MoneyMerc

[This is the first of a multi-part post]

Do you have a plan to accomplish your dreams?

OK, so maybe you don’t like planning. You like spontaneity. After all, it’s the spice of life. Or, maybe you do like planning, but planning your finances or what you will do with your life seems too daunting, too far away to seem real.

Why is it that everyone has dreams and aspirations, but few people have a plan to achieve them? And I mean a concrete plan, not a ’someday I will…’ plan. Do you have dreams? What is your plan to realize them?

> When was the last time something happened because you kinda-sorta hoped that it would?

If you have dreams, but no plan – why don’t you have a plan? Well, first it takes work to create a plan. It takes thinking. But this is fun thinking, and important thinking – after all, it will help ensure you achieve your dreams.

Creating a Plan

OK great, you say. So how do I create a plan? How do I get beyond these roadblocks? Break it down into steps and then progressively smaller pieces – achievable pieces.

The first step in creating a plan for your future is figuring out what your dreams are. OK, so that’s obvious. But not easy. Many self-help books have been dedicated to this topic. I recommend “beginning with the end in mind” which is described in an excellent book by Stephen Covey. Or maybe try some dreamlining, according to Tim Ferriss.

Most people, including myself, have a goal like “be financially independent”, which is just a more well-thought-out version of “being rich”. For me, it’s not so much about having money, but about:

• living life without having to worry about money, and ensuring that my family can have the same bliss
• working at something I love because I want to, not because I have to
• traveling to all the places on my ‘to go’ list
• not having to worry about unforeseen circumstances that could alter this state of independence
• having the time to enrich my life and others by spending time with people who matter to me
• having hobbies that make me happy, like photography, music, and outdoor activities

You probably have many other smaller goals, which simply require a little planning and maybe some cojones, such as jumping out of a plane (done!). For these posts, however, we’ll focus on the more nebulous goals where a clear path to success isn’t immediately visible.

One recommendation about brainstorming your list: sleep on it. In my own experience, my current mood and other things going on in my life on a particular day or in a week change the types of goals I write down. My general test is one of time: look back at each item a month later, and if it still rings true, keep it. If not, adjust or remove it.

Next time, we’ll how to come up with a plan around your goals.