At this time of year most people are developing some sort of plan for the year ahead. In business situations, most organizations have already put their budgets to bed for 2020. On a personal level — it is a more personal exercise of backward review and forward forecast …

 

Meanwhile, every peddler of an investment product is launching its annual push to get your maximum dollars contributed to whatever personally directed pension program you have  [IRA, RRSP, superannuation … pick your term and your acronym depending on your country], or to start one, to maximize the dollars under administration by which pillar [banks, life insurance companies, pension funds, government] they represent — to make you more of a saver/investor. This is irony because, at the same the Adam Smith-like hand which quietly move the economy are at work in the background persuading us to double-down on our spending  (they call it savings!) on Black Friday/Cyber Monday purchasing, Christmas spending of every kind and maxing our credit limits … only to be coached on TV by the latest ad to check your credit score. Is it any wonder everyone’s gag-reflex isn’t triggered?

 

 

Just keep it on your desk. Add, or scribble out, anything you want over the next 30 days. Work things, playthings, personal things, network things, lifestyle things. Things about stuff, about people, about money, about activities. Think about what birds you are flocking with — flock with more soaring eagles and wise old owls … and fewer turkeys.

 

This is what you COULD do with your next month. Don’t stop other things, but consider all the good you could do for yourself by using one pen, one piece of paper, and one month. A few moments each day will re-shape your next year. It requires 2020 vision …