Dream big to inspire big changes

BY CLEVE DeSOUZA

What we focus on as 2020 ends is what we’ll achieve in 2021. That makes November the season of goal setting and dream building.

The pandemic and related economic difficulties make this dreaming season one of the most important ever. For the last few months, you’ve had more time at home with family. You probably gave more thought to what you want from life. Now is the time to turn those thoughts into dreams. Dreams can inspire big changes, such as saving money and working hard to reach your biggest goals.

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.”
Traditional Buddhist adage

We talk to people every day about paying down debt. If we focus every conversation on the debt itself, we only attract more debt. Instead, we focus on helping people imagine a future in which they build wealth and acquire assets. When we become people with wealth and assets, paying off debt is inevitable. We help people find the path to their becoming their best selves.

This month, as 2020 winds down, think about what you want out of life. Now is the time to think about big goals. Do you want to retire at 55? Is owning your own business important to you? Do you want financial independence?

As you dream, keep asking yourself why you want these things. If you can’t articulate the why, you may not be dreaming the right dream. Many people say they want to retire early. It’s a common goal. If you can’t say what you’ll do with the extra time, then maybe early retirement isn’t the right dream for you. The same goes for any goal. Spell out your why and you’ll discover what really matters to you.

Another question to consider – is your dream big enough? Achieving a dream demands sacrifice. If the dream isn’t big enough, you’ll find it hard to make the necessary sacrifices. Just climbing out of debt isn’t enough for most people. We need to have a vision of the reward for doing the hard work of paying off debt.

“Only make moves when your heart’s in it.”
Andrew Wiggins, NBA player

One question to avoid right now is how you’ll finance your dream. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Once you know what you want, talk to a financial planner to find the path.

Most Canadians rely solely on a job (or two) for income. That’s not the only way to earn money. Wealthy people don’t focus on paycheques. Instead, wealthy people build their assets. For example, investing money in a savings account earns you .05% interest. Compare that to a 5-year Government Issued Certificate (GIC), which can pay as much as 1.8% interest. If you’re willing to accept more risk, your potential return on investment also increases.

Big dreams are never a mistake. The only mistake is downsizing your dreams to fit your paycheque. Instead, set goals and build your wealth to make your dreams real.

“Dream big dreams. Small dreams have no magic.”
Dottie Boreyko, American philanthropist