Throughout the course of our lives, what we do continuously determines the kind of person we will be … or are.
As Aristotle put it, “We are what we do continuously. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”
When we adopt unmeritorious behaviour, we’ll be setting ourselves up for a strenuous life ahead. Our acts not only affect us, but ultimately the people around us.
Poor decisions such as failing to invest for the future can cause financial hardship. In fact, many families don’t realise how bad it is until it’s too late.
The following steps can help you form useful habits, live a productive life and plan for the long term.
- Visualise your goal
What is your goal? Is it to become more financially responsible? Or to save more? Many people aim to create a financially stable future. This is your “Target Performance Goal”.
Define your TPG and imagine what it looks like – try to visualise yourself in this new position you want to achieve. You are not aspiring for master-level knowledge yet, so start from a modest position and climb up.
- Create a roadmap
When you know your goal, the next step is to outline a series of actions that will take you there. For example, if it is to improve your savings habit, identify needless activities that drive up your expenses and cut them off. It is also a wise decision to write down things that will help you become financially responsible;
- Setting aside 20% for savings as soon as you are paid/receive income
- Investing some in a healthy stock
- Cutting gambling expenses altogether
- Seeking additional income sources
- Future proofing your finances with insurance and a pre-paid funeral plan
At the end of a stipulated period, review your progress so far and determine how successful you’ve been.