BY JACK WARKENTHIEN
Some people believe they can “compartmentalize” their lives, thinking they can choose times to focus on business, health or personal concerns while putting the others on hold. I believe that is foolish and unrealistic. The various dimensions of our lives are inter-related. If one area is neglected, the others will suffer.
To remind you of the need for balance, you must develop your own “Priority Box.” It should include the essence of success in business as well as achieving happiness and fulfillment in the rest of your life.
What’s in a Priority Box? Three ingredients are a balanced life, a clear vision and a concrete plan. All three elements must be included to perform at the highest level possible. A balanced life is the result of assessing and adjusting the personal, professional, psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of your life. A clear vision vividly describes your desired outcomes. A concrete plan is the sequence of detailed action steps necessary to carry out your vision.
The proper combination of these elements will help ensure stronger results in today’s hectic and constantly changing world. It is common for busy people to ignore one or more areas of their lives such as health or personal relationships. This creates an inner conflict that drains your energy. There is a tendency to look too far ahead when a clear vision requires a focus on the desired outcome for each day. Operating with a vague plan — or no plan — will force you to work long and hard with no guarantee of results .
The Priority Box will help you take charge of your life. How do you go about developing one? Start by following these five steps to map out a customized plan to meet your individual goals and objectives.
- Know what your values are. Values are the principles and issues most important to you. You must establish values and priorities to build a life that is satisfying and rewarding. Examples include family, financial security, love and affection, spirituality and faith, and good health.
- Evaluate all areas of your life and create a plan to achieve balance. Conduct a self-assessment. How balanced are you in each of these five areas — professional, personal, physical, psychological and spiritual? Rate each one to five, with five representing most balanced and one the least balanced.
- Clarify your vision with goals. Goals provide a road map to success, both personally and professionally. They help us get where we want to go because they are related to everything we strive to achieve and they represent self-discipline that must be practiced daily. In other words, they are dreams with deadlines.
- Develop S-M-A-R-T goals to stay focused. Goals are not all equal. To maximize your success, set S-M-A-R-T goals with the following guideposts. Specific: Precise actions and events that can be reviewed and recognized. Measurable: Quantifiable and countable; you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Action-oriented: First-person verb tense demonstrating momentum toward achieving goals. (i.e. I will lose ten pounds in the next ninety days.) Realistic: Must be within the realm of the possible or it becomes a disincentive.Timely: Must have specific start and finish dates. A timetable of one year or less is best for professional goals.
- Monitor your progress consistently and frequently. Although there is no guarantee you will achieve all of them, if you don’t keep goals constantly in front of you, you limit the chances of success. Reinforce your resolve by writing goals down and carrying them with you everywhere you go. Read them out loud for 21 days. (It will take you 7 to 12 days to memorize most of them.) Identify one or two people with whom you can share these goals, who will be supportive and heighten your sense of commitment.
Are we going to be able to have everything we want in life? Probably not. But by thoroughly and honestly examining and re-examining our lives, our needs, our aspirations and our dreams, the outlook is greatly improved.
Keep in mind that filling your Priority Box is far from a static exercise. As your life and the world in which you live changes, the elements in your box change with it. It is imperative that you continually assess and update your requirements for a balanced life, a clear vision and a concrete plan.
A Priority Box can really make a big difference. Address all segments of your life — business and personal. Set S-M-A-R-T goals and fully commit to them. Doesn’t this make good business sense? People who know where they are going in their lives have a much better chance of getting there than those who don’t. Besides, within your box are all the things you really need anyway.
Jack Warkenthien, CEO, NextStep Solutions. Email him at jwarkenthien@nextstep-solutions.com or call him at 832-344-6998 www.nextstep-solutions.com
