By Amanda Morrall
Welcome to 2013. For me and many people I know personally, 2012 was a big shake up.
Relationships were tested, jobs changed, businesses launched, motivations questioned and ideas planted.
With the first month of the year almost over it's a reminder of how quickly time passes and the importance of putting into place changes, habits and new structures that will help us move in the direction of our goals - and dreams, so they don't end up on the scrap heap of lost hope.
These soft-sided underpinnings of personal finance are no less important than our practical money management skills. With this in mind, today's Take Five focuses on some of these themes.
1) Reflection
With many still in holiday mode, it's a good time to reflect back on 2012 and consider what worked, what didn't, the high points, the low points and overall success. It's an up and down journey to be sure but on balance, I think most of us strive for more good than bad across all sectors of life. This guest post on www.frugalrules.com explores areas of new opportunity for 2013 and how to strengthen your resolve.
2) What are you scared of?
Fear is quite often the single biggest obstacle standing in the way of meaningful change. American optometrist/personal finance blogger eyesonthedollar.com contemplates fear and its adverse impact on improving our financial situations.
3) Entrepreneurs
What does it mean to be an entrepreneur and what distinguishes the successful ones from the wannabe? This blog from PTmoney.com polls a number of on-line personalities for their opinion with some rather interesting results. Here's a sampling:
An entrepreneur to me is someone who creates something that can help others to accomplish their goals. And in turn they are making it into something that earns an income for them, and for other people. So it’s someone that’s really passionate about helping others and creating opportunities for them to do something that helps them to accomplish their goals. – Leslie Samuel, BecomeaBlogger.com
I believe an entrepreneur is someone that’s willing to take risks, someone that’s willing to make opportunity for themselves by identifying some of their strengths and their passions and essentially how they can take those passions and create solutions for people, and also derive a revenue stream from that. – Jeff Rose, GoodFinancialCents.com
To me, an entrepreneur is someone with passion, vision, confidence, and the willingness to constantly adapt to change in order to successfully serve his or her unique market. – Stephanie Sammons, WiredAdvisor.com
4) Early retirement income strategies
On the more practical side, retireby40.org looks at some early retirement income raising strategies to help propel those truly motivated to give up working life over the finish line by the tender age of 40. Good luck!
5) Variable power pricing
It's unlikely that shaving your power bill will tip the early retirement scales but reduced household spending is never a bad thing. Stuff business reports here on Genesis' plans to introduce variable power pricing geared to incentivising more households to unplug during peak hours. Bring it on.
To read other Take Fives by Amanda Morrall click here. You can also follow Amanda on Twitter @amandamorrall or at www.amandamorrall.com
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.