As we continue our series called How to Measure Success, today I will be talking about the second part: Success in Financial Goals.
Remember how we talked about how hard it is to find one simple way to measure success last week? Well, now we are going to look at money goals, and this is where things get really interesting.
Most people have some kind of money goal. Maybe you want to save more money, pay off debt, or buy something special. Money goals are actually one of the easiest goals to measure because we can count dollars and cents. We can see exactly how much we have and how much we need.
This can be really good when you reach your money goal, you feel amazing! But when you do not reach it, you might feel like you failed completely. The numbers do not lie, right? If you wanted to save $1000 but only saved $300, it feels like you did not succeed.
But here is the thing, we need to use the same thinking we learned about fitness. We need to focus more on the journey than just the final destination.
My Financial Destination
It was New Year’s Day, and I was sitting at my kitchen table with my calculator, notebook, and a cup of water. I had written down my biggest money goals for the year. I wanted to reduce my debt and grow my assets so my net worth would be much higher by December.
But there was one debt that kept me awake at night. You know the kind, the one that makes you cringe every time you see the monthly statement. This debt was like a heavy backpack that I carried everywhere. If I could just get rid of this one debt, everything would change. My monthly budget would breathe easier. My stress would melt away. My financial future would look completely different.
I had it all planned out. I knew exactly how much I needed to pay each month. I had calculated the timeline. I even had a celebration planned for when I would make that final payment.
But here is the reality, six months have passed, and that debt is still there. It is smaller than before, but not nearly as small as I had hoped. When I look at my bank account and see the current numbers, it feels like I failed my own test.
My Financial Journey
But wait, let me tell you what really happened during these six months, because the story is much more interesting than just looking at numbers.
First, I discovered something amazing, I have not added even one dollar to my debt pile. For someone who used to swipe credit cards without thinking twice, this is like a person who loves chocolate walking past a candy store every day without buying anything. This might not sound like much, but it is actually huge progress.
Second, I started making smart moves to grow my money. I began learning about investments, opened a savings account that earns interest, and even started thinking about ways to make extra income. These are all seeds that I am planting for my future.
But here is the most important part, I have become a completely different person when it comes to money. Six months ago, I would make money decisions based on how I felt in the moment. Now I ask myself questions like: “Is this a need or a want?” “Will this help me or hurt me in the long run?” “What would a financially smart person do?”
This change in my thinking is like having a new pair of glasses. Suddenly, I can see things clearly that I could not see before. I can spot bad money deals from a mile away. I can tell the difference between something that looks good and something that actually is good for my money.
Key Lesson: I have become more financially intelligent. Learning about money and how it works is just as valuable as having more money in the bank.
A book that has helped me along this journey, which I would highly recommend, is Increase Your Financial IQ by Robert Kiyosaki. This book taught me that being smart with money is more important than just having a lot of money.
The truth is, my goal to reduce debt got me started, but the daily choices to learn about money and avoid new debt are what actually changed my financial future.
Even though my bank account might not show the exact numbers I wanted, my brain now has knowledge that will help me make better money decisions for the rest of my life. And that knowledge is worth more than any amount of money.
Action Point
- Take a moment this weekend to think about one money goal you set for yourself this year. Instead of only looking at the final number, write down three things you learned about money or three good financial habits you started. Maybe you learned to budget better, or you stopped buying things you did not need, or you started reading about investing. Celebrate those wins, they are building your financial future!
 |
RightNow Media is packed with powerful financial education resources to help you grow your money skills and make smart decisions.
Interested? Just reply in comment below, and I will get you set up!
Remember, every small step toward better money habits is still progress, even if your bank account does not show it yet.