3 Ways to Turn Your Financial Resolutions into Real Results

There are a few fundamental truths that I’ve learned in life that are still relevant today. 

One of those truths is that people cannot be forced to do something they don’t really want to do. This principle becomes particularly evident when it comes to building wealth. 

Many people say they want to become wealthy, but often don’t want to put in the necessary work to make it happen. Things get in the way, whether it’s their limiting beliefs or their excuses. 

But let me tell you something: nobody cares about your excuses. Your landlord doesn’t care about your excuses, your boss doesn’t care about your excuses, the bank doesn’t care about your excuses. And neither should you. 

Remember this: action beats excuses every time. Thinking may determine what you want, but actions determine what you get. 

So you think you want to achieve financial greatness, build generational wealth, and get out of generational poverty? Great. Let me share with you the actions you can take to get there. 

Intrinsic Motivation: Get on the Path to Wealth

Psychology Today notes that motivation is “the desire to act in service of a goal.” Motivation can be either extrinsic (external), or intrinsic (internal). 

Extrinsic motivations can include being scared of losing your job, wanting to make more money, or wanting praise from your manager or supervisor. 

While extrinsic motivation can be effective in helping you reach short-term goals, it tends to fade away quickly. On the other hand, intrinsic motivation, or as I like to call it, inspiration, is a potent and enduring force that can keep you going when extrinsic motivation runs out.  

Intrinsic motivation stems from a personal desire to excel and make a difference. It’s not driven by wanting a reward or seeking external validation. Intrinsic motivation drives people to take on projects because they genuinely want to showcase their abilities. 

It’s essential to recognize the difference between the two, as many mistake fleeting motivation for lasting inspiration.

Building wealth requires more than extrinsic motivation; it demands you have an internal reason for wanting it. Your pursuing financial greatness should align with your intrinsic motivation, moral compass, and values. 

In this context, I present a few things you can implement in your life to help you build lasting wealth.

No. 1: Leverage Your Core Strengths

Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, knows some of his core strengths are his authenticity and his deep cultural roots in Puerto Rico. His style, his music, his accent, and his commitment to respect for Latinos has made him a global superstar. Benito doesn’t spend his time trying to be a country music artist singing music in English. He embraces the things that make him unique. Plus, doing so has spilled over into infusing his home country of Puerto Rico with a nearly $200 million economic boom thanks to his residency, according to CNN. 

Like Benito, other wealthy people understand the importance of identifying their unique capabilities and leveraging them to create value for themselves and others (and in the case of Benito, of your homelands!). Take a minute for self-reflection and discover what sets you apart. By focusing on your strengths and delegating or managing your weaknesses, you can make significant strides towards financial success.

No. 2: Commit Goals to Paper

It is not enough to merely think about your goals; you have to write them down. 

Countless academic studies have shown that individuals who write down their goals have a significantly higher chance of achieving them. Forbes reported that there are two things that happen when you write down your goals: first you engage in “external storage,” which is simply storing the information somewhere outside of your brain so you can review it at any time; and second, there is encoding, which is the process of your brain analyzing something. 

Plus, Forbes added, when you write down your goals, you experience the “generation effect” meaning you remember something better when you write it yourself versus when you read it. That’s why handwritten notecards help you remember things better. 

So take a minute and write down your goals as they relate to your journey to financial greatness. And don’t let your busyness become an excuse for not building the life you want. 

No. 3: Cultivate a Circle of Support

Surrounding yourself with a circle of support is instrumental in your journey towards building wealth. 

These are the people who genuinely want you to succeed and want to help you unleash your full potential. Your circle of support may include your spouse, parents, friends, or even professionals like accountants, attorneys, therapists, or financial planners. Seek out these individuals and nurture those relationships that contribute positively to your growth.

Understanding these actions is just the the first step; the real challenge lies in applying them consistently to manifest your ideal future. 

Remember, no one else can do it for you. In today’s world, with all its complexities and challenges, the pursuit of financial success demands a deep sense of personal responsibility, dedication, and a willingness to adapt. 

By taking the actions outlined here, and shedding your excuses, you can chart a new course towards building the life you want. And if you need help doing that, email me at info@louisbarajas.com.