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Whose Goals Are You Working Toward?

April 10, 2007

It’s rather funny.  I’ve had the opportunity to speak with people from all walks of life (being both a minister and a successful Internet business coach).  I’ve been with very wealthy people and those that don’t have anything but the clothes on their back.

The sad issue is that the majority of wealthy people aren’t much happier than those without money.  They have more “stuff.”  No question about that.

Too often this stuff is purchased to keep up with the neighbors or project a specific image.  I’ve seen wealthy entrepreneurs purchase mansions…and it felt more like a museum than a home.  They built it to impress others…yet it didn’t come from the desires of their own heart.

I’ve seen entrepreneurs build businesses they hate…all because they were proving they could be a success to some imagined ghost from their past.  Sure they had money, but what good is it if they don’t have time to enjoy it?

And this goes for the workaholics too.  You might love your job and want to work constantly.  One day there will be a payment for that.  Stress is a killer…and you won’t be able to stay ahead of it forever with a seven day schedule.

Let’s talk about another subject. Some people will tell you how wonderful high class restaurants are. I’m sorry. They’re just not me.

I’ve visited too many fancy restaurants while speaking at meetings, and I don’t remember ever liking a single one of them. I just haven’t liked the usual snooty waitors and rarely the food.  Yet, I’ve suffered through these restaurants politely many times with other speakers who seem to enjoy them.

This is even more true about my wife.  When we last went to Vail, Colorado, I remember it took 4 days to finally convince her to go with me to a Swiss restaurant there I wanted to try.  Afterwards, she told me she would have preferred McDonalds. 

My favorite places to eat currently are a little Mexican restaurant not too far away, and a Greek restaurant in the next city over.  The Mexican place always come out to less than $10 and the Greek restaurant a little more…for both of us.  It’s not the price that makes me go to those places.  I enjoy the food way more than I ever have at any $100 restaurant.

Yet, some people look at you like you’re “not allowed” to enjoy this because it’s not high priced enough.

Does my wife have a lot of expensive jewelry?  Nope.  She has some.  It’s just that she is a whole lot more passionate about a new backpacking item.  She spends hundreds on the newest backpacking gear instead. While I personally like hiking, I don’t like the sleeping outside part.  I have no desire to pretend I’m homeless. That’s not me. 

The question is what do you want?

Don’t create a lifestyle others want…or think you should have.

Part of being successful is making goals and imagining where you want to be 1 year from now, 3 years from now, and even 10 years from now.

Don’t just say you want a large home.  Describe it.  What rooms does it have?  What will it look like?  Where will it be…in town, in the mountains, by a lake?

Where would you like to vacation?  Don’t tell me what other people want.  Where is your dream vacation?  Is it a sandy beach in a foreign country…taking a safari in Africa…flying a fighter jet at an aviation school…or hiding out in the mountains for two weeks?

Plan your life.  Decide what you want.  Then figure out how much you need to earn yearly to reach that lifestyle (remembering to include taxes, retirement, savings, family, etc.). Now work back to today and plan your actions to reach those goals.

The key principle in all of this is to plan the life YOU and your spouse want…not what anybody else says or thinks for you.  It’s hard to reach other people’s goals…and you won’t like the life you create for them either!

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One Response to “Whose Goals Are You Working Toward?”

  1. What Are the Desires in Your Heart? | Internet Business Coaching by Terry Dean on November 5th, 2007 10:22 am

    [...] As an additional question, Regina pointed to one of my previous articles: “Whose Goals Are You Working Toward?”: [...]

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