QUESTION #1 WHAT GIVES YOU ENERGY?
Don’t ask yourself what you’re good at. Questions like that are boring and don’t reveal that much. We’re all good at things that we hate doing. You should be interested in the activities that make you feel strong when you do them. What do you do that, when you lay in bed at the end of the day make you feel excited? Joyful? Magnificent?
Every single person in this world has at least one unique genius; something that they’re uniquely good at that makes them feel strong. It’s really important that you know what your natural strengths and weaknesses are. So, write down all the activities you do that really make you feel energized.
QUESTION #2 WHAT DEPLETES YOUR ENERGY?
Most of us are good at two or three things, and bad at lots of other things. One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is what depletes my energy? The more time you spend in your areas of weakness, the less productive you are, and the more exhausted you’ll be at the end of every day.
Successful people come in all shapes, sizes, and personality styles, but they all have one thing in common. They know what they’re bad at and they know what they’re good at. And they learn to do more of what they’re good at and less of what they’re bad at. Not complicated, is it?
QUESTION #3 WHAT’S MISSING IN YOUR LIFE?
Think of two key categories: your work and personal life. Maybe you have more categories you’d like to include. If you could wave a magic wand, what would you change about your life?
What missing ingredient would make your life 25% better immediately?
Bear in mind that there are unchangeable realities we must all face. But most of what makes us unhappy is within our control to change. What are yours?
QUESTION #4 WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU REGULARLY ENGAGE IN THAT FEEL LIKE A WASTE OF YOUR TIME?
Are there mundane tasks at work that you do that someone else could do just as well? Questions like this are important in helping us prioritize our time. Tasks that you should be delegating so you can get higher return grades.
Are there committees that you should resign from? Volunteer activities that you no longer have passion for, but you continue to do? Other commitments that have run their course and need to end?
We’re great at making ‘to-do’ lists, but we need to also make ‘stop-doing’ lists.
Make a list of things you should drop out of.
QUESTION #5 WHAT IS CAUSING YOU THE GREATEST UNHAPPINESS AT THE MOMENT?
It probably won’t take you long to discover what this is. Often the answer to this question will come to your mind in an instant. You know immediately what would make a 50% difference in your life. Name it. Write it down. We’ll include this in your plan as something to change Starting with:
# 1 __________________#2_______________#3_____________and on and on and on.
