I used to have a New Year's resolutions ritual. Same goals, same treadmill drudgery, same disappointing results. Someone once said “insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting different results.”* What if I turned my consulting expertise and experience toward my personal goals? Could strategic planning finally be the solution to getting healthier? With my notepad and a new insight, I explored my health goals like I was facilitating a nonprofit’s strategic planning process.
I asked myself strategic questions like I’d ask an organization:
- What do I hope for myself in the future? (vision)
- What is my current health status? (current identity profile)
- Who can be my support system? (community input)
- How will I make decisions on my journey? (strategy screen)
- What do I personally have that will ensure my success? (strategic advantages)
- What strategies do I need to execute to reach my goal? (organizational, programmatic, and operational)
When building my personal road map, I found that a personal strategic plan and creating an organization’s strategic plan have much in common:
- Both involve taking a step back and assessing current situation.
- Both require setting goals and creating a plan.
- Both are about creating a positive and impactful change.
- Both require strategies to reach goals.
- Both are ongoing processes.
- To be successful, both need to be flexible and adaptable.
- Both take time.
- Both can be rewarding for staying the course.
My personal roadmap and a nonprofit strategic plan were more like each other than different: thorough analysis, setting clear goals, and a flexible approach. Both demanded self-reflection, planning, focus, and the capacity to pivot when life threw curveballs. Both are not sprints, more like a long run with an end in sight.
I’m happy to report that my strategic “health” plan worked. The reward? I didn’t just get healthier, but I developed a newfound confidence and energy that has changed every aspect of my life… plus I got some new headshots. While the comparison might seem worlds apart, the shared process of self-reflection, planning, focus, and resilience unlocked my success.
Ready to unlock yours? DBD Group can help your organization achieve its goals with the same laser focus I applied to my health goal. Schedule a free consultation today and let's get started!
* Sometimes attributed to Albert Einstein, but he didn't say it. Learn more here: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/03/23/same/
THIS MONTH'S FOCUS
As you start a new year, you might have a long list of work resolutions. We’re not here to add to your list, but to give you some ideas on how to make those resolutions a reality. Why not try something new?
