Don't Ask Me Where I'm Going. I'm Busy Driving

Does Your Life Have a Map?

by Steve Kaye

Years ago a colleague set out on a vacation with a novel idea. He decided to let the family create the trip as they proceeded, much like a research project driven by serendipity. So, at each intersection the family members took turns choosing turn right, turn left, or proceed ahead. During the morning they meandered about the city, never traveling more than a few miles from home. Eventually, he stopped the car in frustration, took out a map, and choose a destination. Now the vacation could proceed with a purpose.

Few people would deliberately waste their valuable vacation time, even if their goal was to do nothing. And yet, many people travel through the time of their lives without a destination, without a plan, without a purpose.

With planning, you significantly increase the value of your journey through life. You gain control over its progress and freedom over your options. With a plan, you can choose the outcomes that you want and the actions that increase the likelihood of their occurrence. In total, planning increases the efficiency and the effectiveness of your life. It's like having a blueprint for success.

Developing a life plan is the ultimate project. To do that, follow these steps.

Step 1: Identify values. Long term planning is built upon a foundation of values. Make a list of everything that you consider important in your life. Your list might include family, friends, fame, and faith. It might include success, career, wealth, or prestige. And it might include computers, equations, machines, or tools. Write each item on a separate index card or piece of paper.

Step 2: Develop principles. Write a statement that describes how you will apply each value to your life. For example, for "family", you may write, "I will love, honor, and respect my family. I will help them achieve success. I will treat them with kindness and dignity."

These statements become the guiding principles for your life.

At this point some engineers may feel stuck because they want to build the best possible foundation for their life plan. Recognize that any plans are simply a rough draft based on the information available at this time. As we travel through our lives we learn more, change our priorities, and sharpen our perceptions. Break through hesitation by jotting down any ideas that come to mind, even if they seem incomplete, inaccurate, or impractical. Often it is easier to revise than to create. So, force yourself to write something that you can improve.

Step 3: Create a mission. After you finish writing your values and principles, review them seeking an overall theme. It may help to sort them in order of priority. What do the most important values tell you about the direction for your life? What one thing do you want others to think about when they hear your name? What legacy do you want to leave? The answer to these questions is your personal mission. Write it down.

I recommend that you keep this statement simple. For example, my personal mission is to "make the world a better place." My business mission is to "create success."

Notice that your mission statement is a personal statement. Some organizations write long, grandiose mission statements that have nothing to do with anything that matters to the members (or employees). You want to write a mission statement that excites and motivates you.

Step 4: Set goals. The next step in planning is to identify goals that fulfill your personal mission. Goals are achievement milestones in your journey through life.

Start writing goals by making a list of everything that you want to do within the next six months (immediate goals), the next three years (short term goals), and the rest of your life (long term goals). At this point think freely, suspend judgment, and ignore details related to implementation.

Set goals for everything. For example, career goals might include:

* Attend a technical conference each year
* Reach the position of vice-president by age 50
* Publish at least one technical article each year

Personal goals might include:

* Read 2 books/month
* Exercise 3 times/week
* Visit the Grand Canyon on a vacation

Retirement goals might include:

* Save $400/month
* Buy a cabin in the mountains
* Learn skills that can support a part-time business

Next, prioritize your goals in terms of how well they contribute to your personal mission and your values. Use the following criteria:

Criteria = Rating

* Must Do = A
* Want to do = B
* Would Like to do = C

Although it is commendable to have many goals, the constraints of finite time force us to make choices. Allocate your time and energy based on the importance of your goals. Spend the most time on your top priority goals and the least time on the rest. Some low priority goals may even be left on standby.

When you set goals, use the popular SMART acronym to make sure that your goals lead to success. Effective goals are:

* Specific. Include enough detail so that someone else could explain your goal to you. For example, "retire with a million dollars" is more specific than "get rich."
* Measurable. Include numbers to monitor progress and tell when the goal is complete. For example, "read two technical books each month" is measurable, compared to "read stuff."
* Achievable. Make sure the goal can be accomplished. For example, "reduce waste by 5%" is more realistic than "eliminate pollution."
* Relevant. The goal should relate to your life or business mission. For example, "increase productivity by 5%" helps your business (and career) more than "sort paper clips."
* Time. The goal must include a deadline or a rate. For example, "prepare budget by noon Friday" forces action compared to "work on budget."

There are two types of goals - achievements and actions. Ultimately, all planning must reduce to goals for actions that produce the desired achievements. For example, if one of your achievement goals is to retire with enough wealth to be self-supporting, then you must identify action goals that cause this to happen.

Step 5: Make plans. Plans are the instructions that tell you how to accomplish your goals. They show the steps that you must take to realize your dreams.

Many engineers excel at detailed planning. And you may want to apply the same techniques to your life plans. If appropriate, develop check lists, flow charts, or Gannt charts. They help organize and manage tasks. The following tips work for both large and small plans.

Plan backwards. Often it is easier to begin with the last step and plan toward the beginning. This approach also helps prepare a realistic plan that adheres to a schedule.

Set milestones. These checkpoints on your schedule help you monitor and manage progress.

Budget time for each step the way you would budget money. This forces you to 1) spend time in proportion to the value of each task and 2) resolve conflicts by trading time spent on one task for time to complete another.

Review and (when appropriate) revise plans frequently. Progress through any project creates opportunities and increases knowledge. Adjust your plans to use these to your advantage.

If you apply this process, you will find that you travel through life to destinations that matter. And that puts you in control of your success.

Want information on how Steve Kaye can help improve your business?

Call 888-421-1300 or 714-528-1300

Workshop on This Topic | Return to Articles