The Power of a Standing Plan

Good morning!

I hope this finds you well.

Welcome to another edition of The Matt Viera Newsletter.

The newsletter with the goal to inspire you to invest in life experiences.

Thank you for your continued support.

Grab your FREE copy of The Beginner’s Guide to Mini-Retirements by clicking here.

Two weeks ago, a close friend of mine texted me to say he'd be in Brooklyn and wanted to meet for drinks after a business dinner.

Of course, I agreed.

We've known each other for over 40 years. We grew up together. He's one of the few people in my life who has seen every version of me.

Naturally, when we met up, it didn't take long for us to fall back into rhythm.

We talked, laughed, and caught up on each other's lives by picking up where we left off.

The thing is, the last time we saw each other was three years ago.

That realization hit me harder than I expected. We're not getting any younger. Life is moving fast.

While it's easy to say, "Let's keep in touch" or "We should do this more often," those promises often fade as quickly as they are made.

That night, I decided to do something different.

I decided to pitch him an idea: The Standing Plan.

The objective is simple: make meeting up at least once a year as easy as possible.

Here was my pitch:

• We pick a long weekend that's convenient for both of us

• We pick a location that works for both of us

• When the date comes, we both show up

Each year, we'll check in, confirm the time and place, and make adjustments if necessary.

Once it's locked in, we book the accommodations and show up.

No overthinking. No elaborate planning. Just show up, hang out, and spend some quality time together.

He was immediately on board.

I loved the idea so much that I started sharing it with others: my best friend who lives in Scotland and some of the team I served with in the U.S. Army.

The response was unanimous: everyone was in.

What’s the point of all this?

The point of all this is: if it's important for you to stay connected to the people who matter, don't wait for life to make it convenient.

Create the convenience yourself.

A standing plan removes the friction, the guesswork, and the emotional burden of "When will we see each other again?"

It turns wishful thinking into a concrete tradition.

Because time passes whether we plan for it or not.

The people you care about will drift further away unless you take deliberate action to keep those connections alive.

Life gets busy. Careers evolve. Families grow. Distance stretches. And before you know it, three years (or more) go by.

Strong relationships aren't maintained by accident.

They require intention.

A standing plan is that intention made real.

We often say relationships are meaningful, but our calendars rarely reflect that truth.

The idea of “The Standing Plan" is simple and can be the difference between occasional catch-ups and lifelong connections.

Don't wait until the next wedding, funeral, or random business trip to see the people who matter to you.

Pick a date. Pick a place. Show up.

And do it again the following year. And the year after that. And the year after that.

That's how you keep people in your life.

That's how you maintain important friendships that last.

Quote that caught my attention:

“True friendship resists time, distance and silence.”

—Isabel Allende

You can find the collection of financial tools & resources that helped me grow from a 6-figure debt to a 6-figure net worth by clicking here.

Thanks for reading!

Please feel free to reply to this email with suggestions, questions, or comments.

I read every email.

If you have a question about personal finance, travel, or mini-retirements, email me and ask and I’ll discuss the answer in a future article.

If you enjoy The Matt Viera Newsletter, please forward this email to one person you believe would enjoy reading this.

I’m ready to follow you on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

I definitely want to read past articles of The Matt Viera Newsletter!

I’m not a subscriber to The Matt Viera Newsletter and I’m ready to subscribe!