Starting a business is a deeply personal experience. As I journey on this path this next step is to create a life-by-design budget.
To begin these initial steps, I had to trust my mentor and do as advised. I’d put it off thinking it was silly, but this time I decided, what do I have to lose?
You are your Business
Now I understand that my mindset, aspirations, and clarity of vision are the driving forces shaping the direction of my business.
“Everything you can imagine is real.” Pablo Picasso
I envisioned my ideal life with clarity and imagination.
You too, allow yourself to dream without constraints or limitations. Imagine every detail of your perfect life – from the work you do to the places you go, the people you meet, and the experiences you cherish.
What does financial freedom look like to you?
The First Step
If you have not yet done so, create your dream life on paper. Follow the steps in the previous post, Life by Design Know Your Why before moving on to this next step.
The Second Step
This exercise is to imagine what an ideal life would cost and create a life-by-design budget to come up with a specific monthly figure.
It’s important to not let negative thoughts or doubts arise, such as concerns about lack of resources or capabilities. Instead, focus on the boundless potential of the imagination.
My Why
In my previous post, I researched properties ranging from 100,000 to 1000,000. So I am going to choose…..
It’s my fantasy so my well-being and educational retreat is a 38-acre plot for one million dollars.
Without first imagining the Ideal Life, in step one, it would be very difficult to create a budget.
Life-Style Monthly Budget
Mortgage/Rent $8000
Car/Lease $1,967
Utilities $2,429
Insurance $3,423.57
Food $3,563.62
Travel $2,357.98
Education $2,987.54
Clothing $2,35.92
Entertainment $4,362.59
Miscellaneous $5,622.98
Total $34,950.20
Let the Dream Begin
Allow yourself to dream without any restraints and create a life by design beginning with positioning yourself as the central focus of your business.
Now before considering the needs of customers or stakeholders, it’s essential to cultivate a deep understanding of what you want for yourself.
Ask yourself, How can my life be a source of inspiration and creativity in my entrepreneurial journey?
Embrace this creative power within you as you visualize your ideal life and budget.
Dream Big
Be Fearless.
Eleanor
Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you
Hi Eleanor,
I love your post! You make it so easy as you lay out an example of things to consider when setting up a budget for identifying the ideal life you want. You have awesome dreams and will make them a reality!
All the best as you move forward 🙂
Denny
Eleanor, I love how you emphasise the importance of dreaming without constraints and creating a life by design. It’s inspiring to see you taking proactive steps towards financial freedom and aligning your business with your personal aspirations. Your approach to envisioning your ideal life and crafting a budget to support it is both practical and empowering. Thanks for sharing your journey and encouraging others to dream big and be fearless in pursuit of their goals. Looking forward to reading more about your continued progress and success!
Eleanor,
What really got me is the statement, “Everything you can imagine is real.” Pablo Picasso. I totally agree. We need to know that if we can image it, we can make it come true. Setting a dream life is essential. We now know what we want to achieve and we then must work to achieve that dream life.
Sherri
Hi Eleanor,
When I did this assignment in Dean’s book, it was very hard for me to imagine what I wanted for my dream life. For me, at this point in my life, I can only think of, and be happy with being able to get all my bills paid for the month. Maybe once I come into more money, it will be easier then for me to paint that picture, but for now, I’m just happy to be able to pay my bills. Don’t get me wrong, I jotted some things down that would make me happy to have, but will that be the same when the day comes that I can have more? I really don’t know. You change in different circumstances. Great post! I’m glad you were able to come up with your budget. Hope you have a great week!
Meredith
Meredith Moore recently posted…Unveiling the Power of Profitable Niches: Why Choosing the Right Niche is Essential for Affiliate Success
Eleanor, the most powerful thing I read in your post, “Before considering the needs of customers or stakeholders, it’s essential to cultivate a deep understanding of what you want for yourself.” — now truer words have been written! This is the same concept, I think, as saying, “pay yourself in your business first,” or… (in less business terms), “In the event of an emergency, put your oxygen mask on first before helping others.” I am glad you bring attention to this … because it should be pointed out that this is not a selfishness at play, but rather, you must have your own needs met before you are in a position to help others. This is also saying, you can’t give from an empty cup. Well said, Eleanor. I am thoroughly enjoying reading about your journey.
It’s like creating a business plan for your personal expenses, we wouldn’t (shouldn’t) run a business without running the numbers and knowing what our targets are, we should do the same for ourselves.
“Great read!
Creating a budget with the intention of designing the life you want really puts financial decisions into perspective. It’s not just about tracking expenses but actively shaping your future.
I am not very good at budgeting, but this approach feels very empowering and proactive. Thanks for the insightful tips!”
Setting a budget was probably the most difficult task when I was reading Dean’s book. Your aspirations are way higher than mine. I wish you all the best of luck and hope you achieve your dream.
Andy Jacobs recently posted…Whoops, There Goes My Credit and Accelerating Profits With Emails
‘Everything you can imagine is real’ really made me smile
I’m so excited about your vision, I’ve really bought into your journey and I’m looking forward to sharing a drink with you at your £1m retreat.
My vision is getting a new house in Scotland and affording a cleaner and a chef every now and again! I’d love to run a children’s charity and provide them with the all the help they need….. I can see it all in my head so I know it will work!
Congratulations on setting your budget!
It is no small task, is it?
I’m so excited to hear about your vision and would love to hear more.
I look forward to your next post 🙂
Nakina
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