Part I ‑ Where am I now?
Exercise
#1: We all have
many things to do. We can be overwhelmed by obligations. Think about all the
things you need to get done. Then on a 3 X 5 index card write down just five
important things you want to have done in the next six months. Put the
date of six months from today at the top. Each must be something that could be
completed. It may be big or small in terms of time and resources, but must be
important to you. Only spend five minutes. Keep this card and review it
regularly. Make a new one in six months. You could put this list in a text
document on your PC or smart phone, but just try the index card. You may
already have a long list in a scheduling program. It is simple.
Terminology.
Now you have some goals. Goals are the focus of a
plan. Are your goals objective or subjective?
Objective
Goal ‑ One whose completion can be quantified or
measured in some way. You want to go somewhere, do something, purchase a
certain item, earn a certain amount of money. How do you feel when you achieve
an objective goal? Good! You have a sense of accomplishment which
encourages you to tackle other and perhaps more difficult objectives. We will
refer to objective goals as "objectives."
Subjective
Goal ‑ One whose determination of progress or
completion is based on your judgment. It might deal with a relationship, an
emotional state or sense of security. Subjective goals are at a higher level
than objective goals since they represent the outcome of your life. They cover
a broader view and are more open ended in terms of completion. They are
accomplished over a longer term and are more complex, often the result of
completion of many objectives. Depending upon your perception of time, a goal
might be accomplished in the short or long term, one to five days, weeks or
months. The time frame for goals in a personal plan are measured in terms of
the life time, or even beyond it. In the sense of your life spanning many
years. Collectively your subjective goals are your personal vision and form the
basis for your personal plan, your "life goals."
Strategy
‑ A plan of action to work within your environment
to accomplish your objectives and therefore move toward accomplishing your life
goals.
Manager ‑ A manager's job is to get results from the
resources of an enterprise. In business, results are objective ‑ units sold,
dollars earned, etc. A good manager knows what the goals are and what resources
the enterprise has. If it needs more resources to grow, the manager works to
get them. Planning is used to find ways to get better results from resources
and achieve the goals. Likewise, as manager of your life enterprise, you can
get better results by planning.
Planner
‑ One who plans. By education and occupation,
that's what I am. Planning is in fact a part of all activities we undertake so
we are all planners. To have no plan is a plan, since you have decided to let
the world make decisions for you. Just take a moment and acknowledge yourself
as a planner.
Futurist
‑ One who has a vision of the future. You have
goals from exercise #1 which represent events to happen in the future. You can
picture them happening, therefore you are a futurist. All futurists are self‑appointed.
Take a second and appoint yourself as a futurist.
Plan ‑ The written document, dated in time, which will
serve as a reference for your growth and change for the future. A plan properly
used will improve your self management. If you have nothing to manage: time, money, or resources ‑ you have no need
to plan. Plans can be single purpose or comprehensive. What we seek in our life
plan is something that is comprehensive. My view is that God is the only
comprehensive planner, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.
Do ‑ The implementation of your plan. If you are
doing, you will be accomplishing some of your objectives and making movement
toward your life goals. This generally leads to satisfaction. It is easier to
plan than to do. We can envision a great life (we did as children), but
accomplishing a vision takes focus, for without planning and control, without
building a resource base, we are just dreaming.
Priority
‑ A ranking process that determines what comes
first, second and third among multiple goals. It is how you decide to focus and
is an ongoing juggling process. Some people are really focused and can
therefore achieve in their area of focus. Balance, as in anything, is
important.
Evaluation ‑ The planning process has a feedback loop, like
communications. Personal planning is a communication process with yourself.
This is the process of judging your results against your objectives and life
goals. Plans should be reviewed often. Check the life goals and objectives to
see if they still fit. Take the feedback the world has given you and
incorporate it in your plan. Because you have power over your plan, you can
amend it anytime.
Analysis ‑ The planning process begins with a look at what
is. To plan for yourself you need to know who you are; what are your skills and
abilities; what are your resources. Instead of just going with the flow, try to
find your flow. To continue this process there are a few more exercises.
Exercise
#2: "I am ______."
I found this in Working Smart by Michael
LeBoeuf. Take ten index cards and write "I am a(n) __________________ on
each one. Work rapidly and don't censor any idea that comes to mind. Use more
than ten if you wish. When you are done, read them over and set them out in
order of importance. Then number them one through ten.
Then write on the back of each card: "This 'I am' is first because
__________________." Go on and
finish the rest. Date the cards and save them.
Exercise
#3: "I am" mind map.
The mind map is a technique to give an externalized
map‑picture of thoughts you might have on any subject. I first learned about mind
mapping in The Brain User's Guide by Tony Buzan, a pioneer of the
technique. The following are guidelines for mind mapping which I've compiled
over the years from various sources.
* Mapping materials: blank paper ‑ the bigger, the better (to get
11 inch x 17 inch large copy paper size, tape two 8 ½ x 11 inch sheets of
standard printer paper together on the backside); pens, pencils and markers of
varied texture and color; a mind and a thought to explore ‑ to map out the
boundaries of. No artistic skills are required ‑ the words and symbols need
only have meaning for you. The result may, on occasion, be somewhat pleasing to
the eye of the mapper.
* Begin with an image and/or word in the center of
paper or wherever you think it should start on the page.
* Build out from the central thought with connected
lines like branches on a tree.
* Use key words or short phrases to explain
branches.
* In addition uses sketches, symbols, codes,
numbers, pictures ‑ whatever.
* Use color ‑ you may select a marker for a subject
because it matches/contrasts with the mood of thoughts/ideas.
* For emphasis or to show relationships ‑ consider
arrows, boxes, underlines and anything else you can think of.
* When the map seems complete ‑ consider enclosing
areas with circles or boxes to focus thoughts.
* Date the map so that when you return to it you'll
have a benchmark. Later additions may be dated ‑ it’s your map.
* If it doesn't seem to be working ‑ start over.
Use the map to be spontaneous. Give yourself a time limit ‑ 5 or 10 minutes ‑
for a quick exploration.
* Don't let any of the above ideas limit your map.
Now it’s
time to mind map your life. A blank sheet of paper is needed. In the center, or
at some place on the sheet, draw a picture or a symbol which represents you.
Then, give details about yourself in each of these areas: background; strengths/weaknesses; hobbies;
accomplishments/ failures; likes/dislikes; physical self‑description; family;
beliefs; and areas of greatest knowledge/ignorance, using simple drawings, key
words and lists, using different colors as matches the subject and your
feelings in response to it.
Need more, check these links:
Exercise #4:
TO DO LIST ‑ make a comprehensive list of all the things you have to do
now and into the future. Establish categories such are work, home, finance,
people, travel, etc.
