108 and Counting: What you do today creates a better tomorrow

A Greek proverb says that “Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

I didn’t really have a mid-life crisis; I think I was always too busy focusing on the next thing I had to do on my well-planned path ahead.

BUT I did have a defining moment on my 54^th birthday…

I don’t mean to exaggerate or glorify the moment, and it was little more than a moment in time when I decided I was halfway there.

It was probably the first time I’d stopped to think about the path I’m on for a long time, and it just happened to be on my birthday.

So, I decided that I was halfway through my life, meaning that I will live until I’m 108.

Let me explain more about that ambition and why it’s so relevant to having a plan or circuit to follow for your life.

The average life expectancy for someone in the UK in 1960 was 71: by 1980, it was 74. It rose to 78 in 2000, and today it’s around 81 years old.

That means that the average life expectancy is rising by 3-4 years every 20 years.

And it’ll be in the lower 90s by the time I reach 108.

Now, of course, you’ve got to factor in the fact that ‘average’ accounts for everyone who dies younger than that number, including the tragically young.

Add in extraordinary recent advancements in medical technology, plus the fact that I’ve reached more than halfway to 108 in good health, I think my estimate is reasonable.

Now, you’re probably reacting in one of two ways; understanding the logic or thinking that my calculation is complete nonsense.

But whether you agree with my calculation or not, don’t miss the point.

You see, I’ve created a plan that I’m going to follow for the rest of my life, and you can do the same.

Quarter three and counting

I have to admit, I get really excited about long-term planning.

The prospect of a long life filled with opportunities still to come is something we should all look forward to.

Wherever you’re at with your business, it’s important to know that you’re intrinsically connected to it.

Your business reflects your experience, your journey, and ambition.

Thinking about your journey and having a sales circuit for your life, also means having a sales circuit for your business. The two are one and the same.

You don’t leave work, go home and never think about work. But you also don’t go to work, and never think about family, friends, and home.

Everyone’s life can be split up into four quarters – it might look slightly different for all of us, but fundamentally there are four key segments to your life:

• Finding your feet

• Building on the foundations

• Branching out again

• Reaping the rewards

Finding your feet 

...is the first quarter of your life. For me, I was trying to work everything out to discover the best fit for my skills, interests, and ambitions. I studied, travelled, and tried out a LOAD of jobs.

As a result, I gained skills and experiences before I settled into family life and a career… of sorts.

Building on the foundation

...is the next quarter. That’s where I started a family, honed my business craft, and learned the importance of the life/work balance equation (and getting it right).

I settled down, build stability and income, and became a version of myself that I was happy with. Really, this is where I mastered the sales process and started to generate more leads, maximising the opportunities that were available to me.

Branching out once more… 

...and perhaps I’m fortunate. Why? Well, because I’ve built a business that generates enough income to fund an adventure. And that’s with or without me in the business.

Without patting myself on the back too hard, I believe that 95% of the people born in this country could do just that. If you’re a ‘quarter one’ person (finding your feet), then I hope you can see the opportunity ahead.

If you’re a ‘quarter two’ person (building on the foundations), then I hope you’re doing the same. And if you’re in quarter three, then I want to inspire you to embrace that fact. If you’re in quarter four, let me know how you’re doing – and good for you.

My approach now is that there’s no limit. The limit does not exist. No stone will be unturned in my quest to maximise every minute I have. Because while I might be halfway through my journey, there’s still A LOT of time left to achieve, experience, and explore.

This is the nurturing period, the client onboarding, the time where you’re reviewing what you know, passing it on, and making the most of every last opportunity.

Reaping the reward:

I can’t wait to see what’s possible by the time I reach my final quarter.

I don’t know what to expect, but I’ve been there in my imagination. I’m in no rush to leave my current stage, but there’s a lot of excitement about what’s still to come. And when it does come, I’ll embrace it.

That final stage has a feeling of referrals and repeat purchasing about it.

If you want to read more about repeat purchasing and the value of keeping customers, read our last blog HERE

I intend to pass on the value that I have acquired and help guide my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and whomever else on their well-planned circuits.

Recalibrate and GO FOR IT

There’s going to be a fair amount of people reading this blog that are cynical about this…

I just hope that’s not you!

Some will be inspired; some might have a little regret. Either way, please do this… NOW.

Go and recalibrate.

Every measurement you make needs to be recalibrated every now and then.

Thermometers, speedometers, scales, clocks, hydrometers, and everything else.

And it’s the same with life plans. No matter how well-planned they are, you’ve still got to check to see if they still measure up to the standard you’ve set yourself.

Take some time now, grab a notebook, and decide where you’re at in your lifecycle.

Decide how much time you’ve got left to play with and figure out how you’ve going to make every single minute matter.

Let’s use a sports analogy here….

On my 54^th birthday, I went into the dressing room for a half-time team talk. I was 3-1 up and playing well. So, now I can head out for the second half with a bit more confidence and swagger about me. I can give myself more freedom, let my creative side flourish, and look to finish as strongly as I can.

Naturally, I have to keep an eye on the defensive side of my game because even the strongest of teams can be caught out, but really, I’m looking to push on and increase the scoreline.

So, what’s your half-time score?

You might be a goal up, a goal down, or even stuck in a stalemate.

BUT here’s the rub!

You only get one chance. There’s an entire second half left to make all the difference.

What have you got to lose?

If you’re still playing your first half, then the message is still the same. Put yourself in the best possible position to push on from – make sure you’re going into the break already ahead.

So, now it’s time to go back and work out how you got here, what you can afford to do next, and the things you would like to do in the future.

Figure out how you can make that possible and who you want to be on that journey with you, and don’t waste today. Don’t waste tomorrow. Never waste another day again.

Dream big, plan smart and take one step at a time to make your plan a reality.

What you do today creates a better tomorrow.