“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
Colin Powell
The fast pace of life has made it easy for us to feel like, all we need to do each time we don’t like the results we get, it to snap our fingers and things will sort themselves out. Social Media with all its filters does not help! Lets take the weight loss journey for instance, it may take you to 3 to 6 months to shed off extra weight, but when you share it on social media, it is summarised in a one minute clip! You and I know that success in anything worthwhile requires hard work and commitment. In other words, we must put in effort and time to get the results we desire. Let’s discuss some things that i have tried that have helped me and set me up for success.
1. Simplify your life
Use Routines. This will give you the discipline you need to succeed. Routines ensure that the important things get done. The more Military style precise the routine the better. And I know as a fully grown adult the last thing you want is to be chained to a routine but believe me the more predictable your day-to-day activity, the less time you have to waste in making decisions on what to do from time to time. We run away from routines for fear that is “boxes in” our freedom, while forgetting at the heart of it, humans, are very habit oriented. So more or less you do follow a predictable pattern in your life, how about you do it consciously and intentionally.
2. Automate your life
Automating your processes has never been easier than in this digital age. From banking transactions and emails, to documents being uploaded and dealt with through our phones. So as much as possible automate your financial transactions. Because you and I know willpower can only take you so far and then you stop saving for all that important goal, because there is always an “urgent” issue coming up and you have to divert the money. When you automate you won’t have “extra” amounts to divert.
3.Eliminate from your life
Eliminate clutter from your life. Those things don’t make you better nor do they bring you joy, but you do them because you said yes when someone asked you for a favor. Learn to say no. And with no, you do not need to give explanations. Learn to say no to time stealing activities, and mindless money spending habits. Stop buying things to impress people who really do not care. Saying No, will allow you to focus your time and resources on things that matter to you.
4. Delegate
As much as possible have someone else take over the things that they do best. And when you delegate, please don’t micromanage. Delegating frees you up to do the things that you truly love and are gifted in doing. I see this problem with business owners, where we tend to be the all-in-all for our companies. The trouble is, while you may be good as a strategist and marketer, you may struggle with the techie side of the business. Get someone to help you, at the very least it will preserve your sanity, trust me. I should know!
5. Ask For Help
This ties in with delegation, but it is slightly different, in that you request help for the things you love to do because it can get overwhelming sometimes. Contrary to popular opinion it is not a sign of weakness to as for help, it is a sign of courage. You recognize your bandwidth and when you reach your limit, ask for assistance.
6. Educate yourself
Do not invest blindly. Let me repeat that for the people at the back, educate yourself! The internet has made it easy to access information. Sieve the information based on its credibility. Research and take your time to learn about different investments and different markets. Invest only when you are comfortable. My thoughts are an investment strategy once put in motion should be as boring as watching paint dry. It should not be a cause of constant stomach palpitations and high blood pressure.
7. Get good habits
As you eliminate your bad habits, get some good ones, and fit them into your routine. Investing as with anything worthwhile requires patience and good preparation. You want to be ready for the next market cycle so get into the habit of reading. If you want to be the next millionaire, start connecting with the right people. Live below your means, save and invest responsibly. Hang out with friends who draw out the best version of you.
There you have it, some quick simple fixes to help you reset yourself for financial success. Mind you, nobody is saying that they are easy fixes, there is definitely work to be done. The reset will put you on a path to success, provided you work it. Also, what did you do to get out of a financial mess, what worked for you? Let’s chat in the comment section below about how it is going for you.
As always, I am rooting for your success!