Recent messages have focused on the need to identify our purpose and establish priorities to better manage our time and move toward our objectives and goals. Yet if we haven’t defined our purpose, it is challenging to set priorities! So here’s a peek into how I approach the process. I recently invested about 3 hours to clarify my thoughts, i.e., my purpose, around my business. Below is a photo of the beginnings of the process.
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For some time, several ideas had been clamoring to be put on paper. Yet the thought of planning at my desk was uninspiring; my thoughts limited to the size of my monitor and my ability to “draw” using a software program. I needed to write and get these ideas down on a bigger piece of paper. With a sticky note easel board the ideas just flowed.
As the focus of my strategy session was on “work”, which I chose to call “service”, this is the only section that was expanded for this strategy session. Working on an easel pad, I created two other sheets that further defined my objectives in serving my clients, myself and the greater good. This led to a defined service offering for my Ideal Client.
Is it perfect? Is it complete? No, it is a work in progress. What it has done has served as a way to capture the thoughts running around in my head, corral them and turn them into something useful. The giant sticky notes hang in my office now, serving to keep me focused on my purpose and moving forward. How can you use this?
- Schedule time, ideally out of your office environment, to think, draw and create.
- Encourage the creativity by having the appropriate tools such as large pieces of paper, different color pens, an easel.
- Let it flow and let it go. We can’t perfectly script how our ideas come; we just want to capture them and then decide how to use them.
- Revisit:
- Review your vision statement daily.
- Review your plans: some components weekly, others monthly and the grand scheme quarterly.
- Adjust!
I’d love to hear your ideas on how you make your strategy sessions effective. What works for you? You can e-mail me at barbara@acceluspartners.com or comment below.