“It is never too late to be who you might have been.” – George Elliott

Imagine you are standing still in the middle of a dense forest, trails sprawling in every direction, each leading toward a different destination.  You pause for a moment, not certain of which way to go.

This is how many of us can feel at various points in our lives – lost in a maze of choices, confused by uncertainty and unsure of which path to head down. This is where having a life plan or roadmap becomes invaluable.  It provides clarity, shining light on your purpose and vision which helps guide you through the complex journey of life.

Creating a personal roadmap helps outline where you are, where you want to go, and the steps you need to take to get there.  It aligns your choices with your true desires and values, helping you prioritize your goals and make well-informed decisions leading to even greater success and fulfillment.

The first step is to understand your starting point.  Reflection helps you gain clarity around what you are experiencing today. This will help shape who you’ve become and unlock signals that will lead to becoming your best self.

Consider, for example, how you would describe your career journey, how would you capture the essence of your closest relationships, what brings you energy, what activities allow you to feel your most productive and what experiences you are most proud of in life?  (Reflect)

“To achieve greatness, star where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

Once you have found peace in where you are, it is time to set your objectives. This is your chance to dream and visualize the experiences you wish to achieve through greater growth and advancement. Consider, for example, describing your life’s biggest dreams, what your desired outcome looks like, what relationships will develop and strengthen by moving closer to your goals, and how would you feel as you move closer to your aspirations. (Objective)

Next identify the areas of your life that no longer serve you. Pay close attention to these roadblocks that impede your progress.

Perhaps this is an outdated product or service, negative self-talk, reactive behaviors, staying up late at night scrolling on your phone, interrupting people when they talk, or inefficient policies and procedures. By abandoning these choices, you will be making room for more appropriate actions that support your growth, moving you closer to your desired objective. (Abandon)

As you release these items, it is important to consider how you might re-establish yourself as an exceptional leader while staying true to your life’s purpose. Develop strategies that have the potential to catapult you forward the furthest. This might include more effective products and services, stronger client relationships, improving your leadership influence, becoming an expert in your field, and developing new skillsets. (Develop)

To assist in reinventing yourself, it would be helpful to invest your energy in maximizing your unique talents and gifts.

Expanding on the strengths and resources that already exist enhances confidence and allows you to lean on what’s already working. Celebrate, for example, your innate ability to connect with people, your skillful approach to creating specific action steps out of complex situations, the gift of inspiring others, being adept at problem-solving, and having a knack for effective written and verbal communication. This is the time to boast. (Maximize)

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

After honoring your strengths, it’s time to bring your design to life through actionable steps that can guide you down your rejuvenated path to excellence.

Breaking down your larger objective into smaller, more manageable steps is a healthy way to measure progress, maintain a positive outlook, adjust to potential setbacks and take swift action. Give thought to delegating and empowering high-potential employees, tapping into existing resources, clearly outlining renewed expectations, investing in a professional coach, confronting difficult relationships, and making difficult personal or professional decisions. (Action)

Take the final step by inviting others to accompany you on this journey.

Share your dreams, what you’ll be letting go of, developing, maximizing, and acting on.  Give them permission to be truthful and thank them for their involvement. Consider the qualities of trust, curiosity, the ability to offer different perspectives, speaking the truth even when it’s difficult to hear, and integrity.

Selecting partners or a skilled leadership coach that offers you support, encouragement, and accountability is much like having trail markers in a thick forest, giving you valuable input along your path to ensure you are still headed in the right direction. Your direction. (Partner)

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn

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