Don’t you hate it when you get called out for failing to walk the walk? It happened to me again last week. Jim and I sat down with our Wealth Manager (I wish we needed a Wealth Manager), I think we are really more in the category of needing a Savings Adequate for a Simple Life Manager. Anyway, it was an interesting sit down.
I was ready for the regular risk tolerance questions, I had a handle on what investments we have and where they are but I totally failed every goal question.
Really? I spend all week helping people get to where they want to be. We talk a lot about goals and setting them S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-targeted), writing them down and really using them as a way of taking control of your life and your future.
And, there I sat and could not answer a simple “What’s your income goal for next year?” question – let alone all those 5 year and beyond questions.
We have done really well with our financial goals for last several years, we got out of debt, completely and totally including the house, changed our (well mostly me, Jim never did spend) spending habits and have become very intentional with our money. And then, I think I felt done.
The best I could come up with was my financial goal for this past year was not to spend any of our savings. Wow, that is bold. That is like having a goal of not getting arrested, not going hungry, not getting fired, not gaining another 20 lbs. Lame, lame, lame.
So thanks for the wake-up call. It’s time for “back to basics”.
Zig Zilger has always been one of my favorite guys to listen to and he knows a thing or two about goal setting. Seth Godin’s Domino Project has republished Zig’s The Performance Planner as a cool little workbook that Amazon sells in a four pack for $20. So get three of your friends and spend $5 a piece and let’s accomplish 4 big goals together next year.
Maybe you don’t need to read it but I need to write it; so starting January 2, every Monday for twelve weeks will be “Goal Monday”.
I have three workbooks that I would love give to three friends who agree to help hold me accountable for those 12 weeks. Just ask.
NEXT POST IN THE SERIES Be, Do and Have MORE(of what you want) in 2012
Goals are tough! This is never something I was good a doing, like you I am resolving to do better in the new year. I will have to check out Amazon for those books, I would like to have a copy.
Thanks again for your wisdom.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
I’d love to have you join our Goals Challenge. We are going to carefully unpack this thing starting with choosing the right goals. I’d be happy to send you a copy of the Pick Four workbook just send me an email (you can find my address under the Work with me Tab) with your physical address and I’ll drop it in the mail.
Thanks for following !
Cassie