I read an article about Roger Federer recently. He was being interviewed as a follow up to his win in the Australian Open, and he admitted that the thought of retiring while on a high had crossed his mind in the immediate aftermath.
What caught my attention though was another comment.
He was staying with his family in their holiday chalet in the Swiss mountains, so his family could enjoy the snow and go skiing.
But Roger would not join them.
He said he was not prepared to risk an accident on the ski slopes that could mean an end to his career.
Now I don’t know Roger, but he seems to enjoy doing things with his family, so I’m sure he would love to go skiing with them. But he recognises the risk that represents to him being able to achieve other goals, and so he is willing to defer that for the time being.
It’s a reminder that we really can’t have it all, and in order to achieve those things that are most important to us we have to forgo something else.
For me to achieve my running goals, that generally means getting up before 5am so I can get my training in and get back to help the kids to school and me off to work.
To achieve our financial goals means we choose not to buy a lot of stuff because we would rather enjoy experiences.
This is a deliberate choice that we have made.
What are the things that are really important to you, and what are you giving up to get them?
If you don’t know the answer to these questions, you need to stop and think again, because you have made a decision by default and you will likely be disappointed with one of the outcomes.
Want some help to work out your priorities and achieve your big goals? Download our free Live Your Dream Toolkit today.
