What will you do to get higher and reach your true goals? (Photo via C. Frank Starmer) GWS2MDKN29EB
If you’ve ever felt lost about where you want to be in life raise your hand.
(Raises hand)
In fact we’ve all been there at one time or another.
After leaving a job, burning out or deciding it’s damned time for something new.
Some people just go where the wind takes them and others come up with a plan.
A plan to take over the world.
Well maybe not take over the world.
More like make their mark on it.
In business planning, a plan of any sort even a one page one can mean the difference between success and failure by 10% or so I’ve heard.
In life every percentage point counts.
So how do you come up with the plan?
First you have to see it from high up and deep down.
That takes an altitude map.
Why go nowhere and be blind when you can go somewhere and be clear?
Doesn’t clarity feel amazing?
Like a breath of fresh air?
Step 1. 50,000 ft: What’s Your Purpose and Core Values?
“Ultimate intention for something, and the standards for its success.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- What do you want out of life?
- What are you willing to do or not willing to do to get something?
- Why are you doing what you’re doing?
- What kind of behaviours do you need to get to what you want?
Step 2. 40,000 ft: What Does Your Future Look Like? Vision.
“What will things look, sound, feel like with success? Long term outcomes and ideal situations.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- What do I see myself doing in the future?
- What does that future look like? Sound like? Feel like?
- Can you describe your vision?
Step 3. 30,000 ft: Goals and Objectives
“What do we want and need to do within the next 12-24 months to make the vision happen.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- What do I need to learn to get where I want to go?
- What do I need to do to get where I want to go?
- Who do I need to contact?
- Where do I need to network?
- What do I need to create?
Step 4. 20,000 ft: Areas of Focus and Responsibility
“Important areas of work and life that you have to maintain to a standard or acceptable level to keep things running.”
Ask yourself these questions:
- What kind of areas of life do I have to manage? (i.e. Health, finances, networking, branding, marketing, family, blogging, etc.)
Step 5. 10,000 ft: Projects
“End results that you want that need more than one action step and can be done within one year.”
Example.
Goal: Land a job in an advertising agency within 4 months.
Projects could include:
- Build my advertising artwork portfolio
- Create a list of all ad executives in the city
- Research all networking events in the city
- Research all agencies in Europe that I’d want to work for
Step 6. Runway: Action Steps
“Next physical, visible actions to take on any project or other outcome; any single action to take about anything.”
Example.
Goal: Land a job in an advertising agency within 4 months.
Projects could include:
- Build my advertising artwork portfolio
- Actions include:
- Design a cover in Adobe Illustrator
- Assemble all artwork in a folder
- Scan hard copy artwork onto the computer
- Create a list of all ad executives in the city
- Research all networking events in the city
- Research all agencies in Europe that I’d want to work for
Now I certainly can’t take credit for this setup so I’d strongly recommend you read David Allen’s Getting Things Done (aff) to give you the base to leap from.
These steps don’t have to be followed in order.
In fact you often have to rise and fall to different levels if you feel like you’re lacking action steps or the big picture.
Having 50,000 ft goals of life is what’ll give you the meaning and drive to wake up in the morning.
It’s about the things that you’d do when no one’s looking.
Anyone can say that want a career in this and that.
That’s what others expect you to say.
And you know what?
Forget what others expect.
Ask yourself what you truly want.
Every other step is what follows when you’re clear about where AND why you want to go somewhere.
Tough business if you’re lost right now?
Hell yeah.
Definitely.
So grab yourself a mind mapping program or piece of paper and write a hundred points for every step until you can write no more.
Until your brain goes numb.
Get clear.
And if you’re absolutely in need of inspiration?
Seriously.
Fair winds,
