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008: Annual Plan • Map Your Year

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Annual Plan • Map Your Year

Today in the Connector Life we will discuss Annual Plans - Mapping Your Year in 5 Steps.

You are a successful person. Yet, I am sure you still people who appear to be more productive and achieve more goals.  The secret really is strategic planning of your goals and time.

We are into the new year - Did you make a plan?  Are you on track with your plan?

If not, now is time to regroup, reflect and plan for your greatest year ever.

"Annual planning is a high performance habit that allows you to lead a more intentional & successful life." - Kimber Boothe Tweet This

I strive to lead an intentional life and I treat my year like a strategic plan that I need to execute on - much like the strategic plans I write for corporations. 

Five Steps to Prepare and Execute Your Annual Plan

  1. Goal Brainstorming
  2. Confirm Priority Goals
  3. Write Smart Objectives
  4. Write Action Steps
  5. Schedule & Execute Plan

This year was a little different for me as I wrote my goals during our family trip to New York and I switched the tool I used for my annual goals.   I used to do my goals in a spreadsheet project plan with goals/objectives/actions/subtasks. I started using Microsoft Planner which is much like Trello or Kanban with a more visual way to see your goals on a board.  Connect with me if you want to know more about my preference.

The terms for goals and objectives get thrown around and not always used correctly. Here is how I think of the definitions and it is clear to see how the annual plan real helps connect the dots from Mission/Vision to Execution.

Definitions:

  • Vision:
    • What I/We want to become
    • What is the bold future
  • Mission:
    • What is my/our PURPOSE and WHY?
  • Values
    • How I/We want to be
    • What I/We believe in
  • Goal
    • What we must achieve to get there
  • Objective
    • Concrete, measurable milestone on the way to achieving a goal
  • Action
    • Planned specific actions to achieve objective (may also be grouped by strategies)
  • Metric
    • Measure of success

 Now that we have clarified that, lets go over the 5 steps in more detail.


Five Steps to Prepare and Execute Your Annual Plan - Detail

1. Goal Brainstorming

  • Refer to your Mission/Vision/Values and long term goals.
  • Identify short goals and update long term goals
  • Consider inputs such as SWOT, PESTEL, Forecasts/trends and all areas of your life
  • Be bold – Dream big!

2. Confirm Priority Goals

  • Identify 2-3 short term and long term goals per area of your life

3. Write SMART Objectives

  • Identify 1-2 objectives per goal
  • Make them SMART – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic/relevant, time-bound
  • Note which quarter(s) you will work on this. Consider the top 3 themes/priorities per quarter
  • Include metric so you can assess if you are successful (this can be done later)

4. Write Action Steps

  • Identify the top strategies/actions steps to achieve the objective
  • Note the week(s) you will work on this.

5. Schedule & Execute Plan

  • Add to your calendar/task system the specifics based on the deadlines:
    • Monthly calendar review
    • Weekly action plan
    • Daily action plan


Tips to Keep You from Getting Stuck

  • Consider all areas of your life in your plan.  The areas I focus on are Self, Family/Friends, Career, Community. My philosophy is to have as much work-life integration/connection as possible which is why I show the areas of life as a Venn diagram. Rate yourself from 1-10 for your current and target score for the areas of your life to help with brainstorming.
  • Write your objectives from the positive perspective and in the past tense like you are reflecting on your achievement at the end of the year.
  • Write/type your goals - any format will do, but having them in a central location is key.  In the download, I provide examples for a Trello/MS Planner board and a complete project plan template. 
  • For Step 5 you will want to add monthly/weekly/daily specifics to your regular calendar or planner system.   
  • You ultimately hold yourself accountable for your plan, but sharing with an accountability partner is helpful        


My 2019 Goals

So speaking of accountability, I am going to be vulnerable and share my 2019 goals with all of you. These are my prioritized short and long term goals by area and the objective. 

Area

Goal

Objective

SELF

Health: Prioritize Me

I am physically fit as measured by my quarterly targets.

SELF

Finance: Increase Revenue/ Reduce Debt

I have 20% less debt.

SELF

Balance: Time for All Areas

I am not stressed and have time for all areas.

SELF

Finance: Long Term

I have $0 debt.

FAMILY / FRIENDS

Family: Improve Quality Time

I have close relationships with my kids.

FAMILY / FRIENDS

Wife: Quality Time

I have a closer relationship and open communication.

FAMILY / FRIENDS

Friend: Build Friendships

I have 5 close friends I  connect with twice per month.

FAMILY / FRIENDS

Family: Long Term

We have strong family bonds.

CAREER

Obtain VP Level Position

I will be a VP within 1 year.

CAREER

Development

I will be a certified coach and gain 2 new skills.

CAREER

KBG: Successful Business

I have 30 students across courses and have $10,000 profit.

CAREER

Recognition: National Organization

I will be recognized at the national level.

CAREER

Career: Long Term

I will work fully in my own business.

COMMUNITY

Pharmacy Volunteer

I am a volunteer leader in state and national pharmacy organizations.

COMMUNITY

Community Volunteer: Local/National Board

I volunteered for a local community organization that has a national reach.

COMMUNITY

Pharmacy Organization Volunteer

I am a volunteer leader in state and national pharmacy organizations.

COMMUNITY

Community Volunteer: Trail Organization

I volunteered with my family to build or maintain multi-use trails.

COMMUNITY

Community: Long Term

I will support a community development program and be a national pharmacy leader.


To take it a step further - here is an example of the Action step for one of my goals. 

  • Maintain current position on state pharmacy society board. (Q1-Q4)
  • Apply for American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Delegate position (Q1 WK 3)
  • Apply for an ASHP Committee (Q4 WK 40)

Join the ongoing conversation at kimberboothe.com and subscribe to my email list so we can connect regularly and you will receive content I don't share anywhere else.

You can access the Bonus Blog Download - Annual Plan Template which you can download and map your year.

Now it's your turn….

Identify your top goals for the year.  Share the actions you will take in the comments section at kimberboothe.com/blog/008.

Be bold, be a connector, and excel your life.  Invest in your career development!


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