Many of us wait for the New Year before making major plans in our life. Why do we put off what we could be working on now? Whether you’re considering making a major change in your life or just want to get a jump on issues you need to handle on a regular basis, there is no better time than the present to get started! The key to achieving any personal goals is to make sure you work with the right professionals. Many of us have goals or plans in mind, but aren’t really sure how to get there or how to keep ourselves accountable. Read on for more information.
Tax Planning
“Planning for taxes is something you should do all year long,” states Jim Rose from H&R Block. Keep a folder and store your key documents in the folder if you believe they may have an impact on your taxes. Even if you aren’t sure if a document has tax-related implications, keep it just the same. Your tax professional will help you sort this out at tax time.”
When it comes to choosing a tax preparer, Jim has this advice: “There are a lot of people out there who say they do taxes, but not all tax preparers are created equally! Ensure your tax professional is associated with a well-respected organization that will stand behind their work. Ask about their qualifications to prepare taxes. Ask them what kind of continuing education they must complete to maintain their tax professional eligibility with the IRS. Make sure they have a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) which is required by the IRS to prepare taxes. Also, it is important that you feel comfortable with your tax professional, as you will be sharing some of your most personal information with them. You may also want to consider seeking out a tax professional that specializes in your particular occupation (school teacher, fire-fighter) as there are some very subtle differences in how you might approach tax preparation depending on your occupation. The best tax professionals will be up to speed on all the various nuances that will help you keep your tax obligations to the legal minimum.”
Coaching
According to Kris Thaller with Coaching Dimensions, “If you don’t have goals for your personal and professional life, this time next year you will be about where you are right now. Goals keep us moving forward on the playing field of life. Personal planning includes identifying goals worth playing for. Personal planning should also contain actions that are meaningful and relevant for you, actions that inspire and motivate. I make sure my clients are clear about what’s important to them so they can build an action plan that will guarantee the results they want to produce.”
Kris continues, “A Life coach, like any other coach, equips their players to play their very best game. In this case, it’s the game called “Life.” If we view life as a game, we see that it has the same elements that all exciting and interesting games have. For example, Life has a playing field, the opportunity to score goals, obstacles that get in the way, needed skills to overcome the obstacles, the possibility of winning and the chance of losing, feedback and rules of engagement. I provide my players with the necessary tools and skill sets they need so they can “play” this unique game with clarity, focus, ease and grace.”
“A coach can help you define your purpose and what is truly important to you,” adds Nanette Gingery with Next Step Coaching. “From there, a coach will help you fashion goals and actions which are in keeping with your purpose and your plan. As a coach, I help you keep your focus and your energy on your goals to ensure you get the results you desire. Coaching is beneficial for everyone. Working with a coach opens your mind to the possibilities in your life and helps you identify and overcome limiting self-beliefs. Coaching brings awareness and clarity of purpose. Once you begin the process of working with a coach in specific areas. You will find the coaching principles work in every area of your life.”
When it comes to choosing the best coach for your needs, Kris Thaller has this advice: “Make sure the life coach charges reasonable fees that represent his or her training and experience. You should also look for a life coach who has invested in themselves with training from accredited organizations. You also want to ask about life coach’s philosophy and make sure it fits with your values.”
Nanette Gingery suggests, “Interview your coach. Most coaches give a 30 minute consultation at no charge. You should also review their website and see what areas they may specialize in and ask friend and colleagues if they have heard of any coaches they would recommend. Finally, choose a coach who seems suited to your goals and one you are comfortable with.”
Going Back to School
If you’ve always wanted to achieve a college degree or go on to receive a higher degree, going back to school might be something you’re ready to put into your personal plan. “Most students we see seem driven by either a passion to advance themselves in their current career or a desire to pursue a new field they believe will lead to more opportunities for professional fulfillment,” states Jodi Groeteke from Concordia University. “The majority share the common goal of being proactive about securing their professional and financial futures in today’s economy.”
Finding a good fit as a non-traditional student is important. “Concordia University designed our programs with the mindset of creating opportunities for people who don’t fall into the definition of a traditional college student,” continues Jodi. “Our students carry titles in their homes, at their place of employment, within their churches and communities and any number of other places where responsibilities extend into a realm that’s anything but traditional. We realized that every opportunity we create needs to be flexible in terms of scheduling and finances without sacrificing the quality of education we provide. We’re proud of the response we’ve gotten and continually look for ways to improve upon that blueprint based on feedback we acquire from our non-traditional students.”
If you’re looking at returning to school, Jodi offers the following suggestions: “The first step would be to simply explore options that are out there. We encourage people to engage and interact with as much information as possible from our programs and those offered elsewhere. Usually that information leads people towards an initial email or phone call with our staff members who are fully equipped to answer questions and guide someone through the steps of applying or getting transcripts reviewed. The most important thing is for someone to engage in developing a supportive relationship with the people, University, and program of interest.”
We all want to improve our lives and be more proactive in achieving the goals that we have for ourselves. There’s no reason why you can’t get started on those goals now! By working with the right professionals, you can ensure that you are on the right path to personal success.