Strategic Planning (SP) is a Best Practice management concept that aligns business tactics and performance metrics with an enterprise’s documented Vision. Although SP is typically thought of only as a business tool, its principles work equally well for individuals. SP provides an introspective framework to analyze situations and compare available choices before making decisions that would cause you to move away from, rather than towards, your ultimate goals in life. As we encounter unwelcome “bumps” and unexpected changes along our personal career paths, SP enables flexibility and original thinking during these high-stress situations.

Vision:  Your personal Vision is a statement of purpose that answers the basic question of “Why do you exist?” Vision statements work like a telescope, bringing your distant horizon – your ultimate life goals – into clear view. As the biblical proverb states, “Without a vision, the people perish.” 

An elegant way of developing a vision statement for your life is to first state what services you provide. Be completely honest with yourself while asking a series of five “Why is that important? questions. The answer to the fifth “Why” will uncover your core purpose, or Vision – an inspirational call to action pointing you towards your future. Try this simple technique--it really works!

Knowing your purpose provides at least four long-term benefits:

Ø      Gives meaning to your life;

Ø      Simplifies your life;

Ø      Focuses your life;

Ø      Motivates your life.

Mission:  A personal Mission Statement is a more descriptive response to the basic question of “What is your business?” An appropriate analogy to get your creative juices flowing for this element of SP would be to imagine yourself at either a job interview or an annual performance appraisal. These answers will define the scope of your customer base and the conditions of your external environment.

Ø      Who are your customers?

Ø      Which customer needs will you satisfy?

Ø      How dynamic is your competition?

Ø      What distinguishes your services?

Ø      How do you add value for your clients?

The difference between your Vision and Mission is that Vision Statements use nouns and the future tense; Mission Statements use verbs with numbers and/or percentages to ensure accountability.

We introduced this series with exercises to help you develop your personal Vision and Mission statements. Next month, we continue “Strategic Planning: Life Skills for Grownups” by exploring Core Values and Critical Issues.

About the Author:  Joni White, CFPIM, CIRM, QI is a full time APICS Instructor with over 25 years of experience in planning, value analysis, materials management, and production control within diverse industries. She is VP Education for APICS DC Metro and a frequent speaker at APICS events. Joni can be reached via email at jwhitewadc@aol.com.