Seasons of Change

[Jenifer Madson]

This is the season when I set my business and personal plans for the upcoming year. It’s a favorite time of mine, because it lets me not only immerse myself in the vision of a fabulous new future, but also to patiently revisit the past and the lessons and perspective it provides.

This is also when I evaluate my financial practices for their efficiency and effectiveness. Hopefully, as I grow, the systems that run my life grow too. To insure that’s true, I make time to check in on what needs to change or improve.

My financial accountability systems run the gamut from my budgets to my cash-flow projections, my checkbook balancing to my holiday gift plan. No matter which process I’m working with, I ask myself four fundamental questions:

• What do I want from this (budget, report, plan)?
• Why do I want it? (peace of mind, security, etc.)
• Is this (system, process, technology) the best way to get it?
• If not, what do I need to change?

Take A Minute:
Is it time for a financial systems tune-up?

Make A Minute:
Pick a financial system that you currently use and apply the above questions to it. Based on your answers, choose or change your next steps accordingly.

Example: My Personal Budget
What do I want from it? Clear, concise information on my spending habits.
Why do I want it? To see if my spending is supporting my financial goals.
Is my current system the best way to get it? It is if I do a great job detailing the expense categories, and let nothing be seen as “Miscellaneous.”
What do I need to change? Analyze my budget for any uncategorized expenses, and assign them to a category.

Be as conscientious with your financial “doing” as I’ve asked you to be with your thinking, and the two will beautifully support each other for a long time to come.