Connect Magazine October 2016 | Page 23

FOR WHAT IT ’ S WORTH

“ THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT .” - ABRAHAM LINCOLN

BY ALISON FREE writing them on paper you are one step closer to accomplishing them . When you commit ideas and thoughts to paper they become concrete and you subconsciously begin to work towards the goal of achieving them .

In a world where everything seems to be instant , you must condition your mind to take small steps toward the changes necessary to have the ultimate success … balance in your personal and professional life .

W hen is the last time you really took time to plan for your future ? Do you have a picture of what you want it to look like ? By prioritizing and carving out time , you will be forced to think about the things most of us would rather not deal with … at least not today . But today becomes tomorrow and tomorrow the next day until the time comes when we find ourselves in an unfortunate predicament . Usually by then , it is too late to expect a favorable outcome .

If you stop for a moment and write down some of the things that concern you as you consider what your retirement will look like , you will find that there are some very practical and achievable ways to develop a wise plan that will grow as you do .

It starts with putting in habits today as you deal with your daily responsibilities that will eventually benefit you as you look at the bigger picture . As a business owner ( which you all are ) and professional , your day can be full of busyness and distractions . If you take it as it comes , the time will slip away leaving you feeling unproductive and weary . By having a plan , you will have clarity of mind and improved focus .

At a minimum , you should take time every month to open up your calendar and schedule all your mandatory meetings , obligations and make changes and additions . Review it as your week begins and prioritize your days . Your day will soon be full of small accomplishments that you can literally cross off the page and see the results of your extra effort . Make a decision to be proactive .

Also , and more importantly , put time aside for your personal commitments like vacation time , exercise routine , relationship restoration , fun-for-you time and quiet reflective moments . It is in those times that we realize the importance of life and can visualize what we want our life to look like . How many times have you gone away on vacation or taken some time for you and committed to eat better , to do some daily exercise , to get better rest and to be present to whatever is important to you at the time ? You come back from your time away feeling empowered , strong , focused , capable and ready to make it happen . You do not need to go away to capture that feeling . You can have it everyday by intentionally being aware of the things you need to accomplish it order to have the life you want .

Once you have mastered the planning of your schedule , challenge yourself to address your goals and your future . We all want to improve our lives and business so during your reflective time allow yourself to dream and identify your important desires . By

For What It ’ s Worth … She never had it so good ~ the American woman that is . In 1900 , her life expectancy was 48 years . This year , it is 81 years …

“ Many Things can prolong your life , but only wisdom can save it .” Neel Burton

Alison is a FL licensed real estate broker with over 25 years of experience in our local market and is now licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services . She is a captive agent and independent contractor with Bankers Life . Over 7 years ago , she strategically shifted her focus as a trusted advisor in real estate , to use the skills and gifts developed as a Realtor ®, to help others put protections in place for their retirement . She has worked diligently to find creative and unique ways to develop plans to help her clients find the peace of mind they deserve . Understanding the challenges and obstacles you face daily , as Realtors ®, to build your business and ultimately improve your life is why she is one of our magazine contributors . She has dedicated her life to helping others improve theirs . Alison Free can be reached for questions or comments at Alison . Free @ Bankers . com

RPCRA . ORG | SEPT / OCT 2016 23