Welcome To 2020

6/1/2020

Best Laid Plans

Around this day ten years ago, you probably had plans in place for the year ahead.

Maybe you even achieved some of those goals in 2010.

But I’m guessing that you could never have planned for some of the unexpected events, opportunities, twists and turns of the decade you’ve just lived.

Take me for example.

Ten years ago, I was working for a large financial services firm.

I had no plans to build a financial planning practice. I couldn’t have imagined building an on-line community. If you’d told me I’d even be writing this blog, well, I’d have said you were mad.

None of these things were in my 10 year, or even, 5 year plan.

Why is that?

Predicting the future is hard! We underestimate how much we, and the world will change over time. As psychologist, Dan Gilbert says;

Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished. The person you are right now is as transient, as fleeting and as temporary as all the people you’ve ever been. The one constant in our life is change.

The fact that any given plan can have a very short shelf-life is also why many people don’t bother making plans and strategies at all.

I’ve heard it time and time again - why bother with all the work involved in goal setting and planning, when it could all change tomorrow?

A valid question.

Planning (done right) is an awareness-generating process. It helps you identify your goals, resources and timelines. It gives you purpose, focus and direction.

And most importantly of all, planning done right, provides the insight to act.

No question, in the 30 years of working to help clients succeed financially, too much talking and not enough doing is the biggest barrier to success.

Celebrated US Philosopher, Elvis Presley, had it right when he said “we need a little less conversation and a little more action please”.

If you are "failing to launch” or just want to do a bit better, here are some resources that may help:

Stop Talking and Start Doing

The First Step In Turning The Invisible In To The Visible

8 Great Questions We Should All Be Asking Ourselves

4 Valuable Reminders From a 2000km Bicycle Ride

What's Your Best Before Date

Important - This information is shared with you purely for the purpose of financial education. It is based on generally available information and is not intended to provide you with specific financial advice or take in to account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should obtain financial, tax or accounting advice on whether this information is suitable for your circumstances. To the extent permitted by law, no liability is accepted for any loss or damage as a result of any reliance on this information. See full Terms and Conditions here.

5 Comments

Ian

9/1/2020 09:40:48 am

Hi Tony,

Happy new year!

I wanted to let you know this was a great email and I will share this with my wife in terms of some of the content when planning our life list!

Ric

9/1/2020 09:41:53 am

Hi Tony,

HNY to you.

Hope all is well in your world. Thanks for the comms, always insightful.

George

9/1/2020 09:43:53 am

Nice article!

9/1/2020 11:38:49 am

Hello Tony,thank you for the reminder to refocus for another year. Christmas has come and gone and fires have diverted my attention from most everything else. I wish you a productive ,interesting year with good health and a pleasing measure of relaxation thrown in as well.

Brad

20/1/2020 07:01:22 am

Thought this might be good:

Here Are 10 Questions You Must Answer About Your Goals:

Are They Written Down? – Writing your goals down is a magical act. It makes them real. It clarifies them, and helps bring definition and accountability to them.
Are They Your goals? – Before you pursue them, make sure that your goals are truly your own. Or are they goals that have been put upon you by expectations of your family, job, or society?
Do They Have a Deadline? – Goals without deadlines are like a race without an end. You need a finish line to define your goal and when you will accomplish it by. (You can always adjust later… see #7.)
What is the Cost and Are you Willing to Pay It? – Every goal has a cost. Whether it is time, money, or sweat. Make sure you are willing to pay the price to achieve your goal.
What Help Will You Need to Accomplish Your Goals? – Truly great goals require us to go beyond ourselves. Every successful person learned from someone else. Plan in advance how you will get the assistance you need.
Are You Focused on Your Goal? – Many people fall into the trap of unfocused goals. Or perhaps, they have too many goals at once. You must have laser focus on your big goal. It must be front-and-center in your life. It must get constant attention.
Are Your Goals Adaptable? – Life changes. You can’t control that. So, your goals must be adaptable. This is not to be used as an excuse at the first sign of difficulty. Adaptable goals change, instead of break, when life throws you a curve.
Do Your Goals Stretch Your Limits? – If your goal is to do something that you have already done before, then you will get the same results. Your goals should stretch your abilities. That is how new capabilities and limits are reached.
Do Believe in Your Goals? – More than anyone else, you have to believe in your goals. There will be critics, doubters, and people who want to see you fail. Don’t listen to them. Listen to the inner voice that drives you.
What Did You Do Today? – You must act on your goals every single day. It is not an optional activity. If you truly have the determination and focus to reach your goals, you will not only think, but act on them every single day.

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Best Laid Plans

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