What’s Your Game Plan? With Dr. Rick Wells

Feeling overwhelmed? You don’t need more hustle—you need a game plan. In this episode, Eric Green sits down with Dr. Rick Wells of Baystate Financial to break down the GAME PLAN framework for getting unstuck, focused, and moving forward with intention. They talk mindset, identity, discipline, and why real progress starts with who you become—not just what you do. If you’re scaling a practice, rethinking your direction, or drowning in noise, this episode will help you reset and execute—one step at a time.

Contact Rick Wells at rwells@baystatefinancial.com.

Download the free The Tax & Accounting Professional’s Playbook by Eric and Dr. Wells here: https://taxrepllc.com/playbook.

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What’s Your GAME PLAN? Transform Before You Transition

In a world full of noise, distraction, and constant comparison, clarity is a competitive advantage.

In a recent conversation with Dr. Rick Wells—retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, educator, and financial advisor—we revisited the framework he calls GAME PLAN. It’s a simple but powerful system designed to help professionals transform before they transition.

Whether you’re scaling a business, rethinking your career, or trying to bring more focus to your life, this framework forces you to start from the inside out.

G – Games Have Rules

Every game has rules. The problem? Many professionals are playing without defining their own.

In the Marine Corps, standards were clear. In business and life, they’re often self-imposed. If you don’t define your rules—your standards for performance, discipline, leadership, and integrity—you end up reacting instead of leading.

Clarity begins when you decide: What are my rules?

A – Attitude & Convictions

Your attitude is how you show up every day. And it rests on your convictions—your non-negotiables.

Rick shared a powerful conviction he adopted early in his career: If something is worth doing, finish it well.

That mindset shapes everything.

In my own practice, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about strategy—it’s about service. My team once told me, “You actually want to help people. That comes through.” And they were right. Clients feel whether you’re there to serve or to sell.

Purpose precedes passion. Service precedes success.

M – Make the Climb

This is where most people get stuck.

We set goals. We write down income targets. We say we want to “scale.” But here’s the missing question:

Who must you become to achieve that goal?

Not “What must I do?”
Who must I become?

A better communicator?
A stronger leader?
More disciplined?

When you focus on identity instead of outcome, frustration decreases. The climb becomes transformational—not just transactional.

As Earl Nightingale said, “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” If you’ve defined the ideal and taken one step toward it—you’re already succeeding.

E – Express Your Best Self

Rick asks clients to list what’s important to them. Then he compares it to their calendar and checkbook.

Are your time and money aligned with your stated values?

Writing things down is critical. When goals stay in your head, they feel overwhelming. When they hit paper, they become concrete and actionable.

Pen and paper may be the most powerful technology we have.

P – Purpose Before Position

Ask yourself: What do you do?

If your answer is a noun—“I’m a lawyer,” “I’m an accountant”—you’re defining yourself by position.

Try answering with a verb instead.

“I solve tax problems.”
“I educate professionals.”
“I serve families.”

Verbs create agency. Purpose-driven language removes dependence on external validation and restores control.

L – Learn & Lead

Betterment requires intentional learning.

Reading, reflection, mentorship—these are how we navigate the “dark wood” moments in business and life. No serious climb happens without study.

You are either leading or you are a student. Choose deliberately.

A – Act As If

Don’t wait for the promotion to act like a leader.

Act like the leader—and the promotion follows.

This principle appears everywhere in high performance. Embody the habits, discipline, and mindset of the person you want to become. Identity precedes outcome.

N – Nurture Your Network

No one climbs alone.

Build ecosystems of trust. Lead with clarity about who you are and what you do. People trust consistency. They trust authenticity. They trust service.

Success isn’t about reaching the top of the mountain. It’s about enjoying the climb, taking intentional steps, and becoming stronger with each one.

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, step back and ask yourself:

What’s your GAME PLAN?

Important Links

About Richard Wells

As a financial advisor, Dr. Wells brings his service-oriented ethos to helping families, professionals, and organizations build strong financial futures. His expertise in retirement planning and wealth management reflects his dedication to guiding others through challenges to create sustainable solutions that align with their values and goals.

Through his work as a mentor, speaker, and advisor, Dr. Wells shares powerful insights on goal setting, leadership, and wellness. A retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Dr. Wells spent his military career in both active duty and reserve roles, culminating in his retirement after years of exemplary service. With decades of dedicated service to the community and the country, Dr. Wells continues to lead by example, offering practical strategies to elevate individuals and organizations alike.