Stewardship Well Done Journey
Step 1 – PRIORITIES
Roadblock #1 – Why is it important to start with priorities?

Many financial planning tools begin with a budget. So why does the Stewardship Well Done Journey begin with PRIORITIES? One of the best answers may have been given by American baseball legend Yogi Berra who said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” Setting your priorities provides you with a roadmap for the rest of the journey. It helps you answer questions that arise along the way and respond to unexpected circumstances. 

For example, let’s say a young couple decides education is one of their priorities. They each desire a master’s degree and also want to provide their children with plenty of educational opportunities. This is vital to have in mind when they form their budget. After the essentials (food, shelter, utilities, etc.) they will want to build line items into their budget that allow them to address this priority. If they do not methodically address it, they may find themselves unprepared when their kids reach college age.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Deciding on your PRIORITIES is sharpening your axe. The success of the journey will be determined by how well the preparation is done. That is why we start with PRIORITIES.