Profound statements, like the one
above from Lao Tzu, are intriguing. They motivate us to think ourselves into
action.
“Just start!” “Take that first step!”
That’s great advice when you know
what the first step is but when you’re unsure, you’re left floundering. Every January we make New Year’s resolutions.
We want to start but we struggle with the steps. As a result our attempts to
build a solid action plan fail because of the uncertainty of “how to start”.
I was privileged to be
interviewed about this topic by the Financial Planning Standards Council. I
compiled a list of five steps to help take action to fulfill your dreams. If you’re someone who struggles with building
an action plan, take that first step.
Get clear about your dreams, the rest will follow. The interview below
is found at the Financial Planning for Canadians website,
where you will find many great articles.
GET SMART TO ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS
There are likely dozens of items on your lifelong wish list. However,
while you might be able to have anything your heart desires, you can’t have
everything. And no matter what you’re yearning for, chances are there’s a
financial component to achieving your dream.
Financial goal setting will help
hone in on those things that are most important to you; planning will establish
the road map to get you there.
“Goal setting isn’t simply a
matter of thinking about everything you’d like to have,” says Delores Moskal, a
Certified Financial Planner® professional in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. “It takes
time and forethought.”
Many people simply make a wish list in their head, but they often don’t
make it past the dreaming stage. Achieving your goals means taking these five
steps, says Delores:
1.
Put pen to paper: Research has shown that the simple act of
committing your goals to paper makes them tangible and increases your
likelihood of achieving them.
2.
Share your inspiration: Who will you fulfill your dreams with?
Perhaps they have a different vision than yours. Be sure to share with others
who may be impacted by your decisions so you’re on the same page.
3.
Guard your peripheral vision: Be mindful of outside influences steering
you off course. Family asking to borrow money, marketers trying to sell you a
now-or-never trip, or friends suggesting a new home or car can make you lose
sight of your real goals.
4.
Think SMART: You may be familiar with this concept in
your working life, but the same advice applies to your personal goals. Ensure
your goals are:
o
Specific
o
Measurable
o
Attainable
o
Realistic, and
o
Timely
Instead of dreaming of ‘owning a vacation
property’, think SMART! Finesse that goal into ‘within the next five years,
purchase a winterized vacation property with an ocean view in Nova Scotia,
which will eventually become our home in retirement.’
5.
Get help: A CFP® professional can help you reach your
financial goals all through your life, helping put the financial building
blocks in place to you get where you want to go, preparing you for the
unexpected, and even helping you plan your legacy. Once you have a financial
plan in place, you’ll feel your stress decrease as you stop trying to do it all
yourself—while possibly achieving very little. And a professional financial
plan will allow you to enjoy life in the present (with the money you have)
while you address yesterday (perhaps paying down debt), and look forward to tomorrow
(setting goals and saving for the future). “Working with a qualified financial
planner is like having a coach to help keep you on track and accountable,” says
Delores. “And with that comes the satisfaction of reaching the goals you’ve
always dreamed of.”
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