Like many of my fellow Vermonters, I love to hike. In fact, my wife and I just returned from a weeklong adventure in the Pacific Northwest to celebrate Jill and my 15th wedding anniversary, and it included a lot of hiking. Hiking is like a meditation, quieting your mind and allowing pure thoughts to come through. It is during these times when I am most inspired. As we hiked to the top of Shriner Peak to get a look at majestic Mount Ranier from the oldest fire-tower still standing, a thought came to mind.
Why do I love hiking? Well, lots of reasons, including (but not limited to) awesome exercise, beautiful views, time with family and friends, and being outdoors. But, I will tell you why I really love hiking...because I know what I have to do every minute in order to reach my goal. In some things in life, its hard to know where to start, or what to do next. With hiking, I simply have to put one foot in front of the other. No matter how hard the climb, how rough the terrain, I simply take one step, and then another, and then another.
Now, I must be prepared. I am not going to show up at the trailhead wearing flip flops and having no water or clothing and expect to be successful and reach the top. But, if I am prepared...I have my pack, water, snacks, maps, compass, rain gear, warm clothing, and wilderness know how I stand an excellent chance of attaining my goal putting one foot in front of the other.
I will reach my goal...some may get to the top faster than me, and I will beat a few others, but I will reach my goal. It is much the same in regards to your financial goals. Once you have your plan, your maps out, and the route chosen, you must "work the plan" and put one foot in front of the other. There are pitfalls in the trail. You could slip and break your ankle, eaten by a bear even! But there are steps we can take to limit those exposures. In the end it is all about a plan. You've heard it said before that if you fail to plan you plan to fail.
Most Americans do not have a plan. They are getting on the trail without the proper supplies and maps, and hoping for the best. They may get to their destination, but the odds are stacked against them. I want to help you get to the top, the view is sure sweet and I want to share it with you.
It is easy to stand at the bottom of the mountain, look up at how far you have to go, and feel hopeless. However, when you simply put one foot in front of the other, and never, ever give up...the climb is not as hard as you think...and I bet you'll enjoy it!