CREATING YOUR LIFE PLAN
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EXERCISE OF ALL!
THIS WILL BE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
Nothing will be more valuable. That seems obvious, as it will create the basis for the rest of your life. You’ll be clearer on what you want and clearer on how to get there – so you’ll arrive at the right destination, without wasting a lot of effort on the way.
A PARTNER?
One of the key considerations is whether to use someone to assist you in the process.
In this regard, this is like any major project that requires energy and direction – a partner helps considerably.
People run out of gas or let things ride or misunderstand something – and a good partner can help tremendously in the process.
Life coaches, who are certified, tend to be helpful in this – they could just follow the format I’ve set up, as it is more comprehensive than what they are likely to have worked with.
You’ll need "no bull" feedback so that you can be sure you’re not missing or misconstruing something. A professional person will tend to have the objectivity that is helpful.
SET ASIDE THE TIME
Although this can be done in several blocks of time spread over a few weeks, I would recommend that you do this as a form of “retreat”, where you focus on it for 2 to 3 days totally. (And also, over life, set aside whole focus days to have "learning retreats" in order to go deeper and be more effective in life.)
Otherwise, try to set up as many 2 to 3 hour chunks as you can. At least do ½ hour chunks at the very, very minimum, virtually every day.
USE THE FORMAT!!!!
If you don’t use the format, then what you do do may end up lost in a non-referenceable format and a fog of what to do next.
Using the system will help guide you and it will provide a referenceable format, one where you can build in more and more pieces as you go.
CAN BE DONE IN PIECES, THEN ADDED TO LATER
You may do it in pieces, at your option, inserting and adding other section as you go.
LEARN AS YOU GO, ALSO
See in The Life Plan Table of Contents document the endnotes, where it refers you to relevant sections to understand and to use for developing your plan. It is a good idea to print out the whole table of contents and endnotes and then to read the endnotes as you see each item on the list of contents. (Links are set up if you also have the document up on your computer.)
You might also go through the navigation bars to read other relevant information or enter the topic in the search engine. Going through the navigation bars will bring you to the overall site page, where you can see the overview of what is written and then select what you see as relevant.
The Site is set up to help someone manage one’s entire life, either through the written pieces on the site or by going to the resources cited for use.
HELPFUL PERSPECTIVES AND LEARNING
Basic time management, such as taught in Franklin-Covey’s one day workshop, plus the First Things First perspective (as in Stephen Covey’s book of that title) and the idea of the 80/20 Principle (www.live8020.com).
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SOME OF THE MECHANICS:
Print the forms in the Life Plan section (cited in the footnotes) and insert them as forms to use in your long term and/or save these forms in your word files. You can fill these forms in using your word processor.
Organize your word files by going to save or open a file and press the icon for a new folder, label the folder "Planning" and then you may also wish to create another folder called "LongTermPlan" or “LifePlan”, inserting the downloaded documents in that section. You could set up subsections (new folders) for the various sections if you find that easier for referencing, using the line items in the table of contents.
IN WHICH ORDER SHOULD I DO MY PLAN?
A half-assed plan is really easy, but doesn't work. But it is also true that this can be anticipated to be like eating an elephant - which is tough to do all at once: so it must be done one bite at a time, with maybe some dessert earlier on.
As I said, first set up a notebook, then we'll fill it, but not in the same exact sequence, as we need to go from an overview first, then into greater detail, as the LifePlan is a bundle of plans and projects, with each having to be honored enough to do an effective plan.
Then go back and do what is of greatest interest to you in the overall LifePlan Notebook.
