December 14th, 2009
So my plan to increase my income by a few hundred bucks has evolved into something bigger. New plan is to double my income by June 30. And I can do it.
I was thinking about what running has brought into my life; structure, determination, acquiring of goals, self-esteem – all things that can be transferred to anything you want to motivate yourself to do! So the last couple days I’ve been devising a plan and getting as motivated as I would for any new training cycle, only this time, it’s for life stuff.
I’ve often said that the reason training plans appeal to me is that I have little structure in my days. Being free and easy is fab, but knowing I waste copious amounts of time is not something that brings me happiness. There is something soul-infecting when you’ve finished reading all your pertinent news sites, forums and checked all your stats 10 times, only to end up on TMZ or People.com. I can do better.
With this in mind, I’ve devised a 28-week Financial marathon cycle. While it doesn’t have much in the way of LT runs or VO2 sessions, it does have checkmarks each month for where I want my financial “fitness” to be. I believe it’ll only require a mere 30 hours of solid work a week to achieve – though I’m not including voiceover work in this (currently, more than half my income) – this is all for the stuff I can do without anyone else’s intervention: my t-shirt sites and affiliate sales sites.
A major realization moving forward is that I could never get motivated when the goal was “to have more money”. I’ve tried that before, but money without a reason is meaningless to me, so this apartment situation is like a gift because suddenly, I have a pressing goal with a timeframe attached. I also have a car goal, but that’s secondary since my ugly car still works, though if all goes as planned, I’ll be able to have both, anyway.
So I’ve got a beautiful picture on my computer desktop now with the apartment I want and the car I want along with June’s monetary goal written across. It’s beautiful!! I’ve also got a fancy notebook where I’ve written out my plan and motivational thoughts to keep me on the steady. I could write the plan and motivational bon mots in the computer, but I think there’s something to be said about writing goals by hand, it feels warmer and more immediate. Add to this a little visualization and I am pumped!
And that’s the scoop. I’ll keep you guys posted when anything worth mentioning arises, and maybe some of you can think about ways to incorporate your own dedication to running into something tangible for 2010. We’re strong people, us runners – we know how to follow through. And I firmly believe this sport can bring us more than fun in the sun, medals and PRs, it has the power to change our lives.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Congrats on the admirable goals that you have set for yourself….good for you! In honor of your commitment, I just made a little purchase for myself at the Gifted Runner….the run, sweat, love singlet. I am hoping that just a litle bit of your speediness will wear off on to me whenever I wear it!!
Wishing you a happy, healthy and financially secure 2010! You can do it.
Now this sounds like someone who’s determined to reach her goal — even if she has to invent an extra day at the end of June to do it!
And you’ve been having quite the adventures in your new apartment. They make my snake and bee encounters sound tame by comparison.
I’m on break so I’m allowed to check in now.
La Casalinga, thank you!! I totally don’t mean any of this money talk to be directed out to you guys, so I’m a bit embarrassed, but love you for making the purchase. ;-) May it see your racing times whittle away faster than you could imagine!
Vince, hah!! And I’ve got my calendar right in front of me, but managed to get it wrong. Yep, some extra motivation there, lol. Watch out for the wildlife…snakes and bees, oh my!
Off for my run, then more on this huge music site I’m working on, which will never be done…
This is pretty cool, Flo. using a training cycle approach to your business life. Oh yes, and don’t forget to include “new friends” in the list of things that running has brought you!
Jim, you bet – that goes without saying, if I wasn’t for all my running friends, the ones I’ve met in real life and those on the interwebs, I’d probably not even be running now!
Good stuff here, Flo. I see a shiny new apartment in your near future.
I love this post, reading how running has translated into life goals. So inspiring. I always find it amazing how running has a spillover effect into other things.
That’s ironic — During conversation at dinner tonight, I asked/wondered-out-loud, “What would happen if I put the type of intensity that it will take to get me to Badwater into my career?” It’s cool to see someone else thinking along the same lines. Only, you’ve taken it farther and actually made tangible goals. Good luck with them. Although, I’m sure you won’t need it.
This is great Flo! With the determination you’ve put into your running, I’m sure you’ll do well.
You might need an ‘IT administrator’ to block forums and blogs during ‘work hours’
Thanks Dee and Caroline!
Robert, small world, huh? But it does make sense to apply these same qualities for achieving faster times for everything else.
Ewen, lol! Brilliant idea. Oh, and don’t tell anyone, but I’ve already been in talks with my boss about a bonus system. She’s such a generous employer! ;-)
Very well said. I was thinking about how to make our financial life stronger and then I read your blog. I think you are right that having an actual goal is key. Now time to figure out what mine would be.
I agree with the previous post, I’m looking at your singlets. Maybe some Flo Mo Jo will rub off.
Thanks for this post!
CJ
Flo, I love how you are applying what you have learned in your running life to your “real” life. That is so cool! I think I will take a page from your book and do the same thing. More to come on that one! Thanks for the extra motivation!
CJ and Christi, woohoo, glad you’re thinking of doing the same! Have fun finding a real juicy goal to shoot for and may your road to it be straight and easy.
You make time for what’s important. Before I became a runner I paid off a lot of debt, mostly student loans, over a period of about seven years. A lot. Low six figures. Most of the progress was over three years, which was directly tied to the fact that I had set a goal: pay off this mountain by a certain date. I did it, but it took working like a dog, cutting back everything and sticking to a plan by paying obsessive, daily attention to it. Kind of like marathon training.
One thing I did was create a chain of paper clips, hung from the ceiling, each clip representing a unit of debt. When I paid off a chunk, off went the next clip. It was a looooonnnnng chain, but I could see it getting shorter.
I feel that achieving a major financial goal helped me to believe in myself as a runner a few years later. I’m happy for you to have taken this lesson to heart as well — just in reverse.
Julie, great story! How funny, totally the same idea but from the other direction. Love the paper clip trick and girl, may I bow to your debt repayment scheme, to accomplish most of it within 3 years for such a large sum is inspiring. I’ll definitely be adding this to my motivational tales. Thanks for sharing this!
I only mostly know you over the net, but I can tell that you can do anything you put your mind to. I am convinced of that.
BB, I will say the same for you! In fact, you pick way harder stuff to do (going to Law School as a 40-something grownup?) Amazing.
I’m glad all the ugliness with your upstairs neighbors has indirectly brought some good into your life in the form of more motivation to make things better. I have no doubt you’ll reach these goals!!
You’ll get there, I know it! Same as how you’ve gotten there (and continue to go there) with running goals, planning and training.
Now that I think of it….my financial marathon cycle is a lot like my running. Started out just wanting to do little things, but seeing what is possible brings bigger ideas and goals that don’t seem out of the question anymore.
+1 to BB and the others – you will crush this goal just as you’ve taken the running world by storm. If there’s any way I can help, let me know.
Fantastic idea! After you make this a smashing success, we can collaborate on the “Runner’s Guide to Health, Wealth & Happiness”; I have nearly two of those down pat. ;-)