Persevere-Until You Take Control of Your Finances

Many people were hoping that this year would bring some magical answers or that success would come naturally.  When it did not happen like that, they throw in the towel and give up. It is very possible that you set a goal to write out a budget every month or start building an emergency fund this year, but after the first two months, you had difficulty or life threw you a nasty curveball that set you back.  Do not give up! Persevere until you take control of your finances.

Perseverance means many things:

1.       *Perseverance means to succeed because you are determined, not because you are entitled.  Achievers do not sit back and wait for success because the world owes them or simply because they are a nice person.  No, achievers will seek out advice, go forward, try again and again, and refuse to quit. 

2.       Perseverance means recognizing that life is not one long race, but many short races, one after another by Walter Elliot.  To be successful with your finances, you need to keep plugging away.  Remember, it usually takes three to four months to develop an effective budget. 

3.       *Perseverance means stopping not because you are tired but because you are done.  Many times, we underestimate what it really takes to succeed.  Butterflies do not simply fall out of trees; they first struggle relentlessly to push out of the cocoon.

4.       *Perseverance is an investment.  When you invest in your time, energy, intellect, and financial growth, ultimately you will succeed.

5.       *Perseverance needs to have a vision that looks past the present struggle and focuses on the future prize.  Walt Disney was rejected by 301 banks before he finally got a “yes.” Yet he built the world’s most famous theme park.  He was even fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”  He never gave up on his dream.

Most people want a workshop, seminar or experiences that will instantly resolve all their problems, remove all the hard work and take away any struggle. Though they are helpful, to win with your finances it takes a lot more; hard work, careful planning and lots of perseverance.     

Whether you already had some success or have been struggling, do not give up.  Review your financial plans, renew your commitment, and persevere until you begin seeing success.   I leave you with a few examples of people who failed in the beginning but keep persevering and won:

        Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.

R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York City caught on.

                The first time Jerry Seinfeld walked out on stage he froze, and soon was booed off the stage.

Thomas Edison reportedly said; “that 90% of the people quit 90% of the way to accomplishing their goals.”  To get what you never had, we must do what you have never done. 

Ed Finnerty

Finnerty Financial Coaching

* Taken from The Word For You Today