To Health, Wealth & Happiness

As we flip from 2023 to 2024, it’s hard not to think about the recent well wishes during the holiday season.  This is not about resolutions or plotting out major goals for the year ahead.  This is an opportunity to be a little reflective, honest, and prospective.  We like to wish others a coming year of good health, prosperity, happiness, and success.  All very positive and aspirational.  But they certainly don’t fit the SMART goal model of being specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound.

I recently read an article that presented an interesting perspective on wealth that I think is worth considering.  You may decide to share these with your family, colleagues, or teams.  Each will allow you to kick off the year with, hopefully, some new insight.  Here are 5 kinds of wealth to think about:

Time: Time is a precious commodity that once we spend it, we can’t get it back or make more.  If your goal is to feel wealthy, are you maximizing the use of your time?  Are you able to distinguish between the urgent and important?  Are you focusing on the planned work (Important but not Urgent) that provides a sense of ease, accomplishment, and abundance?

Talent: The acquisition of new talents often goes unnoticed during our day-to-day.  What are you objectively good at?  What do others rely on you for?  What opportunities do you have to bridge the talent gap to your ultimate goal or destination?  What talents allow you to stand out in the crowd?

People: Humans are generally drawn to others and a collective.  We rarely achieve individual goals without some support or help from others.  Are you spending time with people who are helpful, generous, and supportive?  Who else do you need in your corner to build human wealth?  How can you show up as your best self to support others?

Wisdom: Wisdom and intellect are not the same.  Wisdom is the ability to reflect, learn from the past, and integrate that information to become stronger, more effective, or resilient.  What have you been able to get through (personal or professional loss, learning curve, feeling of inability)?  What can you learn from those experiences?  How can you use those as reminders with future challenges?

Money: We had to get to the traditional concept of wealth.  Interestingly, I think that no matter how much we have, we never quite feel like we have enough.  The definition of wealth is going to vary based on your individual circumstances.  Think analytically and maybe even engage a financial professional.  Do you have the financial ability to accommodate what is important to you?  Are you on a path to accumulating the resources for your future needs, wants, and desires? 

Let me know how you think about wealth and the support you might need to think bigger, broader, and more creatively.  And let 2024 deliver a year of joy, contentment, and wealth.

Michael Riegel

MRiegel@AECBusinessStrategies.com

516-238-0859