Having no targets is like shooting hail at random in all directions, hoping to hit a duck. Having goals without an action plan is slightly better, but no guarantee of success. So what then?
In this article I am going to explain the 3 fundamental questions you have to ask yourself or your organization for evaluating 2020 and planning 2021 the right way.
Prepare yourself for success, you deserve it!
To start with a spoiler – these are the basic questions:
When I was doing the research for information about National Park Las Tablas de Daimiel, I realized this again is an article about a swamp. Like Insel Hombroich in Germany is a swamp. And that, while I really love all kinds of landscapes. 🙂
I have to admit that once we adore a place – be it a city, a museum or a landscape – we tend to revisit it often. In a museum the temporary exhibitions will be different each time. A landscape changes with the seasons and with the type of weather that can be extremely different in some years.
We went back only a few months after our 2017 visit to experience the difference of the Tablas after 2 months of excessive rainfall. And different it was!
In one breath I finished reading Raynor Winn’s books about homelessness. It doesn’t happen often to me anymore that I’m so enthusiastic about books!
What is the definition of homelessness? It can be “not having sufficient resources to afford a roof above your head”. I have also found “living in homes that are below the minimum standard or are not permanently employed”.
If the definition is “not having a permanent address”, then Tom and I have had 2 periods of homelessness. One was when we had sold our house and the municipality did not want to give us a residence permit on the office building we were living in.
The biggest struggle small business owners like me have is “How do I get traffic to my website?”
There is the technical answer to this question. For example, your website must be found and indexed by Google. This means it must be fast enough, both on mobile and desktop. This speed depends on several factors, which are not the scope of this article.
This article is a review of Traffic Secrets by Russell Brunson. It’s about organic, paid and owned traffic as an answer to my original question: “How do I get traffic to my website?” Or in modern lingo, how to get eyeballs on our website, eyeballs that stay (and buy). Preferably in a way we can control ourselves, for the bigger part.
When you start something new, all the required steps can be overwhelming to say the least. And this is especially the case when you want to start a new website. I want to break down this complicated process for you in 11 steps.
I won’t promise that makes it easier, but it surely will give you a bigger sense of control, which does wonders for your peace of mind. A relaxed mind can be more creative and productive than a stressed one.
In this article I describe 11 steps to start a website. I will add some information to each step. Either by describing it here or by providing the link to an extensive article I wrote about that specific issue.
A unique area in the North of the Netherlands and Germany is the Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea is an unusual type of nature and shines on the Unesco’s World Heritage list.
The area is essential for a lot of birds, seals and aquatic plants and is very vulnerable. That became all too clear in 2019 when the ship MSC Zoë sank North of the Wadden Sea, the Netherlands, and a lot of plastic and consumer products ended up in the sea and on the islands.
The Wad Walk of 2019 (I explain what a Wad Walk is later on) was dedicated to cleaning up part of the sea shore of Wadden island Schiermonnikoog. But the effects of this environmental disaster are not clear yet.
We all need inspiration. Some find it in religion, others in being a volunteer. Some are participating in politics, or join a single-issue movement. Either choice is great, as long as you leave other people the freedom of choice as well.
Unfortunately, I also see people my age coming to a standstill. No inspiration left. Tired of the efforts of their past work. No hobbies and no idea what to do with the rest of their lives.
“In the absence of any special circumstances, the mortality rates for voluntarily retired workers during the first year or two of retirement are considerably higher than the general level that otherwise might be expected…” (ssa.gov)
Giving your life meaning is essential. And if you don’t have inspiration, it sure helps if you actively seek it. What are steps to change your life?
When I sold my house in the Netherlands I retired from my 35-year old graphic design studio as well. Most of my clients were my age and retired in about the same period, so I didn’t let down anyone. I passed on the remaining few to a former colleague and went traveling.
My husband Tom and I had an amazing year with everything we needed in the car, renting houses or apartments along the way. In hindsight, I should have been an affiliate partner then as well, so I could have built on my affiliate marketing experience. We both wrote every day on our blog about our adventures and discoveries. How well that would have fitted with the right links.
At the time I considered myself retired and even more so when we found our dream house in the south of Spain and resettled. LOL, after 2 months I had enough of retirement.
Do you like to read? I love it. There is not a day I don’t read. Sometimes there has been going on so much, there was only time for half an hour before bed. Other days I read every time I walk my rounds in the house (which I do twice an hour in order to prevent sitting too much).
When one reads that much, a book must either be very well written or have very valuable content to stand out. Left neglected by Lisa Genova is such a book. Better yet, it is very well written and has content full of life lessons.
It’s not meant as a selfhelp book, but it is very well possible to learn your own lessons from the content of this book, which I love.
Now and then I hear someone say “Oh, I am too old for that”. Mind you, these are not only people over 60. I also hear people in their thirties and forties tell it. I always cringe when I listen to such a remark.
If you start practicing a certain type of sport at the age of 50 with the intention of winning gold at the next Olympics, it might be a bit unrealistic. Depending on the sport of course. But it won’t stop you from having tons of fun if you do it anyway. And you’ll be working on your health as well.
Instead of saying “I am too old for that” it is way better to say “what are the possibilities to make this happen?” So if you are wondering whether you could be starting a business after 60, this question is a great starting point.