Are you designing your life? Do you understand what that means? Are you creating the lifestyle that you envisioned years ago? The problem with goal setting is you are taught to write down what you want and go after it. We are goal-achieving mechanisms by birth and it is natural to strive for better things. Most people fail is that their goals do not line up with their values.
When you join a new affiliate program, network marketing company, or any business opportunity the company always tells you to set your income goals. They go further and tell you to find your reason “Why”. Your “Why” could be to quit your job, get out of debt, or become a millionaire.
Jumping Ship
9 out of 10 people never hit their income goals. Money is a poor motivator. When roadblocks, considerations, and fears pop up people jump ship. It’s easier to complain, go back to work, or hop on the next shiny object. Even your “Why” loses its power to push you to succeed. The problem lies in not designing your life. The key is to create a lifestyle you want to live. Then set goals to achieve that lifestyle.
It takes time to design the life you want to create. It is based on your values and it brings clarity. Writing it out and following a proven system is the key. Success leaves clues and finding people who have the lifestyle you want to lead is crucial. Musicians hang around musicians. Athletes hang around other athletes. Find successful entrepreneurs to hang around with.
Write It Out
Write down the things you want to do. Do you want to eat out every night or have a private chef? Or, do you want to live near the beach or mountains? How about home-schooling your kids, sending them to private schools, or hiring tutors?
Will you travel with your favorite teams, go to concerts, or attend your industry events on a VIP ticket? How much do you want to invest, give to charities, or start a scholarship fund? How about paying cash for your kids to go to college, becoming debt-free, or owning multiple homes?
Writing it down and getting out of your head gets you clear on what you need to do. Your income goals might have changed. Most people do their goal-setting backward by building their business first and then trying to fit their life into their business. Often this puts you out of balance and your personal life starts to suffer. Designing your life will help bring balance.
Two Friends
Once you figure out your life plan you will know how much money you need to achieve it. You have an idea of what education or training it would require. This is where you pick the right business and not the new shiny object. This is the chance for you to work in your passion. To find a business where you will have the best chance to succeed.
Designing your life keeps you from making the wrong decisions. When you start a new business the focus is always on the money. You go for promotions on the job for the money. People choose money and start businesses or take positions where they can’t be their best. They don’t work to their strengths.
For example, I have two friends. One works on average 60-80 hours per week to make $80,000 per year. He has to trade his time for dollars, rarely takes vacations, and he has to keep working to maintain that income but it takes time away from his family. He is focusing on the money.
Decide, Commit, and Win
My other friend was in the same situation. But he took my advice on designing his life instead. He was working the same amount of hours but wanted to spend time with his wife and be home when his kids were home. This was two years ago. He decided to start a side business with his wife. He wanted to take more vacations and eat dinner with his kids.
Two years later his side business is thriving. He gets to work with his wife and he is home every night with his kids. They travel more and he rarely works overtime. He said it was tough the first year but now it was worth it.
My other friend did not listen to me. He is still putting in 60 to 80 hours per week. He complains about working all the time. But he is making the money he wants to make. It is costing him quality time with his family and it shows. This is an example of why you need to design your life first.
Start Designing Now
There are plenty of books that can help you with the process of creating your life plan. Go big and be audacious. Take a couple of days to do this. Involve your spouse, partner, and kids. Your friends can play a big part too. When my business expanded I had the perfect position for one of my close friends. She is making more money and is a superstar on our team. Plus it gives her time to pursue her dreams.
Get excited. Cut out pictures, create a vision board, and make a game of it. It’s the rest of your life so make it fun. Your current status doesn’t matter. If you don’t design it nothing will happen. Create your path now and take that journey.
2 thoughts on “Designing Your Life Before You Set Your Goals”