I hope you are enjoying this little series. As I was typing yesterday, I almost stopped and put it off because I was having a hard time concentrating. The noise level and my frustration were going up, up , up, but I knew that if I didn’t push through, that would be the end of it, and I have several more things to say. But before I do that, I need to let you know what got me fired up, because that’s the focus of today’s post: Financial Goals. I have managed to get myself in a little financial bind, and it was because I wasn’t paying attention–I didn’t keep myself focused on my ultimate financial goal of being prepared. We’ll get out of the mess, but I’ll have to tighten up until I feel the pinch more than a little. I knew all along where I wanted to be, but I didn’t create a plan to get there. I didn’t take the necessary steps to move it from a nice idea to a reality.

That’s why I thought it was pretty serendipitous when I had a chance to review Live in the 2. I took the short test there, and even without looking at the results, I thought I saw where a lot of my issues come from–lack of follow through. (And for the record, in the interests o honesty, this applies to way more than financial matters for me.) Here’s what the test revealed about me and discipline:

According to your responses, it’s probably safe to say that you couldn’t be more out of balance if you planned it – which we both know you never would. You try your best to keep things together, but if just never seems to be enough. If only there were a solution! Think about how much better life would be if you could learn the secret to this art called discipline.

Oh, how I would love to say “Well, I never knew that”, but the simple truth is that I did know it. I just haven’t been disciplined enough to do anything about it. When I told you that life had spiraled out of control, I was dead serious. I did much better in the Passion and Risk categories, but this tidbit from the Interpersonal Skills area blew me away–I’ve bolded the shocker.

You’ve got a pretty good attitude about life, and while others view you as positive and approachable, you require time away from people. You prefer to surround yourself with quality rather than quantity.

See, I already knew that about myself, but it’s something most people don’t realize about me (particularly my family) and so it was shocking to me to see that this 5 minute computerized test picked up on it. Now I at least know that it isn’t because I am not giving off the appropriate signals, but rather that people around me refuse to read them. But I am getting sidetracked–see the part about discipline above.

I am glad I took the test. As I continue on the self improvement path, I expect I’ll be referring back to it often. Living in the 2 is about so much more than money. In fact, money is just a tool– the real benefits come form better health, less stress, more edifying self talk, etc.

Go take the test. We both know that in the end, they want you to buy their self improvement materials. I can’t speak to the efficacy of the materials as I haven’t reviewed hem. I can tell you that the test is worth investing 5 minutes in, and that the fact that they want to sell you something doesn’t negate the wisdom you can gain from looking at your results. In fact, I imagine I’ll be using some of the things I’ve learned as I write this series.

Now, I have to put this little badge in here, even though it embarrasses me to do so. I always feel like it’s a big ol’ sign that says “ignore this post”. I really, really hope you won’t do that. If you roll over it with your mouse, it’s gonna pop up and tell you I got paid for writing this post. That’s not entirely true. In the interests of full disclosure, I will get paid for 200 of them but the other 566 were free.

Technorati Tags: goals, goal setting

Yesterday, I touched on goals, so if you missed that, you may want to back up and read it. I mentioned Nero and laundry and began to differentiate the difference between goals and the steps we take to achieve them. My own tendency is to over-focus on the steps, kinda like not being able to see the forest for the trees. I need to write down the large goals and also the steps, otherwise, I forget where I was going when I began the journey, and I began to meander aimlessly, distracted by various rabbits, once the first step is achieved.

Imagine for a minute the difference between paper planes and RC airplanes. They both do the same thing, fly through the air, but I think we will all admit that the one with electric power and a guidance system does the job better. Goals are like that difference to us, they provide the power and steering for our flight through life. You can meander around crashing into various objects until your nose is all bent out of shape (yep, I meant that the idiomatic way), sailing only for short un-controlled bursts, OR you can set a reasonable course and engage in a controlled flight plan in order to get there.

So, let me challenge you: Today, think about where you want to be this time next year. Or what you want to do. Or have. I’m talking about the big things: I want to go to Europe for a month, I want to make a quilt, I want to build an extension on my home, I want to have my bills paid off. These are big things that take many small steps. And after you think about the big things, think about the steps it will take to get there. And write them down.

Okay, my time is about up, but I am not done. I guess that means we’ll be having a part 3. 🙂

If you are in the market for electronics, do your pocketbook a favor, and check out TechPalooza before you buy somewhere else. This company used to be called Technology Paradise Corporation. They’re just over a year old, and to celebrate, they are offering free shipping. They’ve got some good deals to, from computer products to digital cameras and they are priced competitively, and they are fast. Most orders ship the same day they are placed.

They carry software and consumer electronics (think big tvs, yo!), too. And if I had the money to spend on it, I’d be ordering on the things I just told you to think about.

I was reading today about Online Lab Tests. When I first saw it, I thought, well how can that work, because you have to get the blood drawn somewhere, right? So, being of a curious mind, I had to check that out, because in my mind, it was going to be impossible to get any place to draw blood without a doctor’s order, and then you’d have the cost of the doctor’s visit, the cost of the draw, and then the cost of the test, and how was this supposed to save me money? I was thinking inside the box. What I found out surprised me, and since it will save money, I thought you might be interested.

With Online Lab Tests, your cost includes the doctor’s order. You just find a lab in your area (you search right on the site). pick the test you need, and order it. They email or fax your requisition to you, and that’s your “doctor’s order”. When your test is complete, they email you a link to view your results. That means your private results remain private–you decide who knows what about you and when. Whether you need a cholesterol test to see if your dietary changes are having the desired effect, or you want to find out if you inherited a family health issue, private med labs may be the way to go. It’s also an effective way to get baseline results. If you know what’s normal for a healthy you, you can help your doctor figure out what’s going on when things go awry.

Anyway, that’s what I learned today already. And, shoot, it’s only 9:30!

Navtej Kohli has been gracious enough to sponsor a post about my favorite charity. In fact, he‘s sponsored several across my different blogs, and I’ll be highlighting a different charity for each sponsorship. I thought I had used up all his largess, but he surprised me with two more chances yesterday! I’m certain that this one is the last, though.

I’m pleased to introduce you to New Directions. This Burlington, North Carolina based charity has been rated four stars by Charity Navigators, it’s leaders are drawing reasonable salaries, and your money will go where you meant to send it. NDI is a missions and relief organization that actively connects individuals and churches with the work of missions. They adhere to a three prong method: Evangelism and Discipleship, Aid and Relief, and Community Development. You cannot teach folks about eternal life if their physical lives are in jeopardy from lack of basic necessities, so I am appreciative of ministries that help people in very practical ways. Even Jesus said that if you tell a hungry man to “be filled” but don’t give him any food, you haven’t really helped him. It’s the same with basic clothing and shelter. I also think that the best way to help people is to teach them to help themselves, so I like the way NDI focuses on communities. It’s the old concept of giving a fish versus teaching someone to fish.

I want to thank Navtej for the opportunity to talk about another organization that’s making a difference for people by spreading the “Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”

When I rode to Carowinds with Pastor’s daughter last weekend, we talked for awhile about the missions trips she had been on. She worked with an outfit whose name I cannot remember, but they put together work teams to go to different countries. The teens do actual building while they are on their missions trips. She’s been to Scotland and France, and has wonderful memories of both people and places. She did tell me that boot camp, as the initial training is called, was not particularly fun, though. Of course, I think she was probably right. Living in a tent in Florida in the middle of the summer is just NOT my idea of a good time, but she says its worth it, so I’ll have to believe her. She said that in order to save money, the kids actually haul most of their food with them on their flights! They take very few things with them in order to have room left in their luggage to do this.

I don’t know how the travel was arranged for them, but it was Carrie’s trips that came to mind when I saw Golden Rule Travel today. They specialize in missions flights and adoption travel. Of course, you know the Golden Rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, but you might not recognize the reference to going the second mile. In New Testament times, any Roman soldier could command a Jew to walk with him for one mile, carrying his burdens. Jesus told the people that if they were compelled to walk one mile, to walk with the soldier for two. I imagine it wasn’t a popular speech, since it also included the gems about turning the other cheek, and giving up a cloak as well as a coat. It’s from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5. The thing about missions travel is that missionaries are not usually paid, not in the sense most people think of, collecting a weekly check. They usually have to raise the funds they need to get to their destination and support themselves while they are there, and the travel is usually the largest part of the financial burden. When Golden Rule Travel says they are going the second mile, they mean they aren’t just finding you a good deal, they are finding you the very best deal. They are helping you spend God’s money wisely. And then they are standing by to make sure your travel goes off as smoothly as possible, with 24/7 emergency service. I’ve read the testimonials on the site, and I was pretty impressed. I think you will be, too.

This software bundle is too cool to keep to myself. I will be totally honest and tell you I am not using it at this time, though. The reason is that my computer is still new enough that all my trial stuff is still working. However, when those expire, I hope I remember that I made this post, so I can come back and find it (you do know I use my blogs as vast information storage devices for myself, right???).

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