2020 will soon be behind us. WHEW! It has been a year no one will forget, and I think everyone is looking forward to 2021 with a lot of hope and positive expectations. If you want to take control of your results and make 2021 your best year ever, now is the time to focus on your goals…what you want to accomplish. Very few great things happen by chance. Most success is built around a concentrated focus.
For 2021, my theme is ‘Take Radical Responsibility for Your Results.’ This does not leave room for excuses. It is no one else’s fault if you do not get the results you want. It is all on you. So, take a moment and ask yourself these five questions:
- What do you want? Yes, I know you want a lot of things, but for this exercise, limit it to one to three things that, if you did succeed, would make a huge difference to you personally this time next year. For many people, a big goal will include health and fitness. Hopefully, you will have an important plan around money and personal finances. It could be about relationships or anything that truly matters to you.
- Is it possible? On a scale of one-to-ten (ten being very difficult), rate how difficult you believe it will be to achieve each goal. In general, it should be a challenge, something you will have the stretch yourself to accomplish, but doable.
- What would you have to change to succeed? Jot down precisely what you would need to do differently to succeed. If you are not sure, find someone who has gone before you and ask them.
- Are you willing to make those changes? Big goals often require significant sacrifices. Take a close introspective look at yourself and decide if you are ready to do whatever is necessary. If you are unsure, the goal is probably too big and needs to be scaled back.
- What is the first step? What is the very first thing that you need to do to put you on the path to success? Write that down. Now, what is the second thing? Write that down and continue listing steps until you have listed them all or reach ‘not sure.’ Note that it is not necessary to know all the steps at the beginning of your journey. In many cases, all the steps are not understandable in the beginning. Have faith in the process and expect future actions will reveal themselves.
Now…drum roll, please – TAKE THE FIRST STEP!
All your 2021 goals should be in writing, along with all the steps you have listed so far. Keep your goals somewhere you will see them daily, so you have a constant reminder. If you can, add the ‘Why’ of why each goal is important to you. There is a saying, “If you have a big enough WHY, the HOW will take care of itself.”
My hope for you is that 2021 will be your best year ever!
Follow The Welch Group every Tuesday morning on WBRC Fox 6 for the Money Tuesday segment.
FOX 6 TALKING POINTS
Answer These 5 Questions for BIG 2021 Goals
2021 theme: Take Radical Responsibility for Your Results
5 Questions:
- What do you want?
- Is it possible?
- What would you have to change to succeed?
- Are you willing to make those changes?
- What is the first step?
Write your goals down and keep them where you will see them daily.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP!
Stewart H. Welch, III, CFP, AEP, is the founder of THE WELCH GROUP, LLC, which specializes in providing fee-only investment management and financial advice to families throughout the United States. He is the author or co-author of six books, including J.K. Lasser’s New Rules for Estate, Retirement and Tax Planning- 6th Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.); THINK Like a Self-Made Millionaire; and 100 Tips for Creating a Champagne Retirement on a Shoestring Budget.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by The Welch Group, LLC -“Welch”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Welch. Please remember that if you are a Welch client, it remains your responsibility to advise Welch, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. Welch is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of Welch’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request. Please Note: Welch does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Welch’s web site or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility.