Good morning & happy Monday!
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”
– Albert Einstein
Now that the school year has started and routine returns to the lives of those of us raising children (and you, amazing grandparents, who play such a vital role in your grandkids’ lives), I am struck by how quickly life passes and how easy it is to miss the joys along the journey.
I was one of those kids who couldn’t wait to grow up.
I know this is going to come as quite a shocker, but I was not super popular in school (I can sense your snickering 😉). I viewed school as a means to an end. I had to go to school in order to get my diploma so I could start life. I didn’t do extracurricular activities, I didn’t play sports, I didn’t stay after school for spirit day. I approached it like a job I didn’t enjoy … I came and I went, and I was done.
I couldn’t wait to start making money, so I got my first job at age 15 and I’ve been working ever since. I enjoyed working and was always driven by goals. I had 3 major financial goals as a young man:
- To graduate high school with $10,000 in the bank
- To graduate college with no student loan debt paying my own way
- To have my mortgage paid off by the age of 30
I have been blessed to have accomplished all 3 of those objectives. It took hard work, dedication, and discipline, but I’m quite convinced that none of them would have happened had I not first clearly stated the goals years before they came to fruition.
As Bill Gates stated, “Setting clear goals and finding measures that will mark progress toward them can improve the human condition.”
Goal setting and then putting in the work necessary to achieve the goals was always something that I enjoyed. I love a challenge.
Where I failed oftentimes was enjoying the journey along the way.
I could have had a much better time in high school and college had I not sneaked in just before attendance was taken and ran out of the door the moment the bell rang. Did I rip myself off by not being more engaged in the social aspects of my education?
Please do not misunderstand me, I am by no means complaining, but as I age, I am becoming increasingly aware of the importance of enjoying the journey and not just rushing to the destination. Life is short.
As many of you know, I love to travel. I travel almost every opportunity I get. I also enjoy planning the trip. What new opportunity can I experience? What new place can I explore? What hidden gem can I discover?
But here’s what’s so interesting. When we gather around the Thanksgiving table and talk about fun memories, it’s not usually about the things that went according to plan, it’s far more frequent to discuss when things got derailed.
The time it rained every day of a trip to Costa Rica … rain hitting your face while zip lining is memorable. 😉 The time I made a wrong turn in Jamaica and ended up in a sketchy part of town during a street rave party instead of the all-inclusive resort. The RV poop story in Alaska … I’ll spare you the details. 😉
These are the stories we laugh about, the memories we end up cherishing.
Those of us, like myself, can be guilty of running so hard we miss the beauty all around us because we are running so hard it’s all blurry.
On the other hand, there are those amongst us who do a great job of enjoying the journey but might struggle a bit when it comes to goal setting.
If you are a married couple, then it’s likely that one of you is wired one way and the other wired the other way (opposites attract 😊).
So, as the school year begins, and we look forward to the future, may I respectfully challenge us on two fronts:
- Set meaningful goals to a better future – write them down and put them somewhere you can see them frequently
- Enjoy the journey along the way – realize it’s not just only about the destination, but the stories along the passage
What a joy it is for me to be a part of your journey. I am humbled and honored that you have chosen my team and I to be advisors along the path. A bright future awaits. Let us know anything we can do to support you.
Make it a great week ahead.