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I have decided that this year I want to work toward financial independence. While that might not seem significant to some, it simply hasn’t been a goal in the forefront of my mind in the past few years. Sure, everyone wants some level of financial independence, but if I am not consciously working toward it, how likely am I to reach my goal? My wife and I recently sat down and over a few different sessions we planned out our major goals and projects for our business this next year, as well as made a ten-year plan for where we want to see our business, and ultimately our lives, grow toward.
For some it can be difficult to envision what life will be like in ten years, so I decided to start with a sort of blue-sky of what I would like life to look like in general. I decided that ten years is a reasonable amount of time to accomplish almost any goal, so simply put my desired future at the ten-year mark. What we then did was work from there, deciding what changes we would need to make this coming year to work toward that goal, and then project from there, in general terms, what milestones we would need to reach by the end of next year and again at the 3-year and 5-year marks.
One of the major areas of weakness for me is investing. Toward that end, my wife and I recently sat down with a friend who works in the financial industry. He has been suggesting for a while that we ought to start investing financially in our future through the various investment markets–something I have been loath to do until now for a combination of market concerns, student loan and other debts to pay off, and just a lack of understanding of the value of what investments can do for me. Sure, I get the general concept, but it has always felt so intangible as to be nearly irrelevant to my current life.
Well, we finally sat down with him and I learned a few things–all of which bode well for our future. First, my concerns about holding off on investing until I “have it all together” is probably a bad idea, as I can open up an account with as little as $50. Second, I realized that the biggest hurdle for me is actually starting the process, not the saving itself. Thus, we are moving ahead with setting up some accounts (If you find a similar need in your own life, connect with Daniel here to discuss how he can help you the same as he has helped us).
Next, I am working toward actively expanding our brand. Sometime later this year we will expand from books and blogs on spirituality to include health-related blogs and products. I am excited at the new opportunities this will provide to reach people and transform lives, including our own. We plan to start with essential oils and Q-links, a product designed to help balance the body, but hope to move to other beneficial products in the future. I have also come up with some health-related book ideas that we will work on in the future as well. All of this will take effort, but that’s the key part of our 10-year plan–we have a vision of where we are headed, and are now taking active steps to get there.
While this may not seem like an extremely “spiritual” blog post, I believe that financial freedom is very spiritual. God is interested in freedom–after all, Jesus set us free just so we could be free (Galatians 5:1). I believe that this year will open up new opportunities, not just for us, but for you too if you are willing to step out and take some risks. I have talked with so many people this past year who are looking for new ways to make money, get out of debt, and many of them who want to try their hand at writing. This is just one of the many myriads of ways that God can use to bless you. I encourage you to take some time and list out your own ten-year plan.
Start by writing down all your dreams–there is no dream too big or too small. Write them all down! After you do that, organize them in a general order of when you want to accomplish them. Once you do that, start looking at the practical steps you need to take in the natural to get moving forward, look at the resources you need, and start praying over your plans. Pray in the resources and connections you need. Pray for wisdom and insight to accomplish your goals, and then get started! It is never too early nor too late to realize your dreams. For me, when I was 14 I had decided that I wanted to publish a book by the time I was 40–and I have put out 4 by the time I turned 33! I have decided that in the next ten years I want to be a millionaire–and not because I love money, but because I value financial independence and what it allows me to accomplish in my life. Your goals and dreams can be accomplished–sometimes you just need a plan, and that plan will only come together if you put it together! As the new year approaches and the old year fades, I encourage you to take some time to put a plan in place. Don’t just write resolutions–form strategies, join groups doing the same, and execute!
If you are looking to join with like-minded people who are forging ahead in their own life, there are many social media groups out there to help. Some of the ones I recommend on Facebook are:
For authors and writers, join The Time is Write and Just Write
For business owners, consider Dream Ventures
There are thousands of groups out there–you just need to find the ones that are right for you. Get connected and get moving, and have a blessed 2017!
Additionally, if you are looking to get started with a website and need web hosting, consider using my affiliate link to Siteground.
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