Sports stars have their agents negotiate relatively short term contracts for them to maximize their earning potential and in some cases extend their careers.

The rest of us should be no different.

Here is the approach I use and write about in my book that makes me a “free agent” every summer even though I own my own business.

• Take at least a week – I use a vacation week – to review the past year.  Ask yourself the question:  “Do I want to do this again next year?”  Perhaps the answer is yes, but I need more.  Now is the time to figure out what that is.
• Isolate the things you want to do – today, tomorrow and further on in life.  Question:  are you doing them?  If you’re not pursing your dreams in some way, you’re in a dead end career even if you are being paid well.
• Once you know what you want to do next year, divide it into the following categories – off-season (the one you’re in when you are reviewing the past year), pre-season, the season and post-season.  For example, you may want to add something rewarding to your career that requires additional education.  That’s your pre-season.  Once you’re ready to follow your dreams, consider that your season.  Post season is reserved for upping your motivation to accomplish greater goals at the end of the regular season.
• Everything is on the table.  If you want to go to nursing school but you work in sales, the moment you know what you want to do you have taken the first step.
• I sign a new contract with myself every year for one year only and then I go through the process all over again in 12 months.  It is amazing at how my “contracts” have changed from 5 or even 10 years ago.  Had I not done this, imagine what I would have missed out on.

My grandfather worked for the railroad all his life.

At the end, a year before retirement they tried to get him to quit and assigned him to handling a locomotive 100 miles from home each day.  He persisted, got his retirement but wasted whatever dreams he had by passively devoting himself to a company that did not have his best interests in mind.

Think of your life as a renewable contract that is renegotiated by you with you to put you in the best position to start realizing your dreams.

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