Personal Money Tips

Now that I have my goals all written out, the next interesting thing is to see how it all pans out. Simple? Well, I hear someone say, but how? Yeah, I need to change something. Change what? So, the million dollar question is, do you change your : -

Results, Actions, Thinking, Attitude, or Expectations?

What if, every year, you set goals, draw out timeline and finish dates and all that, and still don’t reach your goals? Or even come close? How are you going to get there? I know some people say, “If you don’t get your goal, or give up along the way, you never really wanted it in the first place.” I have to agree to a certain extent. I mean, besides having water, food and shelter, most other things are not needs, there are wants. Only a minority have the strong desire to accomplish or to really succeed. Most of us are comfortable, emotionally or subconsciously, where we are. Yes, we would LIKE to improve our lives. Yes, we would LIKE to travel the world, drive a better car, BUT life now isn’t too bad. If I don’t travel it is okay. The nice cool car, well it can wait till next year or until I get more income. As a result we are sending mixed signals. Without clarity and certainty nothing happens. Sure, change will take place, but not the quantum leap forward that we would really like to see. There is nothing bad or wrong with incremental steps. In fact, incremental is good too.

How do you ensure, your wants gets translated to effective consistent action? This is no easy task for a person who have not done it before. Again, I believe, achieving your goals is a skill that can be learned. So I for now, put aside the question “whether you really want it” stuff for a moment. Let’s say you are motivated, at this point, anyway. What can you do to ensure it stays in focus and motivating you along, while taking actions that sometimes can be a little unpleasant? Most actions are unpleasant only because we are not used to it. Try this. If you are right handed, try brushing your teeth with your left hand. Really uncomfortable. If you stick at it, after a while, you’ll get used to it.

Most of us know that to change your results, you have to change your actions. We also know we have to change our attitudes, and thinking. Now comes the interesting part. How do you consistently change your thinking? We are thinking all the time. A lot of times we are not even aware of our thoughts. Let’s do a simple test to check yourself. Imagine someone came up to you and say, we have an investment that gives 20% return per month. Notice what is the first thought or question that came up.

Probably something along the lines, what sort of investments is it? What risk, where is it invested in etc? Is it legal? Now just notice the questions you asked yourself. Have you ever wonder, if someone else would ask a totally different set of question. A person who likes to take financial risk, or have gotten higher returns might think, oh little? You get the idea.

So too with your goals that you have set. Let’s say you have set a goal to earn an extra “X” amount. Does your thinking and self talk really believe you can do it or you don’t really think it can be achieve? Be honest with yourself. If you don’t think it is possible for you, it won’t be. If you have a tendency to think negative, and focus on all the things in the way, then no matter what actions you change, it is very likely you won’t achieve it, because, you have already sent your mind and body the signal why you can’t do it. You have to change what you think and one way to do it is to visualize the outcome you want. Take time to regularly picture the ideal you. Imagine you have ALREADY gotten your GOALS. This one technique had helped countless people get what they want. In a relax state of mind, do this several times a day. If you combine is with auditory method, this means repeating it aloud, you are practically conditioning your mind to accept the new reality.

The visualization technique is based upon the notion that everything is created twice. Once in the mind, then in the physical. Examples of this are abound. The designer of a building, first SEE the end result, in his or her mind before it got down on drawings and sketches, and then finally the object is created or manufactured. I’m not sure if there is a scientific proof to this, and yet top athletes used visualization to see themselves performing the necessary steps BEFORE they take the shot.

Even if you are doing strategic planning. Before you start brainstorming, take a few moments and imagine yourself coming out with the best plan. Let your mind come out with the answers. Imagine you have already gotten your money goal for this year. Imagine what you would do with the money. Imagine the fun and the happiness of reaching your financial goal. The more clarity you can picture in your mind, the more likely you would get it. Try it out. It is free. It much better than worrying and thinking how to get something done.

And be ready to be surprised.