It's the time of the year when families are more likely to plan for their financial future. It's never too late to get a real written plan in place - but there are two important steps that must happen first. Very few individuals and families have a written financial plan. Even fewer have active plans being implemented on an ongoing basis. Why? They are not inspired; they are not starting with why. Next missing item - goals. Can't plan if you don't what you're planning for! Know anyone who has there tangible financial goals in writing - name, date(s), amount(s)?
It is difficult if not impossible for any human being to stay focused on a long term journey without inspiration. We are not robots. When it comes to financial planning, you need to know your "why". Numbers alone do not inspire - in fact they often don't even register.
What matters is what's most important to you - your "why", your values.
Thus the title of this blog including "blah, blah, blah". Once you're inspired with your "why" - the rest is almost just noise. If your financial service provider does not start with a process that puts your "why" in writing- then their process is flawed - it's as simple as that.
Simon Sinek, a respected speaker on business leadership, speaks to the concept from the point of view of business. This concept translates very well to personal goals from business goals. One of my favorites when speaking to why, Mr. Sinek says, "By why, I mean what is your purpose, what is your cause, what is your belief? Why do you get up in the morning?"
At this link, you can watch a 5 minute excerpt of an 18 minute talk by Simon Sinek on "start with why". Though this talk is about business - you can easily see that this applies to inspired financial planning.
At this link you can find a 3 minute talk by Mr. Sinek on how he came up with this concept and talks about his campaign to help business leaders put their why into writing and run their businesses in a more inspired way.