Preparing for the future is to reach a debt free state. Once you are debt free you can easily save money and that savings takes care of you in uncertain times. You are then protected against job loss and small financial burdens such as a water heater failing. If you are constantly in debt, you are a slave to your lender and cannot be prepared for life issues involving money.
Preparing for the future means trying to see your whole life in the future in a well developed plan. It can mean taking deliberate steps and avoiding certain temptations along the way. This may seem like you aren’t living enough in the present but can be worth it in the long term gain.
This is a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of my readers, researchers, and website visitors. So much so that one of them were kind enough to share their own personal opinions. I don’t claim to be the best interviewer in the world, but I do promise some good, raw, and honest answers from normal people like you and me. I do my best to NOT filter these answers, except for the bad words and hateful speech.
With that little blurb out of the way, let’s dive right into the juicy bits of (potentially) life-changing insights.
Current Topic: Preparing For The Future
‘R’ = Richard N. Stephenson (me!) ‘I’ = Interviewee (anonymous by request unless otherwise noted)
[This interview is inspired and fueled by research done for my book: Staying Motivated at Work.]
R: To you, what are some of the biggest benefits usually associated with this topic?
I: The biggest benefits of preparing for the future is that you will earn more rewards. For example, if you prepare for the future by gaining a college education, you will likely earn a higher-paying job. You will also likely have less regret, because you will have thought through what you want to accomplish in life, so you are more likely to achieve it. People who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them. Since achievement leads to happiness, people who plan for the future are more likely to be happy.
R: What is the biggest, life-changing thing that could come from this topic?
I: Preparing for the future can and should change your life. One example would be preparing to purchase a home in the future. Most people know that at some point they would like to own their own home. However, you don’t just wake up one day with the ability to buy a house.
You have to have spent considerable time saving money and paying your bills responsibly to have a good credit rating for a mortgage. This preparation for the future would have amended how you treated your financial situation for years in advance.
R: Explain what about this subject could help people be just all around better.
I: Visualizing your future can help you see the total picture. It can help you see what actions you need to take to have the kind of future you want. You can see where you are at now and compare it to where you want to be.
R: Describe the perfect person that is a shining example of this topic, in your opinion.
I: To prepare for the future, it is necessary to have a plan. The plan must include setting aside some of the money one earns into a retirement plan such as an IRA or other investment program. Putting aside money like this for years will make it possible to have the money needed for a nice retirement.
R: Who’s the flat-out worst at this subject?
I: Someone who is on drugs and not able to plan for their future is not in a position to prepare for the future. That person is more in tune with making it through the day because of drug dependence. The drug by the way does not have to be a material thing. The drug could be relying on depression to get through the day.
R: Please, share with us what would make this topic more prevalent in your life?
I: I prepare for the future by contributing regularly to a Roth IRA. I want to have the ability to retire in comfort and by starting when I am young, I will achieve my goal. No matter what, I will save whatever I can afford on a monthly basis.
R: How would you describe the best time to make this topic part of your life?
I: The most appropriate time to make preparing for the future a part of your life is now. The saying is that today is the first day of the rest of your life. Therefore, everyday is important and should be a turning point in preparing for one’s future. One can choose to daily continue on their path or they can chart a new path for the future.
R: When is a time you feel this topic needs to be set aside or not even considered?
I: Preparing for the future may not be a good idea if you are trying to live one day at a time such as in a 12 step program. Sometimes you just have to worry about getting through the next hour. While it may be possible to someday prepare for the future, now may be the time to be present just for today.
R: Is there at least one place you can think of that people should consider bringing this into their daily lives?
I: The best place to prepare for the future is to start in high school. It starts with a dream, turns to reality and becomes your future. I started working when I was 14 and I’m still working towards a perfect future for myself. I went from being a bagger at acme to working with the city. I don’t plan on stopping until I’m living my dream and start a family.
R: Tell us about the worst place to make this subject part of our lives.
I: The worst place to make preparing for the future an active part of your daily life is when you are about to bring another life into this world. In my opinion I feel parents should be prepared before having a child. If your not working, if there’s no money in the bank, and if you can’t take care of yourself then having a child will make it a millions times harder for you and the child.
R: Who’s someone that could gain quite a bit from looking further into this topic?
I: I think that while many entities (groups, organizations, people) could benefit from preparing for the future it is especially helpful to do so when changes are imminent. For example, an underclassman does not have to prepare for the future as much as an upperclassman because the upperclassman is graduating soon and the underclassman’s life is very stable for the next few years. A group or organization that is looking to expand or have a new department or business plan should be especially mindful of preparing for the future.
R: Give us at least one major tip we can do something with for this topic?
I: The most useful piece of advice for someone who wants help with preparing for the future is a discussion of what their long-term goals are. The person should think about where they want to be in 50, 30, or 10 years and should think through what it will take to accomplish these things.
The person should think through what is required, and whether all of the goals are realistic. If the goals are realistic, can they all be accomplished at the same time, or does the person need to pick and choose among their goals? Strategic planning and reflection are the best advice for someone who wants help preparing for the future.
R: What would you say is something we should avoid at all costs when it comes to this topic?
I: One should avoid distractions. Distractions are everywhere one turns that is not in the path of the goal. Distractions should be avoided so that one can get back on track to prepare for the future.
R: If you had to do just one thing right now to get better at this subject, what would it be?
I: Exercising is an actionable way somebody can demonstrate ‘preparing for the future’ because it is truly action oriented. It makes an immediate and future impact. Long term benefits will result in a better future.
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Thank you for reading this personal journey into becoming a better person and having a better future ahead of you. I hope you enjoyed this interview conversation and found golden nuggets you can immediately apply to your daily life.
If you want to get more productivity (and fulfillment!) out of your work, career, and life through being more motivated, then check out Staying Motivated at Work.
Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, or personal life-changing wisdom below.