Ten years may be way too far out for you to be thinking. But sometimes if you want to create change in your life, you have to think long term. One doesn’t become a millionaire overnight. There are steps that lead to real change. This brilliant process was introduced to me by Kim Walsh Phillips from Powerful Professionals. Here my twist on her practical 10-year goal planning technique.
10 Years From Now I will be….
Where do you want to be in 10 years in the following areas:
- Family
- Fun
- Fitness
- Faith
- Finances
Be specific. Write continuously. And don’t worry about being wrong. There are only right answers. Focus on why and where.
Because this blog is about money, I’ll use this example. 10 years from now I would like to be able to retire with no debt on my current home and have a second home on the Gulf of Mexico. (I should point out that I have no desire to retire. I love what I do. But I would like to be able to in 10 years.)
Now answer – what needs to happen in order to make that happen? In order for this to happen, I need a plan to pay off my current mortgage, and I need to find a place in Florida.
Five Years From Now I will be….
What would you need to have happened 5 years from now in order for that 10-year goal to be possible?
I would need to have my current place paid off and have a good idea where I want to live in Florida and the costs of houses there.
One Year from Now…
What would you need to have happened 1 year from now in order for that 5-year goal to be possible?
I would have a plan to pay off my mortgage and I would be saving towards my second home. I’d also probably schedule a vacation at a place on the Gulf of Mexico in the next 12 months.
90 Day from Now…
What would you need to get done in 90 days to be moving towards your 1 year goal?
I would be researching flights and have price alerts set up on Kayak.com.
One Week from Now…
What do you need to accomplish 1 week from now to make that 90-day goal possible?
Within the next week, I would look at my calendar and know when I would be available to travel.
Today…
What can you do today to make the 1-week goal possible and in turn the 10-year goal a reality?
Today, I can set up Zillow alerts on key areas I am thinking about moving to.
Takeaway
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao-Tsu
If you’re going to change your life, you need to have a plan. A 10-year plan may seem far fetched. But if you break it down into steps, 10-year goal planning may seem a little more possible.
If you’re an entrepreneur and interested in working with a marketing coach, check out Kim Walsh Phillips at Powerful Professionals.
