What’s Your Utopia? A Question That Can Transform Your Life
What if the life you dream of didn’t have to wait until retirement? Asking just one question has sparked profound change for a number of my clients: What’s your utopia?
I once asked a client to imagine life without limitations. If money, time, and logistics weren’t obstacles:
- Where would you live?
- Who/what would you be surrounded by?
- How would your days unfold?
- What would you be doing?
It wasn’t clear at first, but over the course of our hour together she gradually shaped her vision of an ideal life. We then mapped out steps she could take to start living that vision in the months and years ahead. It didn’t happen overnight, but she relocated out of state and now enjoys her dream setting more than a decade sooner than she once imagined possible.
Back in 2011, my wife and I had our own “utopia” conversation, and it completely reshaped the course of our lives.
While I valued my coworkers and my director role at Cardinal, I often found myself completely absorbed in researching personal finance and investment topics. Even more, I loved sharing the principles I discovered with colleagues, family, and friends — probably more often than they wanted to hear!
I realized my own utopia was, in large part, creating a small business dedicated to helping others with their personal finances. It didn’t happen overnight—it took 2.5 years of moonlighting to refine the details and build a plan. But without that initial vision, I never would have had the energy to pursue my dream. Today, I’m grateful to be living much of the vision my wife and I set nearly 15 years ago.
As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and dream beyond the boundaries of your daily routine. Imagine life without restrictions: where would you live, who/what would surround you, and how would your days unfold? Once you’ve pictured it, ask: what one or two steps can you take now to start closing the gap?
Your utopia doesn’t have to wait till retirement— it can start with small, intentional choices you make in the year ahead.
If you’d like guidance in defining your utopia or building a plan to reach it, I’m here to help.
Colburn Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.