Hey Founder, Here’s Your 10-Point Playbook for Making Business Personal
Photo by David Iskander on Unsplash
Hey Founder,
If you're steering a company, you're likely no stranger to the power of strategic planning, right? The blueprints and playbooks are indispensable tools for aligning your organization with its objectives and purpose. It’s the result of collective hard work, providing you with the essential space to navigate your business endeavors.
But ask yourself this: have you extended that same dedication to crafting a personal playbook or life plan? It’s an intriguing notion, isn’t it? After all, the path of a purpose-driven leader doesn't segregate their professional and personal domains. Instead, they intertwine and feed one another to create a dynamic force.
Several years back, I formulated a personal playbook, a compass I've kept within arm’s reach. The inspiration stemmed from Patrick Lencioni’s work in The Advantage, which presents a framework for fostering organizational clarity through six pivotal questions:
Why do we exist?
How do we behave?
What do we do?
How will we succeed?
What is most important, right now?
Who must do what?
Adapting these principles from organizational clarity to a personal context seemed not just plausible, but essential to me. Here's a tailored template for The 10-Point Personal Playbook:
What’s pivotal in "the marketplace"? In my realm, it's crucial to stay abreast of key opportunities like omni-channel strategies, the rise of entrepreneurial ventures, and the growing allure of social impact to investors.
What’s pivotal in my life? I’m not two different people, Robert the founder and Robert the family man. So, I want my personal priorities to be front and center.
Why do I exist? Unlike the first two questions, this one’s a constant. My plan states: “My magnificent obsession is improving lives by being a change-the-world leader while teaching others to do the same through personal mentoring, my writing, speaking engagements and leadership of organizations.” I am also committed to an “exceptionally loving relationship with my wife” and to “raising two remarkable daughters who will make their own dent in the universe with their love, caring, joy and courage.”
What do I do? This mirrors the essence of a mission statement, encompassing service, quality, and intangible contributions. Mine embodies: “To deliver results I Listen. I provide Vision. I Inspire. I Align. I Coach. I am relentless in my pursuit of learning and adding value to the lives and enterprises of others.”
How do I behave? This mirrors corporate values but extends to your personal brand. It encapsulates how you treat others and how you aim to be perceived.
What are my triggers & fuel? Triggers incite your fight-or-flight response, while fuel ignites positivity, bringing
forth your optimal self.
Where is this heading? Attach tangible figures to your aspirations and visions. Set financial milestones for your family and professional objectives for your business. Picture a thriving life for you and your loved ones in 5, 10, or 20 years.
How will I prevail? What must you accomplish today to grant your vision the best possible chance at success? Is it tenacity, faith in a higher force, or entrusting critical matters to others?
What is most critical now? Priorities evolve and should include commitments to personal and professional growth. For me, adopting meditation several years ago was a vital step towards rejuvenation and becoming a more conscious leader.
What are my immediate next steps? Every plan requires a list of concrete steps to realize the desired outcomes. Compile a range of options and assign the necessary actions. Execute, and validate your progress.
My playbook aligns me daily, keeping my prime motivators and apprehensions ever-present as a scaffold for processing life's intricacies. While it’s a life plan, it remains adaptable—subject to fine-tuning as needed. The weightier the decisions I confront, the more I appreciate having this playbook to turn to.
Now, I'm curious—what have you done to craft a playbook for your life? I'm eager to hear your insights or delve deeper into any of the aspects I've touched upon in this post.
Sincerely,
Rob Craven, ScalePassion
Rob Craven, scalepassion
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All credit to my ghostwriting partner, Dave Moore, who is instrumental in getting my thoughts out in a coherent manner & into these blogs. Thanks Dave!