Are you a perfectionist? Do you think … just a little more polishing and you’ll be ready to launch that two-year-old project you’ve revised, reworked and re-engineered to death?

Old School

Are you so old school that you were taught “if it is worth doing, it’s worth doing perfectly?” Well, let me share a truth with you. They were wrong. Your teachers, bosses, parents … all the people who pushed for perfection at the price of completion were off-base and out of step with this time.

I used to be a perfectionist. I made sure there were no critical omissions in my completed documents. The problem is that I didn’t publish as many articles as I might have if perfect wasn’t part of the goal. Actually, perfect was not my personal goal. It was the required operating procedure standing in the way of project completion.

Perfectionism was a girdle in the old-school world. It was tight, restrictive and painful. There was nothing fun about wearing the girdles I wore as a young woman. Why didn’t I question the need to adhere to such a rigid rule then?

I am not endorsing sloppy work. I don’t advocate half-ass effort. I am recommending that you allow yourself the creative freedom of knowing that good enough is good enough.

Life is your personal laboratory. It is yours to explore, experiment, and decide what’s most important to you. It is your place to dream, test ideas, and implement plans. To accomplish more in your life, think of life as a beta.

Do the best you can as quickly as possible, then launch the program, project, or venture. Revise and perfect it later. Think beta –the first iteration. The Microsoft method. Decide how to monetize the initial effort and price future updates. Get it done.

Launch Beta 1. Get Feedback. Revise. Improve. Price. Launch Beta 2 to a market of early adopters waiting expectantly, and to the later-adopters who have been waiting for Beta 2. What a great operating model. Rinse. Repeat. Replay.

Go launch your new product.

Peace and prosperity,

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© 2010 Judith Stephens. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Are you still doing the same old tired things and hoping for different results? You want to increase your income by 20% this year. But you haven’t actually done anything to make it happen. You know this is the definition of insanity, right? Isn’t it time to change your mind? And a habit or two?

A change in your habits or behavior will bring about new results in your life. Shake things up! Take wobbly toddler steps in the right direction to get you started.

I stopped watching TV. As I watched successful people “entertain” me out of using my time more productively on my own projects, I decided it was crazy to watch them do their jobs at the expense of my own. So for the first time in years, I didn’t watch the Australian Open tennis tournament. I left Venus and Serena Williams to handle their business and I handled mine. It was liberating! Serena won without me. And I finished a new information product. I love progress!

You might want to introduce a daily walk to your routine. Use it to get clear on your goals as you clip along at a steady pace. Or spend 10 minutes meditating first thing in the morning. Or say two affirmations that resonate with you. Or list five things for which you’re grateful at the end of the day.

Decide one thing that you’ll accomplish today. Not just activities, but accomplishments, a completed assignment you can check off the To-Do list. Let these things represent a mindset and momentum shift for  you. Commit that you will complete it by noon, or 3pm. Accept no excuses.

Will you write that proposal that’s been nagging you? If it’s not an income-oriented project, is it operational? Might you compile this month’s bills in one place — like a file folder? How about listing all of your expenses and totaling them? Give yourself the power of knowing exactly where you are financially. It means you have to stop playing games with yourself. What was it — money masturbation 101? Enough already.

Change some variable in your results equation to achieve the outcomes you desire. Make a change in your routine. Do it daily. Adopt habits to develop and strengthen your mental and money muscles. Do it for seven days. Then expect to see different results.

Let me know what habit you adopted, or unproductive habit you stopped. Did it help?

Peace and prosperity,

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A transition is “a life change characterized by a sharp break with the past.” Life’s transitions happen all the time. Often they don’t let you know they are on the way. What was, is no longer.

I recently lost my sister. Technically, Phyllis was my best friend. In actuality, she was the sister I always wanted. Fifteen years ago we adopted each other. Someone to watch our backs. Her transition smacked me upside my head and shattered me. But worst, the business that surrounds the death and dying process left me shell-shocked.

Are you one major transition away from an unexpected disruption of your life? How will an unexpected and unplanned for event impact you? Are you vulnerable? Have you put emergency plans in place? Do you have a Plan B to protect and shelter you from the devastation of unwanted change?

“The death of a loved one imposes cruel demands on the closest survivors. You, more than anyone, need time and space to handle your emotions, gather your thoughts and say goodbye. And yet demands are suddenly coming from all sides.”

I didn’t know. I was unprepared. Dumb is expensive. Here’s my heads up to you so you know.

Transitions

Many people are vulnerable to big transitions. The death of business partner you count on, a surprise divorce request, an unplanned move from your home, or getting laid off from your job can temporarily rock your world. Developing alternative plans — ones you hope not to use — can protect you emotionally and financially. Make a Plan B today and minimize the severity of tomorrow’s thunderstorms.

Yes, you’re married to a wonderful person. One you love and trust. Your relationship is secure and special. But ask yourself … what if? In America we have a 50% divorce rate. You gotta ask.

I’m a positive person. I prefer to think about what I want, not what I don’t want in my life. And yet such a limited approach can leave you at the mercy of those things you don’t want in your life.

Accidents happen. People change their minds. It’s important that you think about and consider the what-ifs. Then make provisional plans to protect yourself and your family.

Make A Plan B

Like what kind of plans? Step one is Keep a Cash Stash. In case your credit cards are unavailable, you need cash to manage a major life change. The cash must be accessible — you must be able to get your hands on it when you need it most.

Regularly add to a Personal Financial Security savings account. Such an account is often referred to as an “rainy day” or “emergency” fund, but — here I go again — I dislike the feeling of preparing for what I don’t want. A Financial Security account describes what the money is for and works for me.

You might open a new brokerage account with your favorite investment services provider and start a Financial Security equity fund. Or a Keep-Me-In-the-Manner-I’ve-Become-Accustomed bond fund.

Purchase life insurance where you are the beneficiary for anyone on whose support you depend. Key man insurance policies are standard in many corporations. You may want to have the equivalent. Insure the person or persons who are most important to your life running smoothly. It costs to grieve and takes time to replace their contributions to your life.

What other safety valves should be put in place to protect you? What do you wish you had known before you went through a big transition? Share your experiences with us here.

Start working on creating your Plan B today.

Peace and prosperity,

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Get Rich Slowly is one of my favorite personal finance blogs. I like the way JD Roth (the admin) thinks and analyzes his financial behavior. I also like how he writes about money and finance. It takes considerable writing skill to make personal finance articles interesting and keep your audience entertained enough to read it. JD does a very good job.

As we prepare for the money management portion of the Money Attraction Bootcamp, I’ve asked my group to read this blog post. Discretionary spending bits and pieces. I’ve encouraged them to get their feet wet, and assured them that the water isn’t cold. We’ll discuss opinions and views in the Financial Fitness Academy’s new membership forum. Bootcamp members never disappoint. It should be great fun.

See how JD analyzes his 2009 restaurant spending. This is a good model of how to analyze and control your financial behavior too. See how he proactively asks IF this is the way he wants to spend his money? Look at the techniques he uses not to spend impulsively. See how he rewards himself for sticking to his spending plans. There is a lot of substance in this blog entry.

I hope you find Get Rich Slowly as interesting and informative as I do.

Judith
The Money Lady

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What do you want? This is a question we don’t ask ourselves often enough. It’s a question for which we often don’t have answers. But it’s a lovely question because it motivates us to think of the possibilities. It encourages us to imagine and to dream.

What do you want in your life that you don’t have now? What would you like to add to your life in the next 3, 6 or 12 months?

What changes do you want to see in your personal and business life? What new experiences will you allow yourself? What people will you invite into your personal and professional spaces? What do you want to learn?

As we move toward 2010, remember that you can have as much of, and as big as, you can see. What will you choose?

For instance, where will you live? What geographical area? What city? What setting — urban, suburban or rural? House, condo or apartment?

What about your work? Where will you work? Will you prepare for a job change? Will you aim for a major promotion on your current job?

If you’re a business owner, will you commit to growing your business by 20% in 2010? How about a 30% increase in revenue? How will you do it?

Will you outsource more of the non-income producing tasks that currently take up your time? Will you hire a virtual assistant? Will you become involved in more joint ventures? Will you attend more industry conferences and meetings to meet other people in similar work?

As you contemplate what you want, I hope you will remember to play. Look for new opportunities to have fun, to love, and to enjoy your life.

Let’s welcome 2010 with a full, yet light heart.

Peace and prosperity to you,
Judith