A wish without a plan is just a wish, but a wish with a definite plan becomes the foundation for success. Coming up with a plan can be a daunting task. It begins with crafting a personal philosophy about life and the things we value. How do you come up with any kind of plan if you don’t have a vision of what you want to achieve? Also, how do you come up with a vision if you don’t know what kind of values and foundations you want to represent in that vision? Below is an ACTION plan that will help you come up with a personal plan and philosophy to help guide your life.
Open a Word, Excel, Power Point document or just get out a notepad and pen (you have to write it down, it’s important). Write what you value in life (love, happiness, compassion, honesty, etc.). Now take those qualities and create a vision for yourself. Mentally paint a picture in your mind of what future embodies your VALUES and write them down. Vividly describe the ideal, don’t just think I’d like a nice house, pick an exact house you want to live in, the area, the city, even the tile style you want in your kitchen. Take a picture of what you want and put it on your paper, the images serve as a powerful visual guide and are stored in your subconscious awaiting fulfillment.
Now take the time to write about your VALUES and your VISION. The good thing is that this is a personal document, although it should be unique, you are allowed to jot down ideas from other sources. Take your favorite quotes and insert them into this document. I personally have about three pages written on the subject of personal attitude. Some ideas about attitude I found in books I have read and others are mine. You are allowed to put whatever you want in the document that is your creation.
By establishing your values, you create a beginning. By creating a vision based on those values, you create your goals. Goals should stem from your vision. Here’s a (rather materialistic) example that puts it all together. Let’s say you value wealth, professional esteem, and a position of power. From there, imagine yourself at a defined point in the future living (age 47) a life that complements these values. For example, you might see yourself owning a jet for personal and business use. His vision vividly describes some goals. First of all, he will need financial resources to buy the plane.
1. Goal: Have $6,000,000 in the bank by age 47, investing a certain amount monthly, and earning a large salary.
In the following vision, you see yourself in charge of a large company that influences many people and leads them to success. You’ll need to climb the corporate ladder to get our next goal.
2. Goal: To become CEO of company XYZ at age 42.
These two goals should adequately satisfy our materialistic friend. However, you can see how these goals can create a variety of sub-goals, beginning to form a strategy map. For example, achieving the $6,000,000 may require investing a certain amount of money each month, as well as earning a certain amount of cash flow.
Achieving your goals should not be left to change or luck, the foundation begins with forming a personal philosophy. Start today.
