You can skip the crossword puzzle if you already have a plan that you regularly review. If you are still not sure what you want to do when you grow up, keep reading. This will make a massive difference in your life. If you don’t know what your life will look like or what you want to do in the next ten years, then how can you possibly plan for it? You can’t be satisfied with short-term goals (less than three years) if you don’t have a grasp of the bigger picture. You are less likely than people who have a plan and stick with it to achieve core values and five and 10-year objectives.
You will always adhere to a plan.
You will always follow a plan. You will either follow someone else’s dream if you don’t have one. If you are at the forks of the road without a goal, it is likely that you will decide which path to take based upon someone else’s plan. If you have a long-term project, you can make incremental decisions based on your goals.
There are some people who love being led and will not let anyone else dictate their path. But I think the majority of you would prefer your life to be the way you want it. Not the decisions of others.
Four-Step Program
Many organizations can provide a structured process that will help you set goals for the long term. If you’re able to dedicate enough time and work hard, this can be done on your own or with your partner. Before you sign up for a membership or start on your own, ensure that these four areas are covered:
First, identify your core values. These are your most important values. These values are not material, tangible things. They are a collection of beautiful thoughts and values you would live for and that you will never give up. There are many values you can identify, but the most popular are family, spirit, and integrity. Wealth, security, power, honesty, and integrity are just a few. There are many more. Don’t limit yourself. This first section can take a lot of your time. You should make a list of the core values that you hold most dear. Next, identify the top three core values you would give your life for (this is the serious stuff). These values will be the most important to you throughout your planning process. These values will be the most influential in motivating and driving your decisions.
The second step is to determine where you want your life to take you in 10 years. Your core values are essential. What would you like on your tombstone if you were alive ten years later? What would you want someone to write about you in a eulogy? Your own eulogy.
Third, set out your personal goals for the eulogy. The eulogy for those in business is similar to a company’s mission statement. To support your eulogy or mission statement, you will need to develop your short-term goals (from one month to one year) and long-term goals (from one year to five years).
Fourth, set goals for your career that are both short-term and long-term. These should support your personal goals. They will most likely include many material goals. It’s OK. It’s okay. It is the right time to plan for the rest of your life. If you follow your plan, the next millennium is going to be thrilling and rewarding.
Chartwell Seventeen Advisory Group founder Dave Fischer currently serves as President. He is also a certified trainer for the Sandler Selling System, which has been used to help thousands of sales professionals around the world. Dave has a passion for selling, coaching, and training. He is committed to helping individuals and companies achieve their professional goals in sales and management. Dave has a B.A. He holds a B.A. from the University at Albany: the State University of New York and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a native New Yorker and currently lives on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
