And I know that by the time you sold your properties, you’d really had enough. So, I guess an exit plan would help. I had an exit plan for the business I sold in late 2006 but it didn’t work out well as I wound up exiting a couple of years earlier than I intended. Maybe a “had enough” plan is also needed.

Hi Sterling – you’re welcome. Tweaking and changing your plans as you go is a good idea. And the fact that you’re excited about your new plans is a good thing. Instinct is so important isn’t it?

Hi Rita – that is a really good point. I think it was Barbara Swafford who said she’d drug tested her employees and half of them failed the test.

I often wonder about those background checks too. I guess the trouble is that a lot of thieves never get caught and those who do are pretty good at fiddling the system to their advantage.

Hi Robin – staying flexible is important isn’t it? And marketing is changing so much now too – I think many people will have to rethink their whole business if they want to keep up.

Hi Urban Panther – Time is always the toughest thing isn’t it? It sounds like planning backwards will work for you and give you some ideas on how to get there.

Urban Panther’s last blog post..A night at Navarra

For example, I only found out about blogging at the start of this year. It has turned out to be one of the main things I focus on – I had quite different ideas of what I might be doing this year.

Robin’s last blog post..Letting Creativity Just Slip In

Thank you for the link, and I enjoyed reading Marelisa’s article too.

Sterling’s last blog post..The #1 Problem With Small Business Websites

When we were starting our owner/landlord rental property business … we actually did think about the collateral damage that would happen to our personal life.
You know … 2am – the water pipe just busted in the kitchen call.
Or the it’s freezing/snow blowing everywhere blizzard outside … and they call that their furnace just went out.
We were ready for it.
Then our priorities % values changed.
It wasn’t a good fit anymore.
So in other words … it might be helpful to also consider what to do if your business no longer is a good fit, 10,20,30 years down the road.
I’m not sure we handled that properly …
I sometimes think we should have gotten somebody to manage the properties for us, instead of selling them outright???
Anyhoo … terrific post!
It got me thinking, as your posts usually do!

dawn’s last blog post..FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY …

Kathy, I know exactly what you mean because I have made the same mistake. And I know a lot of people think that making a heap of cash will make up for everything else. But when you’re feeling that burnt out it doesn’t does it.

And it’s better that you found that out late, as I did, than not at all.

Hi Avani, I like that idea too. There’s always an element of chance isn’t there and sometimes it may well be better.

Mare it is so easy to do that. I think it’s a mistake that many of us make. But at least we can learn from it.

Al, the journey is the most important part isn’t it. And when you eventually achieve huge goals, the fact that you enjoyed the journey will be far more important than any material rewards.

Al at 7P’s last blog post..The Hero with a Thousand Jobs

Marelisa’s last blog post..Happiness Extravaganza: Tips, Tidbits, and Tools