What's In Plain Sight

We’ve all done it. Looked back on some aspect of our lives and thought about how we could have done it better. But what if we didn’t have to? What if we could pick other people’s brains, see what they would change about their lives, and make ours better so that we can avoid some of the same regrets?

Thanks to Dr. Gerald Ball, former professor at the University of North Carolina, we can. Dr. Ball is one of the world’s most respected human behaviorists, and his study of 4,000 retired executives is an eye-opener.

Here it is, in a nutshell. Dr. Ball went into homes and care centers, and interviewed ex-execs (average age, 70). His question was this: If you could live your life over, what would you do differently? Here are the answers, starting with the most common.

1. Take charge of my life and set goals earlier

2. Take better care of my health

3. Manage my money better

4. Spend more time with my family

5. Spend more time on personal development

6. Have more fun

7. Plan my career better

8. Give back more

These answers came from people who have done what a lot of us are doing now—getting out there and making a name for ourselves. Striving to achieve more.

Now ask yourself: How in charge of your life are you? Where do you sit with your goals? How is your health? How healthy are your finances? How much time are you spending with your family? If you’ve got room to re-evaluate and improve, and you choose to DO it, you could very well find yourself one day looking back and smiling.