Get onto the FAST TRACK to Financial Success!

Get on the FAST TRACK to Financial Success!
Do you have financial goals at the moment? Have you written them down with a clear plan to achieve them? In the pressure of simply living and making money, many people never take the time to plan their lives. This is particularly true of their finances.

Why have financial goals?
It takes some thought to create goals for our financial future so is it worth the effort? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” In his book What They Don't Teach You in the Harvard Business School, Mark McCormack describes a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program. The students were asked, "Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?" Only three per cent of the graduates had written goals and plans; 13 per cent had goals, but they were not written down; and a full 84 per cent had no specific goals at all.
Ten years later, the members of the class were interviewed again. The findings, while somewhat predictable, were still amazing. The 13 per cent of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 per cent who had no goals at all. And the 3 per cent who had clear, written goals were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 per cent put together!
This is certainly powerful proof of the value of having clear, measurable, time-bounded goals that you work towards.

So What is Your Route to Wealth?
Whatever means of wealth creation you choose, you need to ensure it is clearly linked to your vision and goals and that is built into a detailed plan with daily actions.

Alignment
There needs to be complete alignment between what you are seeking and the actions you take. Think of a rowing boat with the 8 rowers all dipping their oars into the water at different times and with differing degrees of strength. Progress would be slow and take huge amounts of effort. Imagine now the same boat where all the oarsmen or women dip their oars in at the same time with equal force. There is alignment and the boat moves rapidly through the water with much less effort.

Vision and Goals
So what is your vision? What sort of lifestyle do you want to live? Where do you want to live? How do you want to spend your time? Look long term - say 20 years and then consider 10 years and 5 years. Then look at one year ahead. What is your compelling reason for creating wealth? If you have a big enough “Why?” you will be far more motivated when the inevitable challenges arise.

Then translate your vision into a goal or goals. Make the goal personal (begin with “I”), write it in the present tense, make it specific and time bound i.e. give it a date.

Strategy and Plans
Then decide on a strategy. There is a great number of possible wealth strategies from which to choose. These include owning your own business, property, share trading, internet marketing or having a very well paid job. Often, people start with one strategy and then move on to add others. You will also need to select sub strategies within each of the above areas to help you to become very proficient at a few limited areas. With trading, for example, are you going to focus on swing trading or day trading? Think too about what you want to trade e.g. currencies, stocks, commodities etc.

Next you need a plan for how you will actually achieve your goal. This is where many people fall down. They fail to decide exactly how on a monthly and weekly basis they will bring their goals into reality. Finally make sure that you translate your plan into daily actions. As a check, ask yourself daily: “Is this task taking me one step closer to my goal/s and ultimately to my vision?” If it is not, ask yourself why you are doing it.

Mindset
You also need to ensure that your mindset is supporting you in being financially successful. For instance, are you unconsciously holding yourself back through any negative beliefs? Examples of such beliefs are “I don’t deserve to be wealthy”, “Making money is very hard” or “Wealthy people are not spiritual”. These beliefs may be held at a very deep, unconscious level but they can stop us in our tracks nevertheless. Sometimes it is necessary to work with a coach to uncover and change such limiting beliefs before you can make real progress towards your financial goals.

Self-Discipline
To be successful you will also need to have self-discipline, laser focus and sound management of your time to follow through on your plan and daily actions.

What is your “weakest link?”
Everyone has elements of what I call the “success mix” as outlined above, which they find easier than others. Maybe you are naturally good at planning but have some beliefs that are holding you back. Alternatively you may have an excellent wealth creation mindset but find it hard to focus on your chosen strategy. The variables are endless. The key is to identify your “weakest link” and work on it to ensure complete alignment between all the elements.

Help is at hand!
If you would like help to identify or work on your “weakest link“ in the “success mix”, please see the information which will appear shortly on my live Goal Powered Financial Success Webinar Series or drop me an email at the address below.

With every good wish for your success.

Catherine Cuffley
Success Coach

Email: catherine.cuffley@btinternet.com