Are You Struggling To Make Meaningful Progress In Life?
How I use a 7-step process to gain clarity, clear obstacles, and rekindle my dreams
You are a busy professional.
Having 1001 commitments kill your time, sap your energy, and suck you dry.
Your boss demands your time. Your work saps your energy. Your spouse and kids need your attention.
At the end of your day, you felt like you have achieved everything and yet gained nothing.
You felt undervalued.
There’s a constant tug of war between your work and personal life.
You felt guilty for neglecting your loved ones and friends.
Tinges of financial anxiety creep up often because your current skills can only get you so far.
Lack of Personal Growth
All your dreams and desires are put on backburner.
Thinking, one day, you will have more time, more control, more power.
The truth is, that day will never come.
The future will not materialize because you think it. It will materialize if you plan it.
I used to feel like that.
I felt stuck, restless, pointless.
The following process is how I got myself out of the rut and find new meaning.
As a result?
My dreams get bigger.
My ideas get greater.
My life becomes richer.
Open your door and let the infinite possibilities flow in.
7-Step Process
This will help you draw your plan, clear your obstacles, and revitalize your life again.
Step 1 - Why do you want personal progress?
Simon Sinek said “Start with Why”.
What’s your ultimate goal?
Do you want a pay increase? A promotion? More time for loved ones? More leisure time for yourself? More freedom?
Drill down on your WHYs?
Q: Why do I want personal progress?
A: Because I want a promotion
Q: Why do I want a promotion?
A: Because a promotion means prestige
Q: Why do I value prestige?
A: Because it shows I’m better than the average joe
Q: Why do you want to show you are better?
A: When I’m better I would get attention and respect
Q: Why do you want to get attention and respect?
A: So I can command more power and exert my influence
As your questions get narrower, your focus get clearer.
Each question cleans the lens of confusion a little more.
Keep going till you have clear vision.
Step 2 - Where do you want to go?
You have clarified your WHY.
Next, determine your WHERE.
This is your goal.
It could be an end goal, like a big hairy one.
Or it could be a small goal, something you want to achieve in say, 3 months.
Or it could be a intermitten goal, small goals leading up to your big goal.
Step 3 - Where are you now?
Take stock.
This is your starting point.
Look within, look without, look around.
What are you good at?
What skills do you have?
Who do you hangout with?
Knowing where to start is as important as knowing how to go.
That leads us to the next step.
Step 4 - What do you have to do?
You have a where to and a where now.
There is a gap in between.
How will you bridge the gap?
A decision and determination might be a good way to start.
5 - How to bridge the gap?
You have a start point and an end point.
What’s next?
Yeah, you’d guess it.
HOW to get there?
Two routes you can take:
Detailed roadmap
Engage a guide
Don’t blunder on your own.
Get help.
Look for resources.
Having a rough plan is better than no plan.
6 - What’s your timeline?
I used to be a procrastinator.
I won’t do today what can be pushed to tomorrow.
One day, everything changed.
All because of a tiny habit.
My evening routine.
I plan out what needs to be done tomorrow.
Once the next day starts, I check the list and get going.
No hesitation, no uncertainty and no procrastination.
That works for my small goals.
For my bigger goals, I have a term plan.
Term, not long-term.
I like to start small.
So 3 months works.
Deadline: 3 months
Work backwards.
7. Implement, review and adjust
You know the saying about best laid plans.
You might take a little detour here and there.
Sidetracked by the rainbow, stuck because of storms, days where you feel demotivated and sick.
All are normal.
Don’t we all experience this?
Leave space for review and adjustments in your term plan.
Start Today.
Making a decision is powerful.
Take control of your life now.
(Images credit: Pexels/Canva)