Year Ahead/Year in Review

DREAM Big, PLAN Smart, LIVE well, pretty much says it all.

I have enjoyed almost 20 years of life planning with my husband Mark. We are both pretty humble and admit that there is nothing groundbreaking going on here, but for those who don’t know where to begin, continue feeling stuck or frustrated, don’t reach goals or don’t even know how to make them – the guide I wrote,  Year Ahead/Year in Review: A Couples Guide to Dream Big, Plan Smart & Live Well can really help you out.  It’s all mainly common sense stuff, with a smattering of discipline and fun. Give it a shot and let me know how you like it. And thanks for your interest.

In Year Ahead/Year in Review (Y.A.Y.R) I’ve laid out an easy to follow step-by-step process that will support you in building and sticking to an annual life plan.  You’ll see real-life trial and error stuff; I share with you what we’ve discovered works well and what we’ve tried and tossed.

Y.A.Y.R  includes a method of planning that is both fun and hugely satisfying.  It’s  an assessment and review of the past year while looking forward toward new aspirations and intentions for the year ahead. We created it to encourage celebration at every turn – in reaching mini-successes and major goals.  It also allows you to look closely in uncovering where you might have fallen short in the past 12 months.

We’ve found joy in reflecting on life on an annual basis – and the value is that it keeps you on track with your personal goals, dreams, and your finances.

I like to think of Y.A./Y.R. as an annual life plan or map only with built-in flexibility that easily adapts to anticipated and unforeseen changes and challenges,  which as we all know – will and do show up in life.

Y.A./Y.R. is a three-part method:  1) you learn how to dream 2) you learn the value and power of writing down intentions and plans, and 3) you see the absolute importance of incorporating finances into your life map.

The approach to the work (yes, it is work) are in two basic sections:  Year Ahead, where dreaming, planning, discussing, deciding, pledging, and possibilities happen, and Year in Review, which is for reminiscing, assessing, analyzing, examining, acknowledging, and applauding.

Each step from beginning through completion and on to implementation represents important pieces toward achieving success. First, at the start, you feel empowered by immediately gaining control of your life as you begin actively building your future a month at a time.  Remember – you are in charge of your future and that you have the power to manifest the life you desire.  Next you’ll begin to create a specific blueprint illustrating the path forward. Completing it will encourage you to look at the financial aspects of your life with complete honesty and without fear. Finally, as you carry out the plan throughout the year, you will begin to feel an incredible sense of achievement and often, abundance. What’s more, the exercise is really a lot of fun!

We call Year Ahead/Year in Review a method, but it is also a process, a concept, an idea, a system, a technique, and for close to 20 years, for us, it has become a practice.

Talking, planning, dreaming, deciding, committing, examining and celebrating have made us the grateful couple we are today, in that it has given us a life that is the complete fulfillment of our dreams. It has been our experience that taking the time to honor and plan a future together is the key to success, both as a couple and individually.  Our intention and hope is that you make Year Ahead/Year in Review a part of your successful life.