Perseverance and dedication to improvement can help you achieve your goals in nearly every area of your life.
perseverance noun
per·se·ver·ance /ˌpərsəˈvirəns/
Definition: persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
Used in a Sentence: Her perseverance with the technique illustrates her single-mindedness.
I am sure at this point writing about perseverance with financial planning has been overdone, but I’m hoping to shine some light on my perspective. Pictured below is what I think about when it comes to perseverance: me hitting a golf ball. And yes, me looking for that same ball just a few seconds later!
Don’t get me wrong, I love to golf, mostly to see what each course looks like across the country/world. I’m not very good, but when you hit that one great shot you just hope for more. It’s what brings you back to the course the next time. Can you relate?!
Though I may not be the best golfer, I set goals to persevere through. I keep track of my GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information Network) score with complete and total honesty, no matter how bad or good it is, and I make sure I improve each year I play.
It’s also important to set achievable goals. Did you know that according to a study in Inc. Magazine from Feb. 28, 2018, writing down your goals each year gives you a 42% better chance of actually reaching them? Additionally, to help me stick to my goals, I have an accountability partner, and we discuss our goals around December of each year. As part of our accountability sessions, we make promises to each other to have those goals written down by January. We then check on each other every two weeks to make sure we’re holding up our end of the bargain. Who is your accountability partner for your goals? Even if you don’t have one, why not hold yourself accountable and write something down?
When I meet with my clients, I usually become their accountability partner, and we start by making a list of things to do over the course of a year’s time. We might meet once per year, twice per year or even quarterly, all to make sure that we’re on track to meet those objectives.
Persevering through the stages of financial planning is much like all those golf courses I have visited and hope to visit in the future. The harder I chase my goals, the more improvement I see as I get closer to finishing each 18-hole course. Financial planning should work the same way for my clients.
I’m ready to become your accountability partner with your financial and retirement plans. Let’s make a list of your goals and see where it takes us!
