It is end of the year and everybody will urge you to have goals. Goals for your personal happiness, losing weight, having more money, etc. etc.

HOWEVER it is necessary that you should have your personal goals. I know one 35 year old who spends a lot of his money in animal welfare, takes 10 day vacations to Arunachal Pradesh, runs a sub 3 hour Full Marathon and has decided not to get married. Very unusual – but he is very clear in his goals and does not feel pressurized by other’s goals. His younger brother is ‘normal’ (to quote his mom!!).

Similarly I am part of a running group which has about 4000 members. Well I am part of a sub group of 20 runners which is made up largely of doctors of various specialities, How they are able to take time out to run in their busy schedule is something to admire about, All of them are in the age group of 35 to 55! They all seem to be having their personal running goals apart from their personal fitness goals and health goals.

In most running groups the common goal is a) to run faster or b) to run longer or c)to run faster and longer. However, I stand out of the crowd – my personal running goal is to be able to run for another 13 years – at a decent place in various beautiful destinations of India where organised running is available. Simple.

I am under no pressure from anybody to have a different goal. Similarly in your personal financial life too you can have different goals from what every body has. Most goals are career, career advancement – for the corner office, trophy children studying in branded schools or colleges, children’s career choices, a large number of tags on your baggage, size (or brand) of cars, etc.

However I meet people with dramatically different goals too. i guess it takes some courage and gumption to have off beat goals and the strength to complete the goals. They do it.

So you meet doctors who at 43 are wondering whether to practice or take up a job as well as doctors age 65 wondering how to sell their practice! I have also met doctors who have successfully sold their practice (largely real estate and going concern basis) – and are leading a relaxed life. Yes they are still in practice – but do not have the headache of administering a business. Yes very few doctors realize that being a good doctor does not mean you know how to run a commercial hospital.

So go ahead and set up your own goals – and go and achieve them. Happy 2019.