Step 5: Write down if achieving the goal is worthwhile
Step 5 is a tricky one and must be answered honestly. It only requires a one word answer – yes or no. If it is yes – THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!! If it is no you have the following three options:
1. Review the goal and consider changing in reference to the obstacles you have found;
2. Consider the benefits and see if there are any more benefits to be had, or if you can change the goal to provide more benefits.
3. Drop the goal and consider new goals – but don’t feel bad.
The last point is particularly interesting one as many people waste their lives by feeling guilty about either what they have done or what they haven’t achieved. To always be thinking like this is a sad waste of a life. Remember that life is a journey and not a destination – as such, the only time you really fail is when you give up on life. If you find new goals and keep trying you haven’t failed.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Step 4 to elimiante debt
Step 4: Make a list of benefits to you personally and to close friends and family
A goal is a lot easier to achieve, and a habit to change, if you know all the benefits for doing it. The benefits need to be specific, they can’t just be ‘it will improve my life’. You need to work at what all the specific benefits are and list them. For example, I will have more time with family, I will have more money to invest in shares rather than paying debts and the like.
For Step 4, make a list of all of the benefits you can think of for you and your family. Once these benefits are on paper, put it in a place that you will see everyday. Some people I know chose to make a small photocopy of the list and put it in their wallets to remind them of their goal.
Remember you must think of the benefits to you first. It is human nature to go along with other people’s ideas and goals, but to truly achieve your own goals they must be relevant to you.
A goal is a lot easier to achieve, and a habit to change, if you know all the benefits for doing it. The benefits need to be specific, they can’t just be ‘it will improve my life’. You need to work at what all the specific benefits are and list them. For example, I will have more time with family, I will have more money to invest in shares rather than paying debts and the like.
For Step 4, make a list of all of the benefits you can think of for you and your family. Once these benefits are on paper, put it in a place that you will see everyday. Some people I know chose to make a small photocopy of the list and put it in their wallets to remind them of their goal.
Remember you must think of the benefits to you first. It is human nature to go along with other people’s ideas and goals, but to truly achieve your own goals they must be relevant to you.
Step 3 to eliminate debt
Step 3 Write down how you will overcome these obstacles.
The key to successfully overcoming obstacles is to see them coming before they happen. A good analogy is the film ‘dodgeball’ – you either look at the balls and try and get out of the way ‘dodge’ or use a ball (in this case your written list of potential obstacles) and deflect them away.
For step 3, you are required to have a list of all potential obstacles (undertaken in step 2) and write how you will overcome them. It may be having an emergency fund, or alternative plans of how you will get to work if your car breaks down. The ways to overcome these obstacles will be very specific to you and your family and your current circumstances – so whatever you do, don’t ask other for advice, everyone seems an expert on your life:). It is you who can best decide what will work effectively for you.
For step 3: Write down how you will overcome all of the obstacles that you can think of for achieving your goals.
The key to successfully overcoming obstacles is to see them coming before they happen. A good analogy is the film ‘dodgeball’ – you either look at the balls and try and get out of the way ‘dodge’ or use a ball (in this case your written list of potential obstacles) and deflect them away.
For step 3, you are required to have a list of all potential obstacles (undertaken in step 2) and write how you will overcome them. It may be having an emergency fund, or alternative plans of how you will get to work if your car breaks down. The ways to overcome these obstacles will be very specific to you and your family and your current circumstances – so whatever you do, don’t ask other for advice, everyone seems an expert on your life:). It is you who can best decide what will work effectively for you.
For step 3: Write down how you will overcome all of the obstacles that you can think of for achieving your goals.
Step 2 to eliminate debt
Step 2: Write down the obstacles you are likely to face.
Obstacles come in many shapes and forms – this is particularly true for debt reduction. Car Bills and Doctors Bills are two of the most common – I remember when I was on the path to debt reduction we had several Doctors bills came right out of the blue. One movement my six week old son was happy and healthy, the next he was been rushed to hospital to have surgery – even with health insurance the total bills for the entire time he was sick were in the thousands.
Obstacles can also be inadequacies – ie what your weaknesses are. The best way to work out why you haven’t reached your goal is to ascertain what has stopped you. Once you know what is stopping you, you can work on ways to overcome these issues!
For Step 2 – you need to write down all the obstacles that you can think of that could stop you from reaching your goal.
Obstacles come in many shapes and forms – this is particularly true for debt reduction. Car Bills and Doctors Bills are two of the most common – I remember when I was on the path to debt reduction we had several Doctors bills came right out of the blue. One movement my six week old son was happy and healthy, the next he was been rushed to hospital to have surgery – even with health insurance the total bills for the entire time he was sick were in the thousands.
Obstacles can also be inadequacies – ie what your weaknesses are. The best way to work out why you haven’t reached your goal is to ascertain what has stopped you. Once you know what is stopping you, you can work on ways to overcome these issues!
For Step 2 – you need to write down all the obstacles that you can think of that could stop you from reaching your goal.
Step 1 to getting out of debt
Step 1: Write down specifically what you are trying to achieve and by when.
This is a critical step for many reasons. When you write something down it tricks the brain into thinking that you have already achieved the goal. This is a major sub-conscious physiologically boost as it takes out some of the fears we have about failing. In addition to this, there is something conceptual and driving by putting a specific timeframe to a goal. As I am sure you know from work, when you have a deadline you work to meet it! The timeframe needs to be specific, and be broken down into achievable components. Although it is specific, it should be to some degree a living document. If you don’t meet one time period move it slightly so that you do meet it – Above all, don’t give up if you don’t specifically meet all of your goals – You are still progressing down the path of reducing debt.
If you undertake the above step, you are already one step up on most people who are trying to reduce debt or more holistically achieve any goal. We will now look at step 2 – obstacles.
This is a critical step for many reasons. When you write something down it tricks the brain into thinking that you have already achieved the goal. This is a major sub-conscious physiologically boost as it takes out some of the fears we have about failing. In addition to this, there is something conceptual and driving by putting a specific timeframe to a goal. As I am sure you know from work, when you have a deadline you work to meet it! The timeframe needs to be specific, and be broken down into achievable components. Although it is specific, it should be to some degree a living document. If you don’t meet one time period move it slightly so that you do meet it – Above all, don’t give up if you don’t specifically meet all of your goals – You are still progressing down the path of reducing debt.
If you undertake the above step, you are already one step up on most people who are trying to reduce debt or more holistically achieve any goal. We will now look at step 2 – obstacles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
