I've been thinking a lot lately about goals and came across a great article by Jonathan Clements over at the WSJ about reasons for saving and managing money effectively. It's a nice read and reminder to help keep things in perspective. In the article, Clements cites three reasons for saving and investing:
- If you have money, you don't have to worry about it.
- Money can give you the freedom to pursue your passions.
- Money can buy you time with friends and family.
If you don't have something you are striving for financially, it is easier to lose sight of the big picture and then becomes harder to maintain sustained perseverance. Having a goal in mind is critical in delaying current desires to achieve long-term goals and helps develop greater self-restraint and financial maturity.
J.C. Penney, Founder of J.C. Penney's Department Store
J.C. Penney, founder of the well-known department store stated the following:
Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk.
Whether it's in regard to one's personal finance or some other aspect of life, everything will not always be easy or ideal. While having a goal gives direction and motivation, life's challenges times which can include putting on hold, for a time, certain goals. There is wisdom in approaching goals as measuring sticks, not sticks to beat ourselves up with. If a goal is having an undesired effect (i.e. causing discouragement or demotivation), this is a key warning sign the goal might not be currently realistic and should be adjusted.
While some of life's experiences can be discouraging and frustrating, it is a sublime experience to meet adversity, endure, and ultimately overcome. I take comfort in Napolean Hill's words in which he stated that "every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit."
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