The Benefits of a Strategic Life

Last week I wrote about strategic life planning. While I did not completely agree with the idea, I did concede there was some utility to the concept. So let’s take a look at some of the benefits of strategic life planning.

Setting goals for yourself is one of the most important steps you can take toward a successful life. Planning your way toward your goals is always a good thing. The big difference between planning for an organization or business and planning towards your own success is the types of goals.

Personal goals ought to contribute to the happiness and well-being of you and your loved ones. Personal development goals are also very useful to an individual. Whereas organizations focus on revenues, expected outcomes, and guidance of employees. While there might be some overlap, I would say that there is, at least, some amount of mutual exclusion between personal and organizational aspirations.

Back to the idea of planning as a good thing, laying out your personal vision and goals allow for certain advantages. Clarity about what you hope to achieve is probably the most important advantage you gain. This allows for you to improve your decision making based on the fact that you know where you are headed. This also allows you to on focus how you spend your time and money (and any other resources) in a way that takes you closer to your goals.

If the idea of strategic life planning appeals to you, here are steps you can take to implement it in your life:

1. Write out your vision and goals. What do you want to achieve? What does it look like? How does it feel to you? Put it on paper or on an app so you can reference it later.
2. Determine where you are now. This can consist of something like a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis or an introspective process. The point is to understand what actions you need to take to launch yourself toward your goals.
3. Develop your plan. You don’t have to figure out every step at first, you just need enough of a plan to get you started. You can figure out the other parts later.
4. Adapt as necessary. Plans are not something to be set in stone. Circumstances change, especially when you are in motion, so don’t be afraid to revise and update as often as necessary.

The most important thing is to take action. Takes steps every day. The plan does not have to be completed before you start taking steps. Don’t get so caught up in the planning part that you don’t ever get started. Remember to update and make changes when necessary, when things change your plan may have to change as well. We succeed where we put in the work.