When to start planning for 2014

Today is Labor Day 2013.  The final month of the third quarter.  Have you accomplished much on your 2013 goals list?

When should one start planning for 2014?

I don't believe one should start planning for 2014 on New Year's Eve.  You should be planning well ahead of time.  Why not start now, right this moment, brainstorming what you'd like to accomplish in the next year.

Don't worry, this doesn't have to be a concrete list.  Start by brainstorming all of the possible things you'd like to accomplish.  On Kickstarter campaigns, they have stretch goals--goals that are at the higher levels once the main goal has been achieved.  For your yearly goals, I call them "pie in the sky" goals.  Put a few goals in there that are "pie in the sky."  Meaning, with a lot of effort, you can accomplish it.  And I mean a lot.

Run a marathon

Become debt-free

Pay off your house

These are just three examples of what "pie in the sky" goals could be, but don't limit them to just these.  Let's say you want to write a book.  Great!  How about 2? Or 3?  Or even publish them?

How about saving enough to have a professional do a cover for your book?

Save enough to go on a bigger vacation?

Take a blank piece of paper or a blank document and write down everything you'd like to accomplish.  I ask that you start now because you may not think of everything all at once.  It may take a month or two to think of new things.

And don't worry, you can always change it.

Start by planning for the next year now, and it will cause the new year to start with a bang.  You can do it.  Your life--and the world--depends on it.