I hate budgeting.

I understand the concept. I even value it. But it has never worked for me.

For the way I work, the uneven way I earn, and how my brain clicks – budgeting doesn’t work.

I was recently talking with my financial planner. He was stressed about my lack of a budget. Frustrated by my general refusal to bother with one.

Until he looked at what I saved and invested last year.

He quieted down at that point.

It’s not that I don’t manage my money. I do. But I don’t focus on what I’ll spend.

I focus first on two things: What I’ll earn and the three most important places I’ll put it: Giving, investing and taxes. Since giving and taxes are dependent on what I earn – investing (and saving) is where I set a goal.

After that, all the spending for business and home fits in with what is left.

Not saying that you should do it this way. But it’s what works for me.

My only debt is my house. We’re financially healthy.

I put money towards what is most important (to us) first.

I hate dieting.

I understand dieting. But focusing on what I won’t eat is excruciating. Counting calories makes me not want to eat. Just because of all the work involved in figuring out what I’m eating.

And dieting nearly never works for anyone. Not over the long haul. For most people, being healthy is about lifestyle. Not a temporary diet.

So, I focus on what I will eat. I aim for 200g of protein a day. Try to get a few veggies in there somewhere. And a gallon of water.

After that, I don’t worry too much. I do avoid sugars during the week. But I don’t get religious about it.

The 800g challenge is another good approach. Eat 800g’s of veggies and fruits a day. Then eat whatever else you want. I’ve thought about doing this one. The concept is the same. But I’d rather let the cows do the heavy lifting for me.

Maybe I’ll combine the two.

Anyhow, my approach seems to work. At 48, I’m still able to toss around 20-year-olds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

I put the food I need into my body. The rest sorts itself out.

I hate not getting things done.

I hate “to-do’s” that never get done.

I’m busy. All of my clients are busy. (I don’t have a single client who is trying to figure out how to fill their time).

Working hard is what we all already do. What doesn’t happen is some of the most important work.

Working hard and working a lot doesn’t necessarily mean the most important work gets done.

What I do is put time into my calendar for my most important work. I block it out. I make everything else work around it.

Since I hate scheduling, it’s actually my super-assistant, Erin, who has to work around it.

Sometimes, my schedule is a little frustrating or complicated. But I’ve learned that I will never write another book, never create another helpful resource, never do something that moves my business forward – if I don’t first set aside time for it.

I first create time to work on the most important things. Everything else has to fit around it.

Are you picking up on a theme?

Managing finances, diet, and time is perennially difficult for most people. But it becomes easy when you make it easy.

Do not try to get control of all the little stuff and try to fit important things in around it. You won’t do it. It won’t happen.

Put the most important things when or where you want them first. Let everything else sort itself out.

It’s easier than you might think. It works better than you might think.

You should stop thinking about it and do it.

Take good care,

Christian

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