays that have been on the bucket list for years. They’re enjoying the retirement they used to feel unsure about. They feel like they’re back in the driver’s seat again.

Our videos are a good reminder that financial planning isn’t just about money. It’s about helping people see the bigger picture, bringing order to the chaos, and giving them the clarity and the confidence to move the plot forward.

One last thing

If your clients could see themselves on screen, would it change how they see their own story? Would it help them recognise how far they’ve come?

Would it make someone else watching shout:

“Say yes!”

“Go for it!”

“Don’t go back, you’re nearly there!”

And if your clients have already had that turning point, if they’ve experienced the shift from stuck to sorted, maybe it’s time to let them share that story.

Not just because it’s good marketing. But because someone else might be sitting in the audience, watching, waiting, wondering if they should take the next step too.

And what about you?

If your clients’ lives were films, what would people be shouting at the screen? And what part are you playing in helping them change the plot?

That’s what I really like about the videos we create.

They’re not just about proving someone’s “satisfied”. They’re about showing the shift, from fear to confidence. From confusion to clarity. From stuck to moving forward.

And when you hear those stories out loud, the early retirement, the weight that’s been lifted, the peace of mind they didn’t realise they were missing, it lands differently.

No scripts. No jargon. No fluff.

Just real people telling the truth about what changed and why they wish they’d done it sooner.

Let’s help your clients tell the story and show future clients what the happy ending really looks like.

If you want to show the difference your advice makes, not in theory, but in real people’s words, we should probably have a chat.

Email hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or call 0115 8965 300 to talk about client videos.