I was thinking about goals and New Year’s resolutions when I came upon the story of John
Goddard—an adventurer, lecturer, and perhaps “the world’s greatest goal achiever.”
If you’ve ever read the book Chicken Soup for the Soul, you might be familiar with Goddard’s
name. (His story was included in the book.) But in case you don’t know who he is, prepare to be
amazed.

He was the first man in history to explore the entire length of the Nile. Still thirsty for
more, he also was the first man to ever explore the length of the Congo. He’s climbed the
Matterhorn, lived among native tribes in Brazil, Borneo, and New Guinea (among others), and
somehow found the time to learn to fence, fly a jet, and play the violin.

How did he manage to do all these things?

It all started like this: One rainy afternoon, when he was 15 years old, he sat down at his kitchen
table and wrote three words: “My Life List” 

His list consisted of 127 goals: Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, Fuji, and Vesuvius. Visit every country
in the world. (He made it to all but 30.) Photograph Victoria Falls in Rhodesia (where he was
chased by a warthog). Dive underwater to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Visit everywhere
from the Great Wall of China to the Taj Mahal, and 119 other goals in between.

Goddard died in 2013 at the age of 88, but not before completing 111 of the goals on his amazing
list. You can see the entire list, and which goals he achieved, by visiting his website at
www.johngoddard.info/life_list.htm. Or, just Google his name.

Looking at his list, I’m struck by how it mixes the grandiose (explore the Amazon) to the
romantic (swim in Lake Victoria) to, well ... the normal. Goddard didn’t just want to travel, he
wanted to accomplish. That’s why he set (and met) goals like “Become an Eagle Scout,” “Type
50 words a minute,” “Learn to play Clair de Lune on the piano,” or “Teach a college course.”
It goes without saying that Goddard is inspiring, but I think he’s a great example as well. While
not all of us may “study native medicines,” like he did, or even want to, we all can sit down and
decide what we really want in life. This is especially important when planning for retirement.
With a little imagination and a little planning, retirement can be whatever you want it to be.
There are two things about Goddard that I think contribute to his success:

 He wrote down his goals and kept that list with him. His original list still exists today.

I think writing your goals down is important. If it’s just in your head, it’s a fantasy. But if it
exists on paper, it’s a plan. You can always have it with you to look at, so at any given moment
you can study your list and decide if what you’re doing is really what you want … or if you’re
giving up what you want the most for what you only want right now.

Once he wrote his list, he stuck to it.

Often when we set our New Year’s resolutions, or any goals for that matter, we change them
before we ever meet them. Maybe that’s because we too often choose goals we think we should
achieve, rather than ones we actually care about. Goddard wrote down goals that actually meant
something to him. Maybe some were small, or even a bit eccentric (“light a match with a .22
rifle”), but he wrote them down because he wanted them. Not because he needed them. That
way, achieving his goals was never work.

This year, I think it would be good to look at John Goddard’s amazing list, and then write your
own. The list doesn’t have to be long, but it should be yours—the dreams of your childhood.
Start today. Grab a yellow pad and write the words, “My Retirement List.” Then fill it up. And
as you near or enter retirement, remember:

Don’t give up the things you want most for the things you only want right now.

Finally, remember that part of my job as a financial advisor is to help people
achieve their retirement goals. So if you have any doubts as to whether you have the financial
means to achieve your goals, or if you want to create a plan that will help you achieve them
(which I strongly recommend), please give me a call at 416-369-8836. Together, we can
discuss how to finance your New Year’s resolutions. That way, you’ll no longer have to worry
about paying for the retirement you want. Instead, you can spend your time actually living it.

Happy New Year! Happy Living!