Over my 30-plus years in the business world, I've found that virtually every successful individual I encountered — from corporate executives to government officials to people in small businesses — had a personal life plan of some sort. Their plans weren't always written down, but they were always fairly detailed, had deadlines, and included clear, actionable goals. In short, these individuals had business plans for both their careers and their lives. I'd urge all people reading this to approach any individual they know who is very successful, and ask them if they have a plan which they work toward — my experience tells me that the answer will be "Yes!" Simply put, if you want something, have a plan to get it.
To help aspiring professionals get out of the business rut and kick-start their careers, I offer these insights on the value of mission critical life planning:
- Passivity will get you nowhere. Far too many people are not as happy as they would like to be, as successful as they think they should be, or as wealthy as they'd hoped they would be. Not coincidently, very few of us have a Personal Life Action Plan. Most people simply get up each day, do whatever it is that they get paid to do, and then do whatever strikes them in the moment for their personal time. In short, they let life happen to them as opposed to proactively managing the activities and the outcomes. Others, usually the very successful, take a proactive approach. I suggest using these people as role models — they've shown that people from all walks of life can have a life they are fully satisfied with.
- Take the task seriously. However helpful, creating a life plan requires work. The first time out, developing this tool can be challenging to anyone who's never sat down and actually outlined, in detail, what they want from life. Without a clear vision of what they'd like and how they'd prefer to live, the first step can be as hard or as easy as one makes it. So creating a Personal Life Action Plan requires a level of commitment to take it from concept to completion. The more detailed your life plan, the more readily you can identify areas of weakness and find actionable ways to overcome them. Like doing a long term company plan, use timelines to allow you to track progress and make adjustments.
- Get to know the "real" you. Many individuals have outward signs of success, such as job titles, corner offices, and expensive homes, cars, and other material possessions, but have little satisfaction with their lives overall. They've learned first-hand the age-old truth that money does not buy happiness. Before you start making a life plan, make certain that you know what truly makes you happy so that you can steer your ship accordingly. Creating a plan without taking into account the "real" you can lead to a life which may appear successful outwardly while providing no sense of satisfaction or happiness inside. Here's where the old SWOT analysis can come into play. Using the "strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats" approach, give yourself an honest assessment and grading. Recognize what skill sets need upgrading, what attitudes are no longer appropriate in today's environment — look forward and not in the "rear view mirror." We all know stories of people who have a lot of possessions but are still not satisfied.
- Cover all the bases. A good life plan takes into account three different facets of life: the professional self (the one who goes out each day to make a living), the personal self (the one who does things which replenish the self, both for and with those one loves), and the financial self (the one who understands and manages money for the long haul). Addressing each of these life elements assures that you will address, think through, and plan for all these critical areas that, ultimately, intertwine. While the goal is moving your career ahead, doing so at the expense of your personal life is a hollow victory at best. Use your Personal Life Action Plan to ensure you are creating a life which is successful on all fronts.
- Challenge yourself. Even if it feels like your life and career are going well, it's difficult to assess how much better things might be if you have never taken the time to determine what a "perfect life and career" would look like. The most successful people create goals for themselves that push them to work hard, while still being attainable. They give themselves specific time deadlines which are just as demanding to achieve those goals. A good rule of thumb: each of your goals and target dates should have about an 80% chance of success if you push yourself. Be your own boss...and a strict one at that. I've found that the really satisfied people take the approach of "I am my own business plan."
- Keep tabs. The Personal Life Action Plan should be updated on an annual basis to keep it evolving and, like insurance, you should review your life plan after any major life event. Getting married or divorced, starting a family, moving, being promoted, or experiencing significant illness — such events can render your life plan out of date. Since a life plan is one of the most important tools for achieving your goals, make sure it remains current. Don't treat it as a static document, as it's much too critical to be relegated to the bottom drawer. Rather, it's a fluid, continuous work in progress — as are you.
John McKee, founder and president of BusinessSuccessCoach.net, is the author of Career Wisdom - 101 Proven Strategies to Ensure Workplace Success and 21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot. He can be reached at 720-226-9072, john@businesssuccesscoach.net, or through his websites at www.BusinessSuccessCoach.net and www.BusinessWomanWeb.com.
