For many years I have given out this list to people who voice some dissatisfaction with life, young people who are just embarking on life on their own, with people facing the challenges of a mid-life readjustment, and with those who find themselves overloaded with work. It is an analytical process where you define and describe the elements of your life and determine what and where changes can and should be made. There are no right or wrong answers, but you do need to be brutally honest.
- What is your single greatest strength? Everyone is good at something, not so good at other things. Stress is magnified (becomes distress) when you are placed in a position of having to primarily rely on skills other than your greatest strength. If this is happening often, you might be in the wrong position. Eustress is good stress that results from being busy and in demand because you are using skills and talents you have and can employ them in settings that are appreciative and supportive.
- What three decisions are causing me the greatest stress? There are things we commit to, agree to, disagree with, contend, contest, sign a contract for, or engage in that have become a source of difficulty. What are you engaged in now that you wished you had not agreed to?
- What is overwhelming me? Ok, this may be a bit melodramatic, so if you’re not exactly feeling overwhelmed, you might just be feeling too crowded, too overloaded, to much like you cannot escape but need to. What is the source?
- What impassable roadblock has me stuck? Typically money and/or people, identify what sits in your way from becoming what you want to be, doing what you need to do, learning what you need to know, and so on.
- If I could do only three things before I die, what would they be? Zig Ziglar has said, “Live each day like it is your last because on of these days, you’ll be right.” Well, this question just might be the most critical of all 16 because it forces you to narrow the plethora of tasks, opportunities, and ideas into just three. The idea is to help you focus on what is important and necessary, not just what is urgent and demanding.
- What should I resign from or drop out of? This might tie in to your answers for #2, but even if it isn’t, you might be over-committed, especially in light of #5. Each of us has exactly the same amount of time every day. You cannot sace minutes or hours over until tomorrow, you must use them up every day. Do you need to abandon something? Like that smart phone you carry around, sometimes you need to disconnect.
- What things on my to-do list can someone else do at least 80% as well as I can? Hearkening back to question #1, you have certain skills, talents, abilities, and responsibilities that you and only you can employ and fulfill. But there are things you are doing now that someone else can do as well or almost as well. You need to focus! And you need to focus on those things, tasks, commitments, and responsibilities that only you can do. Give everything else away to someone else.
- What are the elephants in my schedule? For 14 days, keep a record of everything you do. In no less than 15 minute increments, write down what you do, then analyze them. Where are the biggest bites going? If you are a dedicated scheduler you might discover that you can actually schedule a small portion of your day because others occupy your time and attention and it is largely beyond your control. I will deal with ways to manage others when they intrude on your time and turf in a future post, but for today, determine where the big beasts stand.
- What are three things I could do in the next ninety days that would make a 50% difference? Analysis is futile without a corresponding action plan. These questions will show you what you are doing right, where things are going well, and where they are not. Decide right now 3 things you will do differently and plot their start date no later than the next 90 days. You will doubtless make other changes down the road, but I want you to focus on the immediate future. And be specific. Don’t write “manage my time better.” That is meaningless. Write exactly how you will manage your time better, when it will begin, and how you will know it worked (or not).
- What is my passion (what lights my fire today)? If you engage someone in conversation long enough to get beyond the courtesies that typofy the initial minutes of a conversation, and if you catch them in an unguarded moment when they can be honest, listen to what they talk about. You will hear their passion. So, what floats your boat? This is where your motivation resides.
- What is my dream (if everything were like it ought to be, what would it look like)? Play God for a minute and describe your ideal life. What would you be doing, where would you live, how much money would you have, where would you be heading?
- What do I really want to do? Sadly, many people take the first job they can get when they graduate and they settle into it. It may or may not match their skill set. More critically, your desires and ambitions change over time and your skill sets become more obvious.
- When do I want to do it? Plot a date for change. I have done this myself more than once in my life and have just made another job/career change at the ripe age of 61. You can do it too.
- What am I going to do to prepare myself? Determine what needs to happen. I recommend you work backwards – start with the date of change, ask your self what has to happen before that…then before that…then before that.
- Who will I ask to help me? Now that you’ve worked through 14 questions, get someone else involved. Who can assist you on your journey?
- How will it glorify God? Ok, if you’re not religious, simply rephrase this. Even if you are not religious, imagine for the sake of this exercise there is a higher power full of goodness, love, honor, and nobility. How will your decisions and actions please that higher power?
Every life deserves need to leave a legacy of nobility, your’s too. Live life like you are royalty because you really are the only one in charge of your “domain.” Go ahead, live like a king or queen.