“One More Year” Reality Check

Before you give work another year, put your expectations for that year on paper.

“One more year.”

A little more money. A little more cushion. Then you’ll slow down. But what do you expect that year to leave you with—and what do you want the money to change?

This worksheet is a private space to examine that decision. No score. No application. Nothing you need to submit. Use estimates where you need to. Saying “not sure” is fine—it shows you where you need more clarity.

Name what the money is for.

What is that additional money supposed to make possible?

Which statement feels closer to the truth?

I’m working toward a specific change I can name. I’m hoping more money will help me feel safe enough to make a change. Both. I’m not sure yet.

The “one more year” reality check

The money is only one part of the expectations.

The other side is your time, attention, energy, and the things you keep putting off. You don’t have to put a dollar value on them. Just name them honestly.

Look at what you’re postponing.

If your financial position improved, but your daily life stayed the same, would you consider the year a success?

Name the change you actually want.

What do you most want the additional money to change? Check any that apply.

The thing I’m really hoping another year will buy me is:

What would need to change for that hope to become part of your actual life?

The “one more year” reality check

Give “one more year” a finish line.

You may decide another year is worth it. You may decide something needs to change now. You may need more information before you can decide. Whatever your answer, make it specific enough to revisit.

Write your reality check.

Choose one next step.

What do you need to clarify or do next?

You don’t have to solve your whole future today.

You have named what you expect another year to give you, what it asks of you, and what you want to change. Keep this page. Revisit it before “one more year” becomes the answer again.

Another question worth exploring

Your worksheet looks at what another year of work might leave you with. There’s a related question you may want to understand:

Could a technology option relevant to your business also have implications for what you keep after taxes? Could it allow you to keep more of your money to put toward some of these lifestyle goals?

We partner with a company called Lucrum, and their business model brings those two topics together: technology options for a business, and the potential tax treatment of the associated business expense (under Section 179, for deductions).

The starting point is understanding the technology and the business arrangement—not assuming that a purchase will produce a particular tax result.

If you’d like to understand how the model works, email us with “Lucrum” as the subject line. We’ll start with an explanation of the model.

Email “Lucrum” to learn how the model works.

Whether an expense qualifies for particular tax treatment depends on the facts and applicable requirements. No deduction or tax savings is promised.