How Will You Improve Your Financial Situation in 2015?

It doesn’t matter where you are now. All that matters is what you do next.

I know that there’s at least one thing about your financial situation that you would like to improve. There are probably several of them. And with a new year almost here, it’s a great time to think about making those improvements.

But where do you start? With so many financial responsibilities on your plate, so many things you would like to improve, how should you decide what to do first? What next step will do the most to move you in the right direction?

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post meant to help you answer that exact question. It laid out an order of operations for your financial priorities, with the goal of helping you figure out where to start.

Since that post went live, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback on it. Some people thought it was incredibly helpful. Some weren’t sure they agreed. Others wondered whether certain priorities on that list were relevant to their specific situation.

And you know what? I love the feedback! Whether you agree or disagree, what I love most of all is that we’re talking about it.

Because the truth is that there is no “answer”. There is no one way to do things. Everyone is going to have a different approach, and what really matters is that you figure out what feels right to you and then take action.

One way or another, you have to take that next step that gets you moving in the right direction.

The trap of too many priorities

Still, that’s all easier said than done. Even if you decide on that one most important financial responsibility, and even if you feel good about that decision, focusing your energy on that one thing is going to make you feel like you’re neglecting other important things.

I feel it myself all of the time. I know that what I’m working on is important, but I can’t help but think about the 100 other things I could be working on that also feel important. I get anxious that I’m not making progress on those other things, and before I know it I’m spending “just a little bit of time” on those other things to calm my nerves.

Meanwhile, that one thing I made my top priority sits there unfinished, still on the “to do” list, waiting for the next time I decide that it’s important.

It’s a vicious cycle, but it’s one that we all fall into. We feel productive hopping from one thing to the next, spending a little bit of time on a lot of different things, without really seeing any of them through.

When everything feels like a priority, nothing ever gets treated like one.

How I keep myself focused

You know what single thing has helped me not only prioritize, but actually follow through on those priorities?

Accountability.

I have two calls every week with people I trust, and on those calls we do four things that help me make progress on my biggest goals:

1. We talk about all the different things I COULD be prioritizing.
2. Together, we decide on the 1-2 things I WILL prioritize.
3. I set specific goals for how I will make progress on those 1-2 things before the next week’s call.
4. On that next call, I have to report on whether or not I accomplished those goals.

More often than not, that accountability forces me to focus. I can still work on other things if I have the time, but I know that if I don’t accomplish what I said I would, I’ll have to report on that failure during my next call.

I’d rather save face, so I focus and get things done.

Let’s make 2015 the year you find your focus

I don’t go it alone and you shouldn’t have to either. So I’d like to give you a FREE way to get the same kind of help I get.

On December 18 I will be hosting a live webinar where I’ll be doing the following three things:

1. Sharing my thoughts on what financial goals to prioritize next.
2. Walking through some specific actions you can take to make those goals a reality.
3. Answering reader questions so that we can work together through some real-life situations that real people are dealing with.

My goal is to give you the answers you need to set the right goals for 2015 and start improving your financial situation.

I’ll be doing the webinar live, but I will also be recording it so that even if you can’t make it, you can come back and watch it later. To reserve your spot, and to make sure you have access to the recorded version, click the button below:

When you sign up, you’ll get a confirmation email with an invitation to ask specific questions about your personal financial situation. I’ll answer as many as I can during the live webinar, but if yours doesn’t make it in I promise to follow-up with you individually. One way or another, you’ll get an answer.

I’m excited about this topic because not knowing where to start is often the thing that keeps people from making improvements. And I’m especially excited to get your questions and answer them live, since I know that real life is always more complicated than some generic list.

If you’re ready to improve your financial situation, join me as we work together to take that next step. Can’t wait to see you there!