Setting goals can be challenging and shouldn’t be done in a hurry. You will therefore need to arrange time and space to devote to thinking about and setting your goals. At first, don’t rule anything out. Think outside the box. Be creative, and think as broadly as you can. Be imaginative, and allow yourself to dream. As ideas come to you, write them down, and keep going until you have exhausted all possibilities.
Then these need refining and a properly refined goal should have a number of characteristics, SMART characteristics.
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time Specific
This mnemonic is useful, but sometimes we like to consider it differently… Single minded. Memorable. Awesome. Radical. Treasured by you.
As a reminder of how important it is to stop putting it off and to get going, I have a included a message from an 85 year old man who had but just a few days left to live.
“If I had my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I wouldn’t be so perfect. I would relax more. I’d limber up. I’d be sillier than I’ve been on this trip.
In fact, I know very few things that I would take seriously. I’d be crazier. I’d be less hygienic. I’d take more chances. I’d take more trips, I’d climb more mountains, I’d sail more seas, I’d swim more rivers, I’d go to more places I’ve never been to. I’d eat more ice cream and fewer beans. I’d have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones!
You see, I was one of those people who lived sanely and sensibly hour after hour, day after day, year after year. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I’d have more of those moments – moment by moment by moment.
I’ve been one of those people who never went anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had it to do all over again, I’d travel lighter next time. If I had it to do all over again, I’d start out earlier in the spring and stay away later in the fall. I’d ride more merry-go-rounds, I’d watch more sunrises, I’d play with more children,
If I had my life to live all over again… But you see… I don’t.”
The 85 year old man was Jorge Luis Borges (an Argentinian philosopher and poet) and isn’t this a beautiful reminder that we only have so long on this planet. Let’s make the most of it!
If this doesn’t spur you on then perhaps the short one minute video on our homepage will – top right-hand corner, “How do you spend your time?”
When our clients fully understand lifestyle financial planning it helps them to get more out of life. It creates a sense of urgency to get things done, to live life to the full, to do stuff now, before it’s too late. Life is NOT a rehearsal!
Wouldn’t it be far better to look back and say “I’m glad I did” rather than “I wish I had”.