Category Archives: Goals

Money Mission: Stop Procrastinating!

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Isn’t it amazing how fast we have sped through 2012? It seems like just yesterday we were making optimistic declarations about our plans for the new year. Now, there are only 60 days left until this eventful year becomes history. Looking back on the past 10 months, would you say you have accomplished your goals?

Many of our wishful resolutions are destined to remain unfulfilled. If we took the time at the beginning of the year to assess our needs, think about viable solutions to our problems, and write down firm declarations to better our lives, why have over 300 days gone by without us taking action? Why did we let distractions and discouragements keep us from our achievements?

The answer to this age-old problem will vary, as persons may have different issues that affect their levels of motivation. Despite the situations that may have held you back in the past, you can still make an effort to work on some of your unfinished targets. You can make the rest of the year really count by tackling one or two of your incomplete objectives. Continue reading Money Mission: Stop Procrastinating! →

A Fresh Financial Start

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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for; we are the change that we seek.” US President Barack Obama

Many people experience a sense of desperation when they think about their finances; past failures and present frustrations leave them feeling powerless about their financial future. With expenses increasing steadily, salaries depreciating with the dollar, and debt spiralling out of control, it’s no wonder so many persons are in distress.

Even if you are unhappy with your money history, it is very possible to “wheel and come again” as we say in Jamaica. Getting a fresh start with your finances begins with admitting your dissatisfaction with your situation and accepting that you may have made mistakes over the years which cost you dearly.

Once you have examined your past and present concerns, you need to decide that it’s time for a new beginning. As the quote from President Obama declares, change starts within; there is no one else out there who is going to miraculously fix your problems for you. Changing old habits can be challenging, so you have to be committed to continue with the course until complete. Continue reading A Fresh Financial Start →

New Beginnings

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If you have made a lot of mistakes in life, wouldn’t it wonderful to be able to wipe your slate clean and start anew? To be more technologically relevant, wouldn’t it be great to hit the delete button, remove the unwanted lines, and have a blank screen to create a different story?

I’m sure that there are many people who wish that they could change their financial history in this way.

The reality is that you’re stuck with your past whether it harbours good or bad money memories. There is no life eraser that will allow you to remove the errors of judgement that may have caused you to frivolously waste money, borrow too much, make unwise investments or overlook opportunities that could have brought you fulfilment and prosperity. Continue reading New Beginnings →

Going For Gold

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Jamaicans all across the world along with numerous friends of our nation are still celebrating the incredible success of our athletes at the recently concluded 2012 London Olympics. The infectious euphoria that was demonstrated by thousands of supporters from Half Way Tree, Jamaica, to Birmingham, England, was heartwarming to observe.

While we bask in the glory of winning 12 Olympic medals, we need to retain more than just a passing sense of pride from the achievements of our sports giants. There’s a lot that we can learn from their journey to the pinnacle of sporting competitions. Let’s look at how we can pattern their progress as we strive to attain our own personal and financial goals. Continue reading Going For Gold →

Achieving Impossible Dreams

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In my continuous search for solutions to various kinds of money problems over the past 10 years, I have read dozens of books about money success and goal accomplishment. I thought that I was aware of all the top gurus in these genres and that I had analysed and assimilated all of their expert advice.

It wasn’t until recently that I discovered that one of the foremost writers on personal and professional achievement had somehow escaped my scrutiny. Upon the recommendation of a good friend who praised the work of best-selling author Steven K. Scott, I decided to take a look at his work, Simple Steps to Impossible Dreams.

Any book that promised to reveal secrets known by the world’s most successful people would definitely arouse my interest, so I eagerly delved in to find out what Scott could teach me about achieving the impossible. From the very first chapter I realised that I had unearthed a treasure map that could outline the route to accomplishing my wildest aspirations. Continue reading Achieving Impossible Dreams →

Avoiding the Rat Trap in your Finances

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“Rats close down Kingston high school.” This shocking headline continued into a revealing report of how rodents were running rampant at the 100-year-old institution. Despite their best efforts at pest control, the situation had deteriorated to the point where school officials were forced to temporarily suspend classes to effectively eradicate the problem.

As I read the unfortunate story of rats gone wild, my first thoughts were “How are these boys ever going to live this one down?” Knowing the fierce rivalry that exists among secondary schools in Jamaica, I had painful images of the merciless teasing and cruel rat references that were about to be unleashed upon the hapless students.

I thought no more about this incident until recently when I saw a television programme highlighting what the students had done to overcome their situation. Instead of being embarrassed by their rodent visitors, they had embraced them and practically turned them into school mascots. They had even created buttons with cute rat cartoon figures and were proudly wearing them. Continue reading Avoiding the Rat Trap in your Finances →

How To Achieve Your Money Goals

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Our 2012 Money Manifesto includes a declaration on setting goals, which is an integral part of attaining financial success. It becomes much easier to make the right decisions with money when you’re focused on what you want to accomplish in the future.

Many people never achieve their full potential in life because they don’t take the time to create goals for themselves.

Let’s examine some simple do’s and don’ts that can help you to achieve your money goals: Continue reading How To Achieve Your Money Goals →

Make 2012 Your Best Year Ever

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At the beginning of a new year most people choose to reflect on the past and make resolutions for things they would like to accomplish going forward. However, despite their grand ideas and hopeful wishes, all too often, the days, weeks and months slip by without any progress being made towards actualising their goals.

Although they may have a good picture of the end result that they want to attain, many people fail to prosper because they really don’t know how to create and carry out an action plan that works.

Success is not achieved by a swift arrival at a desired destination; it’s the cumulative result of taking consistent, tiny steps that are headed in the right direction.

Continue reading Make 2012 Your Best Year Ever →

Money Manifesto for 2012

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As many Jamaicans go to the polls today to select the party, people and policies of their choice, I thought that I would create a ‘Money Manifesto’ containing all the financially smart steps that can help you to shape a prosperous future for 2012 and beyond.

The 12 points shared below represent the essential areas that you should follow if you wish to become financially successful.

1. I will make financial education my priority.

I will invest in my own personal development by seeking to learn more about money. I will endeavour to read or listen to good financial advice every single day, as I recognise that most of the solutions to my money problems can be found in other people’s experiences in books and CDs. Continue reading Money Manifesto for 2012 →

Financial success may be easier than you think

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Last week’s column which looked at several ways in which we sabotage our financial future by delaying important activities seems to have hit home with many readers. The quote ‘procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin’ certainly rings true when it comes to our finances. Recently, I had yet another occasion to reflect on the dynamic relationship between time and money.

It was late Saturday afternoon when I received information that a family friend was coming to visit for a few days and would be arriving in less than three hours. In full-fledged panic mode, I thought about all the things that needed to be accomplished before I would be comfortable with having a guest stay in my house.

As I have acknowledged many times, procrastination has unfortunately been one of my more challenging vices. True to form, I had put off many little household tasks that could easily be ignored by my family alone; but with a visitor almost on my doorstep, these now became critical to my desire to be a successful and sociable host. Continue reading Financial success may be easier than you think →