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We all dream. And our dreams tell the world - and ourselves - who we really are.
A lot of us obviously dream of financial independence. Others of traveling the world. Or learning to play the piano. Retiring to the country. Raising money for cancer research. Becoming an expert on wine. Writing that novel. Learning to speak Spanish.
Of course, if you aren't pursuing your dreams, the real question is what's stopping you?
For many of us, it is a lack of specificity… and a deadline. Our thinking is too vague. What we need are realistic, well-articulated goals. Dreams with deadlines.
For example, "I want a comfortable retirement" is a wish. "I want to have a £2 million net worth on my 65th birthday" is a goal.
"I'd like to do something for charity" may be a heartfelt desire. But "I want to raise £30,000 for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society by December 31st" is a definite end.
Goals give your life meaning and direction. They focus your time and energy. They shape and set your priorities, giving you a reason to get up in the morning.
Without them, we tend to drift. Millions of us have fallen into a largely meaningless cycle of eating, sleeping, working and watching TV. After a while, a sort of bored existence sets in.
But when you have a goal that inspires you - whether it's traveling to the Arctic, reading the world's great books or swimming with dolphins - you feel motivated. Goals are empowering. You know exactly what you want and the idea of attaining it energizes you.
As the English novelist Charles Kingsley observed, "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about."
Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau agreed. He said, "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours."
Of course, setting goals and achieving them are two different things.
A few years ago, I came across an article by author Michael Masterson titled "How to Accomplish All Your Most Important Goals… Without Fail."
Here, essentially, is what he said:
1. Take out a sheet of paper. Title it "Life's Goals" (if you have no shame) or "Stuff to Do Before I Fall Off The Perch" (if you are afraid someone will see it).
2. Now make a list of everything you want to accomplish.
3. Narrow your list down to four main goals. Think in terms of a long-term wealth-building goal, a long-term health goal, a long-term personal-relationship goal, and a long-term personal growth and development goal. These are your top priorities, your bottom-line objectives.
4. Convert each of these into annual goals and then break them down further into manageable, bite-sized weekly objectives.
5. Once a week, spend one hour establishing your priorities for the next seven days.
6. Finally, spend about 30 minutes each morning organizing your day around them.
His approach is straightforward: Dream it. Plan it. Do it.
Of course, some of us never make an concerted attempt to achieve our goals for a single unspoken reason: fear of failure. Yet there is much to be gained in pursuing your dreams, whether you ultimately achieve them or not.
So follow Thoreau's advice and go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Take action. Live the life that you've imagined.
As Mark Twain observed, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
One of the best things you can do for yourself before investing in property is to ask yourself WHY you are doing it? What is you GOAL? Without a goal, you have nothing to aim for.
If you have to make a decision in life, or indeed property, ask yourself "will doing this take me closer to realising my goal?". This will help focus your mind and help you make the right choices.
If you are already investing, when reviewing your portfolio, think about if it is helping you move closer towards your goals? I know from my own experience that it is very easy to go off at tangents!
For my part, it is my dream to own a yacht and go sailing round the world with my husband visiting all the places on my long list. I want to become a master sailor and challenge myself every day. I love sailing and love being on the water. There is nothing more peaceful than sailing across a flat and deserted ocean with only dolphins for company! I also want to share my success with my family and friends. I have a little nephew and neice who I want to provide for, both in terms of their education and future lives.
Perhaps others would like to share with us here why they got involved in property? How do you intend to realise your dreams? If you have already achieved your dream lifestyle through property investment, why not share your story with us all to inspire us ... ?
Shortly before he committed suicide in 1988, the famous "Carry On" actor Kenneth Williams wrote in his diary "What's the bloody point?". May be part of his problem was that he didn't have one?
Why not share with us here you dreams and goals and what motivates you? We live in a world of abundance for those who choose to look for it, so dare to dream! Think big and take MASSIVE action.
Vanessa Warwick
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