When is the best time to get your important paperwork in order?
The best time to organize your vital documents, passwords, and plans is before you need them.
When is the best time to get your important paperwork in order?
I’ll tell you when the best time is NOT.
When you’ve just had a heart attack. You’re in the ICU, and it’s very touch-and-go.
When you get into an accident while traveling abroad. Your kids are on another continent, and nobody is quite sure what to do.
When your house is destroyed by a natural or other disaster.
When you, or your partner, dies suddenly.
I personally know people who have been in each of these situations, so it’s not far-fetched at all. Imagine yourself in their shoes.
In that moment, ask yourself which thought feels better:
Oh crap, I wish I had planned for this.
Thank god I got myself organized, so I (and my family) know exactly what to do.
Just this week at a networking event, a new friend told me his story. He gave me permission to re-tell it.
Years ago, he’d experienced a life-threatening health event and was told he’d be rushed into emergency surgery the following morning. It was clear to him that death was a very possible outcome. In that moment, he had thought #1 above. With just hours before his surgery he pulled an all-nighter, hastily putting a Will in place via online templates and calling a 24-hour notary to have it all signed.
My new friend had to concede these were not ideal conditions in which to plan one’s final wishes. He said, “I don’t recommend it. Let me serve as a cautionary tale.”
I get that nobody wants to think about death. That’s why I call this process “Life and Legacy Organizing. The act of planning, gathering, and organizing your life details allows you to examine your life, and reevaluate whether you’re off-track or fully aligned. Now is a way better time to do it, than on your death bed.
And bonus, your loved ones don’t have to waste their own precious earth minutes hunting for your passwords and key documents, and guessing what you might have wanted. They can focus on organizing and living their own lives.
No mysteries. No scavenger hunts. Just clarity and peace of mind.
I can help you with that.
