Get Financially Fit! 在财政上得到合适的！

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I once heard the following quote (I’m not sure of the source)有一次，我听取了以下引号（我不知道该源）

It’s better to fail at something important, than succeed at something unimportant. 它的更好的失败，在一些重要的是，较成功地在一些不重要的。

When I first heard this quote it stopped me in my tracks.  Imagine spending your life pursuing a goal only to realize that in the end it was not important.  Here are some of my ideas about following your dreams and goals.当我第一次听到这引述停止我的轨道。开支想象你的生活追求的目标，只有认识到，在年底这是并不重要。这里有一些我的想法对以下你的梦想和目标。

1.  Follow YOUR dreams and goals 1 。跟随你的梦想和目标
It’s easy to fall in love with dreams that are marketed to us.  Who doesn’t want to drive a BMW through tight turns, live in a McMansion, or stay in a posh hotel?  When you list your dreams and goals, ask yourself what your motivation is?  For example, if you do desire a nice car is it to enjoy the car, for the sense of achievement, or is it to impress others?人们很容易坠入爱河与梦想销售给我们，谁不希望驾驶宝马公司通过严格的转折，生活在一个mcmansion ，或留在一个豪华的酒店？当您列出您的梦想和目标，要求自己有什么您的动机是什么？例如，如果您这样做的愿望，好车是它享有汽车，为成就感，或者是它打动别人呢？

2.  Be persistent when pursuing your dreams and goals. 2 。坚持不懈时，追求你的梦想和目标。
I’ve heard it said that obstacles aren’t put in your way to stop you, but to show how bad you want a dream.  Persistence is the most important factor when achieving your desired end result.我听说过它说的障碍是不付诸表决，在您的办法阻止你，但显示如何坏你想一个梦想。毅力是最重要的因素时，实现您想要的最终结果。

3.  You decide when to stop pursuing a goal 3 。你决定何时停止追求的目标
I don’t subscribe that you need to always我不订阅，您需要永远

According to government statistics, the Core Price Index (a measure of broad inflation) is up only 4.0% over the last year (see March 2008 report from the Bureau of labor statistics ).   In my life I am finding a disconnect between this low reported rate of inflation and a wide variety of good and services such as gas, groceries, and restaurants.根据政府的统计数字，核心物价指数（衡量通货膨胀的广泛）是只有4.0 ％ ，比去年（ 见2008年3月的报告从劳工统计局 ） 。在我的生活我找到一个断开之间的这种低报通胀率和各种各样的好和服务，如煤气，杂货，和餐馆。

I have written several articles with ideas on how to Live within your means , How to Balance your Checkbook , and how to Eliminate Debt .  In this article I would like to share some ideas on how I am working to reduce expenses.我已经写了一些文章，想法就如何活在您的手段 ， 如何平衡你的支票簿 ，以及如何消除债务 。在这篇文章我想分享一些想法就如何，我的工作，以减少开支。

1. Eliminate left hand turns on busy roads .  Both UPS and FedEx announced early this year that they remapped their routes to minimize left turns.  I have been trying this strategy.  I’m not sure if I’m saving money, but I can say that I have reduced the stress associated with crossing difficult roads.  The next time you are completing your errands, see if you can eliminate those difficult left turns that keep you stranded in the middle of the road. 1 。 消除左手轮流繁忙的道路 。 UPS和FedEx宣布，今年年初，他们remapped他们的路线，以尽量减少左转弯，我一直试图这项策略。我不知道如果我节省金钱，但我可以说我有减少的压力，与横过道路上的困难。下次当您完成您的递送，看看您是否可以消除这些困难左转弯保持你滞留在中东的道路。

2. Split a meal when eating out .  American portion sizes are much to big.  My wife and I typically share meals at our favorite Mexican, Thai, and Chinese restaurants.  For example, at the Mexican restaurant we share Fajitas and order extra tortillas. 2 。 分裂吃饭时，外出就餐 ，美国部分的大小非常大。我的妻子和我分享吃饭通常在我们的最爱，墨西哥，泰国，及中式餐馆。例如，在墨西哥餐厅，我们分享fajitas和秩序额外的玉米饼。

3. On date night, eat at home but then go out for dessert Another trick that my wife and I do sometimes is to eat a simple meal at home (such as leftovers) and then go out for either a fun appetizer and drinks or dessert.  This is a fun way to get out and enjoy the experience of a restaurant at one-third the price.  I’ll never forget one time when we met a large group of friends at a high end bistro.  My wife and I split an appetizer and each enjoyed a glass a wine for $25 for both of us, while our friends bloated on multi course meals at over $100 per couple.  When the bill arrived, the credit cards began flying into the center of the table like playing cards in Vegas.  The looks were priceless when we simply paid with cash, bid everyone good night, and escaped into the clear night air. 3 。日期晚，吃在家里，但当时的走出去，为甜品的另一伎俩，我的妻子和我做，有时是吃一个简单的餐在家中（如剩菜） ，然后走出去无论是一种有趣的开胃和饮料或点心。这是一个有趣的方式走出去享受的经验，一间酒楼的三份之一的价格。我永远不会忘记一时间，当我们会见了一大群朋友在一个较高的年底，小酒馆。我和我的夫人分裂1开胃和每所享有的玻璃葡萄酒为25元，美双方均，而我们的朋友臃肿的多，当然餐超过100元，每对夫妇。条例草案时抵达，信用卡开始飞入中心的表像纸牌在拉斯维加斯。看起来都是无价的，当我们只是支付的现金，出价，大家晚安，逃脱到清晰的夜间空气。

As you can tell, it’s easy to for me to think of food ideas. What are your suggestions?正如你可以告诉，人们很容易，我认为食品的想法。 你有什么建议吗？

Only through dedicated work does a man fulfill himself. 只有透过专责的工作是否一名男子履行自己。
-William Carlson -威廉卡尔森

We have all had the experience where we get excellent service from a waiter, waitress, or flight attendant.我们都的经验，我们得到优良的服务，从一个侍应生，服务员，或机舱服务员。 My challenge for you this month is to reflect on how to provide better service to your customers and achieve more fulfillment.我的挑战，为你这个月是思考如何提供更好的服务与您的客户和实现更圆满。

We all have a choice in how we approach work.我们大家都选择在我们如何工作。 We can see it a necessary hardship or we can choose to make it a fun and rewarding experience.我们可以看到它的一个必要困难或我们可以选择，使之成为有趣和有意义的经验。

Here are the essentials to be a productive and fulfilled worker:这里是要点是一个生产，圆满地完成了工作：
1. 1 。 Choose to make work fun选择使工作乐趣
2. 2 。 Focus on that which is within your control重点是说，这是您的控制
3. 3 。 Get organized and productive获得有组织及生产力
4. 4 。 Deliver what your customer needs提供什么您的顾客的需求
5. 5 。 Be reliable可靠

Let’s get started.让我们开始吧。

Choose to make work fun 选择使工作乐趣
“What would it look like to have fun at work?” This is a question that a colleague named Tom taught me to ask. “会有什么它看起来像有乐趣的工作？ ： ”这是一个问题，一位同事命名为汤姆教我问。 His enthusiasm for interacting and working with people was contagious.他的热情互动，和人们一起工作是传染性的。 You always wanted to work with Tom because he complimented people, saw every challenge as an adventure, and genuinely loved to work.你总是希望工作与TOM ，因为他赞扬的人，看到每一个挑战，作为一个冒险的，真正喜欢的工作。 I asked him how he came to love work.我问他，他如何来爱工作。 He told me that when he was young, a coworker taught him to ask the question, what can I do to make work fun every day?他告诉我，当他年轻，同事教他要问的问题，我能做些什么来作出工作的乐趣，每天？ When Tom was 65 our company offered a generous buy-out package.当汤姆是65 ，我们公司提供一个慷慨的买了包。 He reluctantly took it and expressed to me how he was going to miss working with his coworkers.他勉强把它和向我表示他是如何被去小姐的工作与他的同事们。 What would make your work fun?是什么使你的工作的乐趣？ Imagine complimenting others, seeing the challenges of the day as an adventurous journey, and making work fun with your natural gifts and talents.试想complimenting别人，看到的挑战一天作为一个冒险旅程，和决策工作的乐趣与您的自然馈赠和人才。

Focus on that which is within your control 重点是说，这是您的控制
You have a choice on whether you focus on things that you control or things that you don’t control.你可以选择你是否为重点的东西，你控制或事情，你不控制。 When you focus on things you control you increase your effectiveness.当您专注于事情，您可以控制您提高效益。 When you focus on things you can’t control you risk becoming a complainer.当您专注于事你无法控制你的风险成为complainer 。 Taken to an extreme a complainer can become the chronic ‘boss hater’.采取一个极端的一complainer可以成为慢性'老板仇恨' 。

When you communicate with your coworkers you can significantly affect the tone of the conversation by changing your questions.当您与您的同事，您可以显着影响的口吻谈话，改变您的问题。 For example, instead of asking the generic How is it going?举例来说，而不是要求一般是如何将走向何方？ Ask, What’s going well?请问，是怎么回事呢？ or what’s fun on your project?或有什么有趣的对您的项目？ You’ll be amazed how the majority of your conversations will be positive and end in you feeling great about the conversation.您将如何惊讶，大多数的交谈将是积极的和结束在你的感觉伟大的有关谈话。

Get Organized and Focused 获得有组织及重点
In my experience, getting organized and productive is one of the hardest challenges.在我的经验，得到有组织的和富有成效的是一个艰难的挑战。 An eye-opening book that really helped me improve significantly is Getting Things Done by David Allen.大开眼界开放的书，真的帮了我很大改善越来越事情由David李鹏飞。 I recommend that you borrow a copy from your local library.我建议你借一份拷贝，从您当地的图书馆。

The strategies that David recommends are to get clutter out of your brain, maintain a simple system of physical and electronic inboxes that you empty regularly, and dealing with short tasks immediately.战略大卫建议是获得杂波出你的大脑，维持一个简单系统的物理和电子信箱，你空洞的定期，并处理短期的任务，立即。

A powerful principle that David advises is to reduce the clutter in your brain by not requiring your brain to track your open tasks and commitments.一个强大的原则，即国宝意见，是为了减少杂波在你的大脑，不要求你的大脑来追踪您的公开任务和承诺。 Keep a single to do list and reliably use your calendar.保持一个单一的待办清单和可靠的使用您的日历。 He recommends that when you create your to do list, add a column where you identify the next action step.他建议，当您建立您的待办清单，添加一栏，您确定下一步的行动步骤。 I found his recommendation of adding your next action step for each open task to be helpful.我发现他的建议，加入您的下一个行动步骤，每一个开放的工作有所帮助。 I now schedule many things that I need to do directly in to my calendar.我现在的时间表，很多事情，我需要做的直接到我的日历。

I successfully implemented his strategy for emptying physical and electronic inboxes.我成功的实施他的战略排空的物理和电子信箱。 I typically get 100 emails a day and would historically have over a 1000 emails in my inbox. i通常获得100电子邮件一天，并会在历史上有超过1千电子邮件在我的收件箱。 For a period of time I was able to keep my work inbox near zero emails.为在一段时间内，我能够保留我的工作在接近零的收件箱中的电子邮件。 At the moment I am struggling to get back down to zero emails as I balance many competing deadline.目前，我挣扎取回下降至零的电子邮件，正如我平衡许多竞争的最后期限。

A very useful recommendation is to immediately complete and close short tasks and requests.一个非常有用的建议是立即完成，并密切短期的任务和要求。 Instead of letting lots of little tasks pile up, just complete any item that takes less than 1 minute.而不是让大量的小桩的任务，只要完成任何项目需要不到1分钟。 For my job I have found that it is beneficial to complete any task immediately that takes less then 5 minutes.为我的工作我发现，这是有利于完成任何任务，立即考虑较少，然后5分钟。 For a few days it felt like I was spending a lot of my time completing a lot of short tasks, but this really did reduce my sense of stress.为几天感觉就像我是花了很多时间，我完成了很多短期的任务，不过，这确实减少我的感觉的压力。

Deliver what your customer’s needs 提供什么你的客户的需要
I had a work experience that has changed the way that I approach my work.我有一个工作的经验，改变了我的做法，我的工作。 I had worked with a team of people for many years.我曾与一队的人很多年。 We often would identify and work on improvements that we thought would help our customers.我们常常将确定和工作，就改善我们认为会帮助我们的客户。 One day we got a new manager who interviewed our different customer segments.一天，我们得到一个新经理人谁采访了我们不同的客户群体。 Her survey method was to ask each customer to prioritize his or her needs from 1 (most important) to 5 (5th most important).她的调查方法是要求每个客户的优先次序，他或她的需要，从1 （最重要）至5 （第五，最重要的） 。 She shared the results with us and then we went to work addressing the customer’s requests in the appropriate priority.她赞同的结果，与我们的话，我们上班去处理客户的要求在适当的优先事项。 Over the course of 5 years we repeated this process every 6 months.超过的过程中五年，我们反复这个过程中每6个月。 We were able to provide some customer needs quickly, while other challenges took persistence and time to complete.我们能够提供一些客户的需求迅速，而其他的挑战，采取了坚持和时间才能完成。 In our customer’s opinion we went from being one of the worst to the best suppliers within just a couple of years.在我们的客户的意见，我们就从正在最严重的国家之一，以最佳的供应商在短短数年。 By the fifth year we were proactively developing solutions that were not needed for several years.由第五个年头，我们积极发展的解决方案，并不需要数年之久。

The key lesson that I learned from that experience was to build a relationship with your customers.关键的教训，我知道从这一经验是建立一个与您的客户。 Ask them how you can improve and what you are doing well.问他们如何可以改善和你做好。 If you keep asking this question and focus on improvement you will help your customers win.如果您不断地问这个问题，并重点放在改善你会帮助您的客户实现双赢。

Be reliable 可靠
We all appreciate it when other people complete work and commitments by agreed upon deadline.我们都明白它当其他人完成的工作和承诺议定的最后期限。 I recommend that you make being reliable foundational to your work.我建议你作出可靠的基础，以你的工作。 Being reliable not only means delivers work on time, but also providing clear communication if you become aware that you can’t meet a deadline.正在可靠不仅意味着提供的工作时间，但也提供明确的沟通，如果你成为知道你不能满足一个最后期限。 You will have the most peace if you honestly let your customers, colleagues, or boss know immediately as you become aware that a delay is occurring.你将拥有最和平，如果你诚实地让您的客户，同事或老板立即知道你成为知道，拖延正在发生。

Life Application 生活中的应用
What can you do today to become more productive and fulfilled?可以做什么，今天变得更加富有成效，圆满地完成了呢？ What can you do to make your work fun?可以做什么，使您的工作增添很多乐趣呢？ This month take on the challenge of being more productive and fulfilled in your work.本月采取的挑战，正在更具生产力和实现在你的工作。

When we grow up we often hear that education is the best investment that we can make.   Let’s answer the following question: Is there a benefit relative to the risk of unemployment from more education?当我们长大，我们常常听到，教育是最好的投资，我们可以让的回答以下问题：是否有一个好处，相对的风险，失业，从更多的教育？

The United States Department of Labor details the unemployment rate as a function of eduction.  Here are unemployment statistics from March 2008.美国国务院劳动详情失业率作为一个教育功能。这里是失业统计，从2008年3月。

Education Level Unemployment rate教育水平的失业率
Less than a high school diploma 9.5%不到一个高中文凭的9.5 ％
High school graduates, no college 5.6%高中毕业生，没有大学的5.6 ％
Some college or associate degree 4.1%一些大学或副学士4.1 ％
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2.1%学士学位和更高的2.1 ％

Table A-4. 表 1 - 4 。 Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment 就业状况平民人口25年及以上的按教育程度划分

The improvement in the unemployment rate is quite dramatic (up to 4X difference) as a person obtains more education.  The improvement from high school diploma to a bachelors degree and higher reduces the risk of unemployment by over 50%!   I think it’s important for younger people to be aware of the benefits of higher education beyond the obvious benefit of increased income.在改善失业率是相当戏剧性的（高达4倍的差异）作为一个人获得更多的教育。改善从高中文凭到一个单身汉的程度和更高的降低失业风险，由50 ％以上！我认为它的重要性对于年轻的人必须知道的好处，高等教育超越了明显的利益，增加收入。

I was talking with a friend the other day and he asked me if it was better to pay off the mortgage first or focus on retirement savings.  My personal preference is to save 15% toward retirement savings and then use incremental money to pay off your house.  My post titled, Create a financial plan , outlines my 10 recommended steps to retirement security.我是说与一个朋友在另一天，他问我，如果这是更好地偿清按揭贷款首或为重点的退休储蓄。我个人的偏好是为了节省15 ％ ，对退休储蓄，然后用增量资金，以支付过你的房子。我的职务标题， 创建一个财务计划 ，概述了我国10个建议的步骤来的退休保障。

If you have incremental money to put toward your mortgage here is a strategy to pay off your mortgage in half the remaining time of your loan.  In brief you create an amortization table and double up on principal payments.  The accelerated payment method that I’m describing worked for fixed loan mortgages.如果您有增量资金提出对您的按揭这里是一个策略，以偿清按揭在您的一半，余下时间，您的贷款。在简短您创建了一个摊还表和双重了对本金。加速的付款方式，我描述工作，为固定抵押贷款。

Step one of the process is to create an amortization schedule for your mortgage.  An amortization schedule details your principal and interest payment for each month.  I found a good amortization calculator at Bankrate.  Simply enter the loan amount, number of payment periods (in years or months, the interest rate, and the starting date of the loan.  The calculator will calculate both your monthly payment and the principal and interest payment for each month.  The Bankrate calculator also has the option of adding an incremental payment each month, adding an incremental payment each year, or adding a one time payment.一步一个过程是创造一个摊销附表为您的按揭贷款。摊还附表细节，您的本金和利息的支付每个月我发现一个很好的摊销计算器在bankrate 。只需输入贷款金额，数目付款期（在年或数个月，利息率，并开始日期的贷款。计算器将计算您每月付款和本金和利息的支付每个月。 bankrate计算器也可以选择加入一个增量支付每个月，加入一增量每年缴付，或加入一个时间付款。

To cut your mortgage payment time in half, simply send an incremental payment each month that matches the principal payment corresponding to the month that you are in.  Here’s an example:削减您的按揭付款的时间在半，只需发送一个增量支付每个月相匹配的主要支付相应的一个月你是英寸这里的一个例子：

Loan amount: $200,000贷款金额： $ 200,000
Loan term: 30 years贷款期限： 30年
Interest rate: 6%利息： 6 ％

The calculator determines that your monthly payment is $1199.10计算器认定您每月付款是1199.10美元

In the first month, $199.10 goes to principal and $1000 goes toward interest.  In month 1 then send in an incremental $199.10 and your loan duration will shrink by an incremental 1 month.在第一个月， 一百九十九点一○美元去本金和1000美元云对利益。在第1个月，然后传送在一个增量一百九十九点一○美元和您的贷款期限将缩减一个增量一个月。

In the second month $200.10 goes to principal and $999.0 goes toward interest.  In month 2 send in an incremental $200.10 and your loan during will shrink by an incremental month (your loan will now end two months earlier).在2个月二百点一○美元去本金和九百九十九点○美元云对利益，在本月2的传送，在一个增量200.10美元和您的贷款期间，会缩减1个月的增量（您的贷款将结束，现在提前了两个月） 。

In an alternative scenario if you are 10 years into this same loan and want to begin this process, the incremental payment would be $341.20. Simply print out the amortization schedule and begin paying the principal payment amount.在另一种情况，如果你是10年到这个相同的贷款，并希望开始这个过程中，增量付款将三百四十一点二〇美元。 只需打印出来摊销附表，并开始支付的主要付款金额。

The great thing about this recommended process is that you can send in incremental money and quickly determine the decrease in the loan term.  One way to apply this process is to print out the amortization schedule for your mortgage.  Whenever you send in an incremental principal payment for the current month then you cross off the last month on the schedule.  This has the benefit that you can visually see the the progress that you are making toward eliminating your mortgage.伟大的事，对这个建议的过程是，您可以发送，在增量资金和迅速确定减少，在贷款期限。方法之一，适用于这个过程是打印出来摊销附表为您的按揭贷款。每当您发送在一个增量的主要付款对于当前一个月，然后你跨小康上个月就附表，这有利于您可以在视觉上看到的进展，你正在对消除您的按揭贷款。

One of my  motivations for writing this post is to warn you off of expensive software packages ($1000 to $5000) that supposedly help you pay off your mortgage faster.  You are much better off putting that money toward your mortgage payment.我的一个动机写这本后，是您发出警告小康昂贵的成套软件（ 1000美元到5000元）表示，理应帮你还清您的按揭更快。你是好得多把这笔钱对您的按揭付款。

Follow your dreams, Achieve your goals! 按照你的梦想，实现自己的目标！

Help others!  Spread the challenge to Get Financially Fit!帮助别人！蔓延的挑战，以取得财政适合！