Hi all!
2012 is a year that I will never forget (even though there are parts of it I wish I could)!
From a business perspective, Strategic Planning Solutions (SPS) continued to grow thanks to the numerous referrals we continue to receive from our loyal clients. Apart from being honoured to receive referrals, we are truly grateful for this as it enables us to spend time looking after our existing clients and not spending time looking for new ones – please keep the referrals coming! Despite my personal health challenges and significant time out of the office during the second half the year, our growth will be in excess of 10% for 2012. I am truly thankful for the team at SPS for their dedication and ability to continue to provide outstanding service and for their hard work behind the scenes in making sure what we advise and recommend is correctly and efficiently implemented.
After six and half years of dedicated and loyal service we have to say good-bye to Leonie who is moving to Darwin to be with her fiancé Nicholas. Leonie stared with us back in July 2006 and been an incredible support to SPS. Over the years I have continued to be told by so many clients how great Leonie is to them. Leonie’s genuine concern and care for our clients and her attention to detail have been her strength. On behalf of the team at SPS, we wish Leonie every success and happiness as she embarks upon the next phase of her life. I am sure we will all miss her! In the new year we will seek to employ Leonie’s replacement – this will be one of our first challenges of 2013.
As most of you know, I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in August. Since then I have had a radical prostatectomy and I await medical advice on further treatment in the new year. Words cannot express my gratitude for the numerous calls, emails, SMS’s and cards that I received from clients, friends, family and suppliers. I was so touched. Unfortunately, sometimes I don’t think we really know how much we mean to other people in our life until significant events like this occur. I have made great progress physically and have realised that ‘enjoying the moment’ and not dwelling on the ‘what if’s’ are keys to moving forward and enjoying life. The continued strength and support of my friends, family and my faith in God underpin my progress.
I realise that maintaining our lifestyles generates a level financial pressure and stress, but going through this challenge in my life has made it even clearer to me that good health and balance in life should be our main focus. We can help you plan for the achievement of your lifestyle and financial goals, but it is up to you to make the daily decisions to enjoy life and develop the relationships with the people who mean the most to you. We all must have dreams and goals but don’t forget to consider the non-financial cost of achieving them. Please take the time over Christmas to reassess what you are aiming for in life and, if necessary, take the foot off the accelerator and enjoy life’s journey more. I know that money helps with all of this but I would swap every dollar I have for my health. I often remind myself, that in Australia, even the poor live lives that people in Third World Countries dream about!
Once again, in lieu of sending Christmas cards, we have made a significant donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia which is the peak national body for prostate cancer in Australia. I know I said this in my last blog, and that this is not formal medical advice, but for all you blokes over the age of 40 who haven’t had your Prostate checked – JUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND GET IT DONE! Please don’t rely on the PSA test alone. For all the men that have acted upon my advice in my last blog and have either been checked or are about to be – well done! You don’t know how much satisfaction I get from hearing that people have decided to take action. I would not want anybody to experience what my family and I have had to endure and still have to face.
SPS will be closed for the Christmas break from Friday 5:30pm and will re-open for business on Monday, January the 7th at 9:00am (If you have an urgent matter which can’t wait for our return, please send an email to michael@strategicplanningsolutions.com.au
On behalf of the team at SPS, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2013!
Michael