This is part 3 in the series of “How to Succeed in 2007.” This series is about my thoughts on the CNN Money Article “How to Succeed in 2007.” You may want to start with part 1 and part 2.

Jeff Goodby
Co-founder, Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Remake Ad Campaigns for the Digital Age

“Our campaigns are a lot more work now. Our “Got Milk” campaign was based on the fact that milk made you sleep better and rebuilt muscles. So we created TV commercials where aliens came and abducted cows and took them back to their planet, because their bones were weak and they needed more sleep. Then we made a website for angry farmers, Cowabduction.com. We put up notices around the city about the missing cows. And we made another website promoting the aliens’ point of view. The campaign was such a success that we’re releasing it in theaters.”

This one just cracks me up. I loved that commercial series.

While this may seem totally unrelated to finances, I promise you it is. [Read more →]

This is part 2 of the series ‘Budgets for Dummies.’ Part 1 can be found here.

Many people feel that budgets are restricting. The truth is that they are only restricting if you are predisposed to think that they are restricting. However, if you’re willing to put your rose colored glasses down, I can show you how budgets actually free you you spend your money. It leads to better money management and less financial stress.

So how does this actually work? How does a budget allow me to spend my money more freely? Think about this, how often have you wanted to go on vacation, but felt guilty about putting it on a credit card? Ever wanted to go to that exclusive restaurant, but felt like it was to much money? How about wanting a new car? [Read more →]

While I was sitting around this morning I was thinking about my life. I was thinking about my plans and my [tag] goals [/tag]. Where do I want to go? Where am I at on my [tag]personal goals[/tag]? Do you ever think about this kind of stuff? It really challenges me when I see what my goals are and where I am in relation to those goals. I’ll tell you that I am no expert in this type of thing, but what I can tell you is my view and how I handle it in my own life.

The 4 areas in my life that I set goals for:

1) Financially
2) Physically
3) Relationally
4) Spiritually

When setting goals, I always look at the big picture first. I’m a Z to A kind of a guy. I like to look at the finished product and work backwards. Here are my financial goals. My main goal is the first one; the other goals are the sub goals that will get me to my main goal.

My [tag]financial[/tag] goals:

[Read more →]