Creating “two-fers” in your life

When I coach and train financial planners to become financial life planners, we often talk about finding “two-fers”.  Two-fers are when you can pull together 2 things that someone wants in their life into a single solution or action.  I personally love creating business/life two-fers.  As an example, I was able to go do a corporate Kolbe consultation with another wealth management firm in Chicago AND see my mother over the weekend (I live in the DC area and she lives outside Chicago.)  Or maybe you like cooking and your significant other enjoys travel so you decide to take a trip to Tuscany to learn to cook wonderful Italian meals.  The key is understanding what is most important to you and then looking for ways to bring those themes, ideas or actions together in a single effort.  It’s can be especially important for couples to creatively look for “two-fers” that will allow them both to live their lives fully, and together, where possible.  The most fun is when you can bring to seemingly disparate ideas together…perhaps a physical pursuit and a creative pursuit, say bike riding and painting.  How about a bike riding trip in France where you have time to stop and paint the countryside?  You get the idea.  Give it a try.  Think about what you would most like to be doing in your life and see how you can bring these passions together.