by David B. Bohl
Ever hear the old saying: “If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know how to get there?” Well, that saying is just as relevant today as it’s always been…particularly in terms of life balance.
Regardless of how powerless you may feel at the moment, you have the ability to define what the rest of your life will look like. Change may not happen overnight, but it can definitely happen in increments.
And it will never happen unless you consciously choose it, set goals, and take steps. It starts with self-assessment.
How do you get ahead in life? Well, that depends on where you want to go. You wouldn’t start off on vacation by driving aimlessly, picking roads because they feel right, would you?
No, you’d pick your destination for your vacation first, then plan how to get there. And that’s how we move ahead in life, too—by deciding where we want to go by setting goals.
And in order to live a well-balanced life you need goals for all the many roles you play in life:
Career — these goals give us the opportunity to earn a living, express who we are, and develop our full potential.
Family — these goals give us the chance to show love, take on responsibility, share responsibility, and make a positive contribution to society.
Spirituality — these goals give us the chance to tap into power that is much greater than our own and that provides a source of inspiration and strength. From this, we gain morals and a sense of wonder and awe at the whole of creation.
Friends — these goals give you the chance to share, to care, and to bare your soul and bond with people you like.
Solitude — these goals earmark quiet time for your to recharge your batteries, calm yourself, rest up, and make plans.
Developmental — these are your goals that allow you to improve your emotional and intellectual development. Self-improvement is the name of the game here.
Financial — these goals allow you to plan for and buy a new car, a new boat, a great new home, a fun family vacation, retirement income, or anything else you want…or to achieve financial freedom so that you needn’t work for others. You can also set a financial goal to retire early if you like.
Leisure — these goals exist to make sure you don’t burn out. By making time for recreation, you restore your health. This category includes fun activities that help you blow off steam and give you chances to socialize, meet new friends, and develop new skills.
Health — these goals should never by neglected by entrepreneurs, but too often they are. If you’re not physically healthy, your brain function suffers, and your spirits sag. Therefore, you need to set goals for your diet, exercise, resistance training, and sufficient sleep.
David B. Bohl has these suggestions:
Set aside 30 minutes to write down what you want your life to look like in 5 years, in 10 years, in 15 years, and in 25 years.
Write down your goals for each of the categories above.
Refine your goals so that you set up mini-goals for each year, month, and week.
