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Establishing Financial Goals, part 3
By Molly's Brother | January 18, 2008
Any time we look at setting and achieving goals, there is a three-step action plan that helps aid us in the endeavor. It is a simple motivating plan of attack that keeps us focused on the task(s) at hand. Below, I’ve outlined the three things you can do now to help you achieve your financial goals for the New Year.
1. Write it down. The very act of writing our goals down and committing them to paper increases the likeliness of you taking action on the goal. Write your goals, objectives, and tasks in a place where you can view them and review them often. Some places that have worked for me: my desk at work, a post-it near my computer, in my day-runner. I look at each of these daily, thus my goals are front and center.
2. Track your progress. Articulating goals are excellent. However, we are more likely to follow-through on our goals if we have created a positive, supportive way to follow our progress throughout this process. Some suggest creating the old “thermometer” to follow you through the journey. You may have your own tools that work for you.
3. Work through the setbacks. Understand that there will be minor setbacks. I heard long ago that “life is not a success-only journey.” Often times, we learn more from our mistakes, missteps, and failures than from our successes. Take each setback in stride. There may be a month when you are not able to significantly decrease your overall debt. Don’t worry about it. Just make sure that you are able to pull together your resources and redouble your efforts. Find ways to stay focused on the larger goals.
Topics: Financial Goals, Monthly Series |