The last 6 months has repeatedly smacked me in the face with the message that life is short.
In this time, I’ve been to the funerals of two clients and have had 4 clients diagnosed with serious health issues – 3 cancer diagnoses and 1 brain tumour. In addition to this I’ve had a couple of friends who have received cancer diagnoses.
Clearly demography is working against us, and as we get older this is bound to happen more frequently.
What this has uncovered for me is that my biggest concern is that when you reach your last day on this earth you aren’t lying there thinking ‘I’ve got all of this money in the bank, but I wish I had done X’.
In my profession e spend a lot of time focussing on people’s longer term plans. With the need to ensure you have enough money to live the life you would like when you are no longer working, this is of vital importance. We have become much better at this too, and the planning is much more detailed and better able to demonstrate what is needed for you to achieve financial security.
In spending more time looking far into the future though, there is a danger that not enough attention is paid to your shorter term goals. In particular I’m talking about your ‘Bucket List’ items, the things that you are passionate about and which are the real reason you go to work.
Some of the plans I know my clients are currently working towards include:
- Exploring the Inca Trail in South America
- Living in Provence for 2 months
- Dining at the French Laundry (if like me you hadn’t heard of it, click here)
- Going on safari in Africa
- Running the Pyongyang marathon (and no, that is not on my list!)
- Completing the Great North Walk from Sydney to Newcastle
- Publishing a novel
- Paying for a daughter’s wedding
- Helping a son buy their first property
- Paying off the mortgage so debt free
These plans excite me too, and I love hearing about them and seeing them come to fruition.
I want you to think about this: what is really important to you in the next 12 months and the next 3 years? What are the plans that really excite you?
What do you need to do this month to achieve this?
Let’s all ensure we don’t die wondering.
Want some help to work out your priorities and achieve your big goals? Download our free Live Your Dream Toolkit today.
