Happy New Year! Here we are again picking up where we left off in 2011. Last year was either a banner or bust year for finances. It depends how you look at it. I know many are making their financial resolutions for this year, but before you start making resolutions, perform a SWOT analysis on your finances.
SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses/Limitations, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. SWOT analyses are used when companies and organizations want to go from good to great. They are usually completed before a goal is set. Sometimes many people go into a new year without really looking at the impact of the previous year. We need to celebrate as well as improve. Look at the four components of the financial takeover principles (stewardship, budgeting, giving, and investing) and review them in the SWOT.
2011 Financial SWOT Analysis
Also ask yourself these questions:
Don’t be afraid to take the test; no one has to know but you and God.
After reviewing the SWOT, look at your weakness, opportunities, and threats to see how you can improve. One of the best ways to increase your finances is to do a net worth analysis. Net worth is the difference between total assets (what you have) and total liabilities (what you owe). It is the actual amount of wealth in your hands at a given point in time. Net worth not only determines your wealth, it can ultimately determine the health of your financial future. You want to have your liabilities to decrease from year over year. Why? This means that you are becoming more financial savvy and you are taking over your finances. Let me know if you need a networth template, I will send it. Once you have the data, set your vision for your finances and work the four principles. There is no need to get stressed out about money. God has it all under control.
Have a good day
P.S. Remember to master your finances before it masters you. If you have any testimonies that you want to share with others for your finances, you may email me. We are all in this together. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).
Cedric Dukes is the author of Hostile Takeover – Manifesting God’s Plan and Purpose for Your Finances and newly released book, The Power of Time. Purchase of The Power of Time can be made at www.amazon.com or www.createspace.com.