Tips for Personal Strategic Planning

How to do strategic planning for your life: Smart companies do strategic planning to make sure they hit the coming year running. It gives the team clarity and momentum. You can do the same thing for yourself. Even if your organization doesn’t (or if you aren’t included in the process.) And not just professionally, but holistically. I do this each year, around this time. It’s been enormously helpful in thinking through the coming year, setting some goals in alignment with my values, and entering the new year with a sense of urgency. I have a video with more details that is linked in the comments. But here's the process in a nutshell: 1️⃣ Reflect on the previous year. I like to start from a place of gratitude and perspective. Look back since January and ask yourself what you've accomplished. If you make goals, refer to them. Be kind to yourself - don't focus on areas where you didn't measure up - that happens to all of us. Focus on what you DID do. 2️⃣ Review values and 10 year vision. In my coaching group we create vivid, compelling 10 year visions, and a statement of values. Reviewing them makes sure what I do for the coming year is downstream of my vision and in alignment with my values. It's also the one time a year I allow myself to change my values if necessary. 3️⃣ Brainstorm scenes. Life is a story. Great stories have memorable scenes in them. And while I can't MAKE those scenes happen exactly the way I want them to, I can create the conditions to make it likely. An example: I started "man school" with my son as a right of passage when he turned 13. I kicked it off by giving him letters from myself and his grandfathers, diving into Lake Michigan (in January 😨) and then warming up in my friend's mobile sauna. I had another scene where we hike up a 14er together. 4️⃣ Write down goals This is the typical bit. I translate my 10 year vision into 1 year goals for the various areas of my life. All the goal setting stuff is helpful here - making them actionable, realistic, measurable, holistic, etc. 5️⃣ Consider your Rhythms Ask yourself what your ideal workday looks like. Your ideal weekend. Your ideal month. Your ideal season. Try to visualize it as vividly and realistically as possible. To the degree you identify areas for improvement, write those down. 6️⃣ Pre-book Yourself Build your calendar for the year. Plan out your ideal work day, your ideal weekend. Block out when you’ll take major trips. Block out tentative dates for time-based events. Block out habits. Slot projects those into months, factoring in how long those projects will take, how many major initiatives you can realistically move forward at one time, and the natural rhythms you’re trying to cultivate. -- Good strategic planning makes your life more impactful and enjoyable. Take some time in the next month to walk through some version of this process. If you do, let me know how it goes! #planning

🌟 As we embark on a new year, I wish to share a personal and professional practice that has significantly enhanced my productivity and goal-setting over the past seven years: strategic annual planning Basics of my Methodology: 1. Individual and Collective Planning: The process begins with independent planning, focusing on personal goals and aspirations. This is then seamlessly integrated into a comprehensive family plan, which is meticulously visualized for clarity and motivation 2. Project-Based Approach: The annual plan is segmented into distinct projects, strategically distributed throughout the year. This ensures a balanced approach to achieving both personal and professional milestones 3. Collaborative Synergy: I actively seek and engage with others who are pursuing similar goals. This collaborative approach not only fosters community but also enables us to pool our resources and expertise for greater impact 🔍 This Year's Innovation: Inspired by the renowned methodologies of BCG, I've adapted the "BCG Matrix" to personal strategic planning. This involves curating a list of Strategic Life Areas, developing a Strategic Life Portfolio, and conducting an in-depth analysis of the same. The insights gained have been profound and I have encapsulated these into a user-friendly template I invite you to explore this template, which could offer a fresh perspective and potentially augment your planning strategies. Should this approach resonate with you and you desire further insights into my personal planning frameworks, your engagement with this post through likes and shares would be greatly appreciated 🔗 Discover the "Strategic Life Planning Template" here: https://lnkd.in/duyTXgE4 Your thoughts and feedback are welcome, as we collectively strive for excellence in our personal and professional lives #StrategicPlanning #PersonalDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #NewYearGoals

Rushing forward without clear direction is common among entrepreneurs, in business and in careers. But consider for a moment the importance of defining and knowing exactly where you’re headed rather than how fast you get there. Speed without direction leads to chaos and burnout, while a clear path, even if slow, ensures progress and success. Consider for example the personal growth culture. Many people rush through self-help books, seminars, and courses, trying to achieve quick results. But those who take the time to internalize lessons, apply them thoughtfully, and align actions often find deeper, more lasting personal transformation. It’s the direction and application of your personal development journey that leads to meaningful change, not the speed at which you consume the information. Tips for Ensuring the Right Direction: **Clarify Your Vision: Take the time to define what success looks like for you, your business or your organization. What are your core values and long-term goals? Use these as your guiding star to focus behaviors and strategies**. **Strategic Planning: Lay out a clear, strategic plan. Identify key milestones and the resources needed to reach them. Leverage the plan like a roadmap, guiding your goals and preventing you from veering off course. **Adapt and Align: The world is constantly changing, and so must your approach. Regularly revisit and adjust your direction based on new information and changing circumstances. It may mean altering your course, but ultimately, you will remain on the right path. You may be struggling in your career or business, feeling the weight of moving quickly but uncertain if you're on the right path. Align your actions with your values, create a clear vision, and practice patience. Again, moving quickly is futile if you’re not heading in the right direction. So, take a step back, find your true north, and ensure every move you make is leading you towards your ultimate vision.