New Year, New Focus

January 3, 2025

Episode Highlights
  • [00:00] Introduction: Cleared for Takeoff
  • The episode begins with a friendly welcome from Bill and Pete Bush.
  • Reflecting on the transition into 2025: New beginnings, fresh plans, and the excitement (and challenges) of the New Year
  • [02:00] Why New Year's Resolutions Fail
  • Pete discusses Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art and the concept of “Resistance,” the internal force that challenges personal growth and improvement.
  • How to recognize and overcome resistance to stay committed to your goals
  • [04:00] Start the Year with a Financial Check-In
  • Bill shares his habit of tracking account balances in a spreadsheet to monitor progress over the years.
  • Key steps for an annual financial check-up:
  • Review account balances (emergency savings, retirement plans, etc.).
  • Evaluate progress year-over-year.
  • Adjust contributions to retirement plans, leveraging auto-escalation or increasing savings rates after raises
  • [06:30] Chapter Spotlight: "Where Are You Now?"
  • Revisiting the book chapter that emphasizes the importance of reassessing your financial position regularly.
  • Discussion on adapting to changes, such as career shifts, family events, or market fluctuations, and their impact on financial planning.
  • [08:45] Health Goals: Making it to and Through Retirement
  • The importance of proactive healthcare and maintaining physical fitness.
  • Bill and Pete share personal habits, including annual physicals and regular checkups.
  • Insights into the connection between health span (active, healthy years) and financial planning.
  • Fun ways to stay active, including pickleball, which Pete is excited to pursue further.
  • [11:30] The Role of Relationships in Longevity
  • The hosts explore how building and maintaining healthy relationships can lead to a longer, happier life.
  • The importance of socialization: spending time with friends, family, and community members.
  • Encouraging listeners to connect with others and avoid the isolation often amplified by social media.
  • [13:45] Who Not How: Leveraging Your Network
  • Discussion on Dan Sullivan’s Who Not How and the value of enlisting the help of others to accomplish goals.
  • Using this approach to strengthen relationships while lightening your workload.
  • [15:30] Pickleball and Social Fitness
  • Bill and Pete share their experiences with pickleball and how it blends fitness with social interaction.
  • Pete jokes about his deceptive left-handed gameplay and encourages listeners to challenge them to a match.
  • [18:00] Three Years of Podcasting
  • Celebrating the upcoming three-year anniversary of The Runway Decade Podcast.
  • Encouraging listeners to revisit earlier episodes featuring unique and inspiring guests who shared insights into navigating their 50s.
  • Reflection on the commonalities and differences in experiences among people in their 50s.
  • [20:45] Looking Ahead to 2025
  • Bill and Pete express excitement for the year ahead, both for the podcast and their work at Horizon Financial Group.
  • Setting goals for the future and the importance of reassessing plans regularly.

Notable Quotes
  • “Resistance shows up when you're doing something meaningful. Recognize it, and push through.” – Pete Bush
  • “You’re saving for retirement, but are you going to make it there in good health? And when you do, will you have people to enjoy it with?” – Bill Bush
  • “Health span is about living an active, healthy life for as long as you can, not just extending a sick life.” – Pete Bush

Resources Mentioned
  • Books:
  • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
  • The Runway Decade: Building a Pre-retirement Flight Plan in Your Fifties – Buy the book
  • Tools and Strategies:
  • Auto-escalation for retirement contributions.
  • Setting phone reminders for periodic financial or health check-ins.

Call to Action
  • Explore Past Episodes: Visit TheRunwayDecade.com to listen to previous episodes featuring inspiring guests.
  • Contact Us: Have questions or want to connect? https://www.runwaydecade.com/#contact

The Runway Decade