Are you tired of “next year” talk, the optimism of inactivity? The trouble with “this time next year” is it can become the following year and even the year after that without anything changing. As you get older, you start to realise that you are running out of years!
Making decisions means that we are living up to our own expectations. When we are indecisive or procrastinate, we don’t live up to the commitments we made to ourselves which means we fall short of our own expectations and this leads to a poor self-image and, ultimately, disappointment in our results and lifestyle.
How can we embrace positive actions now – this year?
Well, here’s a few pointers…
1. Put first things first.
Prioritise what’s important and commit to yourself and to your goals. That’s often the biggest thing, we fail to commit. Go all in. Dedicate yourself to your decision every day.
2. Tell someone you like and respect.
When we tell someone we like – or at least respect – about what we are going to do, it all becomes more real. When I say, “people we respect”, I’m talking about the people that won’t take excuses from us, they’ll call us out and hold us accountable. Think about the people you know you’ll avoid if you don’t do what you have said…have a conversation with one of these!
3. Think fast, Build slow.
Be quick to decide, slow to change. Decide quickly and be slow to change decisions. Follow through. Honour your schedule. We have to prevent ourselves from getting distracted as our decisions have to work in the long term for us. Thinking fast is choosing not to fall back on doing the comfortable thing. Rather than operating on autopilot, we need to be conscious and deliberate in our decision making. So, before having a quick sugar rush or making an impulse purchase to make us feel good in the short term, we need to stop ourselves and ask, “why?” Thinking fast is being conscious in the moment and taking charge. Rather than an overnight test, make it longer (seven days). This behaviour allows us to build more slowly, more considered with a firmer foundation for our lives rather than paying for short-term mistakes.
4. Water the dream.
Continually keep your dreams before you. Be obsessed if you like. If you’re going to achieve your goals and set yourself up for dignity and independence in retirement, it’s going to take more than a one-word confession and a photo on your fridge door. It’s going to take action and discipline. Watering the dream is working for it, not waiting for it. Investment takes work. For example, If I’m going to build muscle and shed fat, I’ve got to be disciplined. Watering the dream is fueling up on the right foods whilst staying consistent. Getting F.I.T. for Purpose takes wisdom, discipline and execution.
5. It’s not next year, it’s this year.
Start now. Stop putting it off. Book an appointment today. That’s not just with us. If it’s going to the gym, start now. If it’s starting a family and you’re waiting for enough money, you’ll never start. If it’s signing up to a new business opportunity, just do it and find out how later. Life is short and before you know it tomorrow becomes last year. The real truth about money is that life is not a rehearsal.
Summary.
The focus of today forces us to do something with it. Dream BIG, have goals, but let’s not see them stay on the fridge, put them to work.
Next year can be better than this year, so start living it now.
Why not try out F.I.T. for Purpose questionnaire today?
Or perhaps even book your complimentary values-based planning Passport conversation? And see your finances soar.
“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ― Roy Disney
Kind Regards
Andrew Stinchcomb
Lead Navigator
Certified Financial Planner™ professional
Chartered Wealth Manager™
Investors should remember that the value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up. This update has been produced for information purposes only and isn’t intended to constitute financial advice; investments referred to may not be suitable for everyone.
