You are probably aware that I run a bit.
Now, while I’m going to talk a little bit about running, there is a larger point I want to make - so please stick with it.
I’ve been training for the past 6 months for the Melbourne Marathon which was held two Sunday’s ago.
There is a specific goal I’ve been targeting now (for the last couple of years actually), and the lure of that keeps pulling me along.
I’ve done every training session my coach has set for me, and on top of that have been working on my core strength and flexibility.
The result of all of this training is that I am in really good shape.
My coach and my training partners were all positive that I was primed to achieve my goal.
In the week before the race though, the weather forecast turned against me. While the outlook was for great spectating weather, it looked like being a little warm for my liking.
And so it turned out to be on the day.
I probably should have been more respectful of the weather, knowing the impact it has had on me in previous marathons. I probably should have dialled back my expectations a little. Running just 5% slower over 42.2km would be significantly easier.
But I’d been working towards this for 6 months, logging over 2,000km in training - and this was my only chance this year.
I was fit, I’d had no injuries, and was not suffering an illness.
So in the end, I crossed my fingers and went for it.
Now, as you may be guessing from my tone, things didn’t quite work out the way I’d hoped - in fact, things got a little ugly towards the end (nothing serious, but I cramped up and had to stop running a couple of times). I made it though.
Now, I went into the race knowing that everything would have to go right for me to hit my goal. The goal is right at the very limit of my abilities, and when you are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, it is not always going to work out as you’d like.
But that is part of the attraction too, because when it does all come together it is a magical feeling.
So what does this have to do with you?
You have the opportunity to make similar choices with your finances.
Your savings and investments (both current and future) are the resources available to you to chase your goals.
But what you can never sure of is what the conditions will be like for you.
If your goal is a big one (like retiring and maintaining your lifestyle), you’ll only get one shot at it.
Only you can know what is most important to you.
Do you want to push the limits of what is possible, chasing your dreams and goals, but knowing that unless the stars all align you are unlikely to be able to maintain that pace until the end?
Or, would you rather understand where your potential limits are and adjust your goals so they fall comfortably within these limits? This would mean you can be confident of reaching the end in good shape.
Once you have decided the approach you want to take, you need to know where the limits are. To understand this, you need to have good information.
This is where the value of the financial modelling we undertake for you, is evident.
If you would like to reassess your current financial fitness and the relationship of this to your goals, please Click Here and arrange a time to talk.
