The oldest stone arch bridge on the Australian mainland – Lennox Bridge in Emu Plains (completed 1833)
An arch bridge is a powerful metaphor for life.
As I understand it (as a non-engineer), the strength of the bridge depends on the integrity of the segments that make up the arch. Each segment needs to be strong and fit tightly against the adjacent segment. If any one segment is crumbling the strength of the whole bridge is compromised.
Fulfilment requires a ‘whole-of-life’ approach
From my experience, my reading, and my interaction with clients over many years, the things that sabotage and undermine business success tend to come from neglected areas of our personal lives. It is challenging to find much fulfilment, even in a year when you have a strong business result, if your teenage child is acting out and causing all kinds of trauma for the family, because your relationship has broken down due to your busyness. Or if you have neglected your health and a serious issue arises. Or, if you have neglected your marriage and suddenly discover your partner has become involved with someone new.
The 8 key areas of life we need to track
- Business / career – most are very focused. We tend to focus on and plan our business life and hope the rest of our life works.
- Wealth creation – We need clear wealth creation strategies and be implementing our plans every quarter to ensure we are not just building a business, that may not be worth what we hope at sale.
- Health & Fitness – It is easy to do a little every day and be fit, and it is even easier to NOT implement a daily exercise plan, and find, over a few years, that you are developing health issues.
- Friends & Family – This is your inner circle. Your children and your closest friends. When your children are young, you probably need a separate segment just for them. As they become adults, and have their own children, you need to focus and have regular opportunities to connect, or life can pass by very quickly.
- Life partner – The most important relationship in your life requires regular positive attention if you want it to stay strong. Always have plans in place that you are working on and anticipating together. You are building a life together.
- Personal Growth & Learning – This may be business related, or this year it may be a focus on improving your golf game. As long as you are developing new skills, your brain will respond and keep growing, and life will feel more fulfilling.
- Fun, Leisure & Recreation – “All work, and no play, makes Jack a dull boy”. We work so we can have a life. Many appear to just live to work. Finding activities that totally replenish you apart from work is an important part of being fully alive.
- Personal environment – We all spend a lot of time and money making our living space the way we want it. Even if you live in an apartment, this is the case. Finding that carpet or lounge that fits perfectly in the lounge room is fulfilling. As is, landscaping and maintaining the yard to create the living space you enjoy outside.
Some would include extra segments for children and others for spiritual growth. Overall, there could be 10 segments.
You must live on purpose to see consistent progress
I believe you need clear goals across every one of these segments. Each year my wife and I set goals for each area of our lives. Effective goals will help focus and motivate you. Each quarter we take a morning to plan the next 90 days. We make sure we have a clear plan across each area that we then schedule and implement. I find this disciplined approach helps us make progress across all the important areas of life. Week by week and month by month we track our progress and adjust our plans to make sure we achieve our goals by the end of year. Over the past 15 years, even adjusting for Covid lockdowns and 2 lots of cancer treatments, we have built a great life together. For us, it has been a key component of building a strong marriage.
There will always be challenges
Consistent progress is not easy. Our life has not been simple or straightforward. In 2020 I had surgery and chemo for bladder cancer. Also, in 2020 my wife was diagnosed with bi-lateral breast cancer and had months of chemo and then double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. Her recovery has been slow and has meant she has had to sell part of her business and mostly stop working. Then, for me, after a couple of years of monitoring, in late 2024 I had my prostate removed to avoid possible prostate cancer. It took a few months for me to get back to full functionality.
Life always has challenges. Ours were all caught early, and now, the cancer, at least, appears to be behind us.
Fulfilment in life comes from consistent progress across all areas.
Even though we have had to adjust plans significantly at times, we have kept to our goals and planning processes and have still seen amazing progress across each area of life. My wife has had to let go of some of her work and the recovery time from surgery has been longer than she expected. However, the extra time has enabled her to reflect on her life and reset her purpose. Even during her recovery, she has been finding new ways to achieve her and our goals. I’m very proud of her, and there are all kinds of good things ahead.
Conclusion
As we reflect on this past year and make plans for 2026, we are very grateful for the life we are living and the opportunities ahead. If you would like to learn a ‘whole-of-life’ planning process to assist you with your progress, I am running an online Quarterly Planning Workshop on January 15. For more information and to register please book here.
If you would like to have a conversation about how I could be of assistance to you in your situation, please book a time here.
I wish you a very happy Christmas season. Please take some time to reflect and reset for the year ahead. May 2026 be your best year yet, as you build the life you want for your family.
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