How to Set More Effective Goals

Setting goals is something that is often talked about in corporate settings. Most people who own a business and/or have experience working in a position of leadership recognize the importance of setting goals and the value it brings. While goals are often set and worked toward in the business world, few people make the effort to create and follow them on their own time. 

And when they do try to set goals, they don’t do so effectively because they don’t know how. This is a missed opportunity for many people who either don’t understand the value of setting goals or don’t know how to do it effectively and efficiently.

Why Is Goal-Setting Important?

At some point in our lives, we all have likely heard the theory that when someone is lost in the forest or in the desert, they tend to walk around in circles. While that common expression didn’t originate from any factual evidence, studies have been done to confirm that the theory is true: Without some sort of reference point, people who are lost in the forest or desert do have a tendency to walk in circles.




This is a great analogy demonstrating the importance of setting goals. Goals that are properly set serve as reference points in the future that we are hoping to attain. When we have a clearly-defined goal that we are working towards, it puts our path of life into perspective and gives us more direction than we otherwise would have. 

This is why successful companies integrate goal-setting into their business routines and why you should integrate it into your daily life.

How Can I Set More Effective Goals?

Not all goals are created equally. Some are much more appropriate, reasonable, and effective than others. In fact, some goals are just downright useless. Others, on the other hand, are extremely beneficial. The differences between the two are important. Here are some of the defining characteristics that all effective goals share:

• They are specific. Instead of telling yourself, “I want to be in good shape,” a much more effective alternative is to narrow it down and be more specific. For example, “I want to be able to run a mile in 7 minutes.” The more specific the goal, the better, because it’s much easier to visualize and to know when you have attained it. While it can be difficult to know when you’re “in good shape,” it is extremely easy to know whether or not you can run a mile in 7 minutes.
• They are measurable. As the previous example demonstrated, goals that are measurable are much more effective than ones that are not. If you set a goal to be more productive, at what point do you cross that goal off? How do you track your progress? If, on the other hand, you set a goal to make a to-do list every night and cross at least 4 things off of it the next day, you have a definitive goal to reach and you can measure your progress as you go.
• They are achievable. If you set a goal that is too easy, you’ll accomplish it quickly without stretching yourself. If you set a goal that is too difficult, you’ll lose your motivation and give up on it. Every great goal is easy enough to achieve and difficult enough to stretch you. Always remember that!
• They are relevant. This one’s a bit obvious, but it’s worth repeating that there’s no point in setting goals for things that won’t improve your life in some way. If you have a specific problem—let’s say you’re struggling with a substance abuse addiction—you’ll want to set goals that are recovery-specific. For example, setting a goal to go one month without abusing drugs or alcohol will be much more effective than setting a goal to learn to play the piano (a silly example, I know, but it demonstrates the point well).
• They are time-sensitive. Every effective goal has a deadline. Referring back to our previous example, instead of simply saying, “I want to run a mile in 7 minutes,” it’s much better to say, “I want to run a mile in 7 minutes by January 4th, which is in 5 months.” That way, you have a set time frame and have given yourself a deadline to work toward.

Set SMART Goals

If you’re having trouble remembering the formula that every effective goal follows, remember the acronym SMART:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-sensitive

If you keep those things in mind as you set goals, you’ll be on your way to living a more peaceful and productive life in no time!

How to Invest in Your Retirement

Saving for retirement can be a daunting task for many people. You know it is important to have money set aside for later in life, but you may be overwhelmed by the logistics and unsure of your options.

Actually, like many things in life, investing in your retirement is not so stressful when it is broken down into smaller, more manageable chunks of information. For instance, consider the following three ways to save, invest and plan for retirement:

Take Advantage of Any Matching Options for Your 401K

If your employer offers a retirement plan like a 401K and also matches a certain percentage of the amount that you contribute, by all means do whatever you can to add the max to the retirement account. Any amount that your employer matches is essentially free money, so it’s definitely worth looking into. 

A common scenario in the 401K match world is for your employer to put 50 cents into your retirement plan for every dollar you put in—this is usually up to 6 percent of your gross salary for the year. So, if you earn $40K at your job and contribute $2,400, or 6 percent to your 401K plan, your boss will add in $1,200 more.

Start Your Own Tax-Advantaged Nest Egg

While a 401K is a great place to start, especially if it involves the aforementioned matching option, you should also consider starting your own retirement savings accounts. You can open a traditional or Roth IRA account, and put money into it as you can; this will allow your money to grow tax-free until your start to withdraw it in retirement. 




You can speak with your banker about opening an IRA account or if you have a financial planner he or she can help you as well. There are limits for how much you can contribute to an IRA every year; on the flip side, you can also set aside smaller amounts of money into the account.

Have an Action Plan in Place for Financial Emergencies

In a perfect world, you will continue to work as long as you wish and then live happily off of your retirement savings. Unfortunately, people sometimes encounter severe financial emergencies that can wipe out their savings. For instance, a serious medical condition that requires months of treatment and hospital stays can be devastating for your retirement accounts. 

To help prevent your nest egg from being shattered, you may want to have an action plan ready to go that will help pay for medical treatments and other financial emergencies. One idea is to look into selling your life insurance policy through a company like Coventry Direct. 

This will allow you to gain access to much-needed funds to help pay for medical bills and other financial hardships that may unexpectedly arise as you get older. Again, it is hoped that you will not endure a situation like this, but looking into an option like this now rather than later is a good idea and can give you invaluable peace of mind.

You Will Get There, One Dollar at a Time

Saving for retirement does not have to be a stressful process—in fact, your employer may already be willing and able to help you get there. Start by speaking with your HR department about a matching plan and then head to the bank to see about an IRA. These steps, along with looking into emergency options for cash if need be, will help you to plump up your retirement savings and allow you to enjoy your golden years.

How to Earn Some Extra Cash by Selling Your Collectibles

Collectors of all stripes occasionally need to sell items from their collection. This may be because you have duplicates, because you need the money or because you simply don’t want that particular item anymore. 

No matter the reason, you will want to go about the selling process the right way. Here are some important things to keep in mind when hoping to earn some extra cash by selling your collectibles.

Determine Its Value

After deciding you want to sell a particular item, the next step should be determining how much the item is worth. This will give you a good sense of how much you can sell it for so you won’t ask too much or too little. Ask too much money and you will be unable to sell the item. Ask too little and you will lose money on the sale.

Consider Where to Sell

Next, you will want to consider where you plan to sell this item. Presumably, you want to get top dollar for your collection, so you will want to place the item for sale where interested buyers are most likely to find it. 


To sell your coin collection, for example, you may want to go through coin collecting-specific channels to find interested buyers. Do some research and determine the best places to sell certain kinds of items.

Be Honest

You need to be honest and upfront with your buyers regarding the exact condition and type of item you are selling. A good way to do this is take detailed pictures or allow an interested party to inspect the item in person. 

Add details such as information on the exact edition, any defects and how an item has been stored. Dishonesty will only create problems for you down the road.

Ship the Item Carefully

If you have found a local buyer, you may not have to ship the item. However, in many cases you will be responsible for shipping the item to the buyer. Be sure you pack the item securely in quality packaging so it will arrive to your buyer undamaged. 

This is especially important for fragile or very valuable items. Also make sure the package is trackable and insured to protect yourself in case something goes wrong.

Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever before to earn some solid extra cash by selling your collectibles. Be sure to do some research ahead of time so you will know where, how and for how much you can sell your collectibles. If you do, you can find the right buyer willing to pay what those items are worth.

Think Ahead: 4 Ways to Keep Your Car Insurance Rates Low

The use of technology makes it much easier for consumers to shop and make purchases. This is true when it comes to buying items and acquiring car insurance. The internet is a valuable tool in this category. It allows you to search for affordable coverage for your vehicle. This can be done even prior to purchasing your car. The ultimate goal is to find rates that are low and budget-friendly.

There are things that responsible drivers can do to maintain their low rates. These involve the way that you drive and are aware of topics, such as traffic law assistance. The more that the average driver knows, the better equipped they are to find good coverage. Knowing the law and following it consistently is beneficial to all drivers. You will get the right insurance by conducting a bit of research.

Bargain Shop

According to Finder.com, the average driver is behind the wheel 13+K miles each year. This includes driving to work, as well as, for pleasure or vacation. Even people who drive fewer miles need to have good insurance coverage. 



Bargain shopping is a terrific way to get the rates that you want. There are many websites that provide qualified drivers with quotes for varying types of car insurance.

Drive Safely

One way to get low insurance rates and to maintain them is to be a safe driver. This considers those who have never receive driving or traffic infractions. These are just a part of the things that insurers use when approving drivers for coverage. Safety involves knowing and maintaining the law. 

The Insurance Information Institute also reports that drivers with good credit records are better able to get coverage. If you receive a traffic ticket, it’s a good idea to get traffic law assistance to see what can be done to rectify the situation and prevent damage to your insurance rates. 

Request Discounts

There is a list of things that drivers benefit from to get discounts on their car insurance. This often has to do with activities, organizations, and additional coverage. These are some potential things that could provide you with a discount:

• Course for Defensive Driving
• Academic Achievements
• Veteran Accomplishments
• Additional Insurer Policies

Increase Deductibles

It is possible to increase your deductible amounts in the pursuit of lower insurance rates for auto coverage. This simply means requesting that your insurer applies a higher deductible rate. In some instances, drivers ask for a $1K deductible, which can lead to a 40% savings in rates. The best way to accommodate this strategy is to set aside money in case you need to file a claim.