If you could "sell your future," what would the price tag be? Obviously, it would vary enormously according to your age, background, previous success and your frame of mind. The condition of your health, your family relationships, your current financial resources and a host of other things would also influence the value you put on your future.

I suspect that in all probability, you have already "sold" next week. You're probably employed and paid a salary or, if you're on a commission sales job, you have a pretty good idea of how much you will make next week. If you have owned a business for two or more years, you most likely now about what you can expect as profit. So, based on what you already know, what would your price be on your future?

For the sake of continuing the dialogue, let's assume you are 40 years old and plan to retire at age 65. Or at least you plan on "shifting gears" at that time. What value would you put on 25 years of effort? If you earn $40,000 a year over the next 25 years, when you factor in inflation, you could probably expect to earn $1.3 million or more, before taxes.

Would you accept that as your guaranteed income, clearly understanding that regardless of how productive and effective you might be — whether you create a new product, a new company, a new idea that might be worth untold millions — your ceiling is absolutely established, and there is nothing you could do about it? Would you accept the offer?

The above is obviously hypothetical and, as far as I know, nobody is making that kind of offer. But now that your curiosity has been aroused, you are probably thinking, "You know, if I wouldn't sell my future for x-number of dollars, why wouldn't I? And if I value it at more than the offer, what kind of plans do I have to make certain that I'm being realistic and will reach those objectives? Do I have a plan of action so that 25 years from now, I will not only have lived well, but I will also have finished well? Have I maximized my opportunities? Do I have many of the things money will buy and all of the things money won't buy?"

As you ponder these questions, you probably come to one critical conclusion: You need to have a plan of action to make certain your future is even better than the offer you just turned down for that future. The next seven steps will get you started:

Number One: Set aside an hour during which you write down everything you want to be, do or have. Set your list aside for 48 hours and then ask yourself why you want to be, do or have each item on the list. If you can't answer the question in one sentence, eliminate it for the time being.

Number Two: List the benefits that would come your way if you were to reach your objectives. Do this for each item listed.

Number Three: Identify the obstacles you will have to overcome in order to get there.

Number Four: List the people, groups or organizations you will need to work with to achieve the objective.

Number Five: Spell out what you need to know in order to reach the objective.

Number Six: Develop a specific plan of action to get there.

Number Seven: You've already set the date — it's when you're 65 years old.

This will take a considerable amount of time. However, since you've just determined that you would not sell your future for any predetermined amount, you've already established the fact that a future worth that much is worth planning. Plan your future, and I'll see you at the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.

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