


"Perhaps our perspective is the true fountain of youth, all we need to stay young, vibrant and alive" Joanne Waldman

Design Your Life: Make a list of what your want to accomplish in your lifetime
Jan 26
3 min read
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Have you ever thought about sitting down and planning out the next 10, 15 or 20 years of your life? Planning not only your work life, but your non-work life as well, creating not only a career but also a holistic approach to your lifestyle?
Lifestyle can encompass many things, including addressing work life balance, designing your preferred environments, or evaluating your needs and desires for the kind of company and culture you want to work for and with.
What would be your ideal?
One way to start this process is making a list of the 101 things that you want to do in your lifetime. Take a moment and jot down five items that would appear on your list. HOw easy or difficult was that for you to do?
While writing the list, it is important to think outside the box, to dream the big dream, to stretch and be creative. Most people have a tendency toward thinking small, sticking to things that we are most familiar with. When was the last time you pushed yourself to try something new- taking a risk or intentionally putting yourself in a situation that stretches beyond your comfort zone or maybe even your skill level?
What might be included on your list? Perhaps learning a new language, writing a book, running a marathon or becoming president of a company? The benefits of reaching toward goals are many. Not only does it increase your self-esteem but helps you serve as a role model for others.
Spend some time creating the 101- item list. You may want to start the list and keep it accessible so that you can add to it as new thoughts arise. It is important not only to write the list but also put a process in place to actually do something on a regular basis from the list. A coach may be helpful in guiding you toward putting processes in place that will move you toward accomplishing all that you want from the list.
Do not underestimate the importance of writing out the list, as those who commit themselves on paper and visualize their goals have much greater chance of achieving them. A study from the Harvard BUsiness School found that only 3 percent of individuals write down their goals, but of those who do so, 97 % reached them.
For example, let’s say your list includes starting your own business. After evaluating that goal, you realize that there are some skills that you need to acquire before that can become a reality. You may want to go to work for another firm that will help you build the skills that will help you along your path. Those might include marketing, sales, business development or financial management, to name a few. In addition, while working or another company in your goal field, you most likely also will develop relationships that will assist you toward your ultimate goal.
Don't forget that during this process you may be on your way toward identifying your life’s purpose. What themes tend to stand out? How do you want to make a difference? Sometimes an avocation helps focus the vocational side. If one of your personal goals is building your own house, and you decide to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to acquire skills, you also are giving back to the community, truly creating a win-win situation. And if your ultimate goal is to have your own home repair business in 10 years, then the process comes full circle.
Or perhaps one of your 101 goals is to own a restaurant. What would you have to do to reach that goal? If you have limited experience, it might mean that you need to take some business classes, and get a job working in a restaurant. It could also mean that you would need to do research, both through reading and on a face-to-face basis. Talking to restaurant owners about their experiences could be very beneficial to the process.
This approach to creating a life plan may seem impractical or out of reach if your’e caught in the mode of working just to pay the bills, with little time for self and low energy reserves to draw upon. But visioning can be powerful. Individuals who take time to write their goals and envision the outcome have taken the first step toward changing their futures.
Are you ready to take on this challenge?
Start writing your list today.