Written by Odilia McLeod, an Executive and Emotional Intelligence Coach with more than 30 years of corporate experience and graduate training in psychology. She helps professionals navigate change, career transitions, and leadership challenges with greater clarity, self-awareness, and intention.
Do you have a plan, or are you helping other people fulfill theirs?
Not having a plan in life makes you vulnerable to spending years (yes, YEARS) working on someone else’s plan, making their vision come to life.
And of course we get some incentive out of it, be it money, prestige, or a feeling of “I am doing something with my time.” Something compelling enough to keep us exactly where we are, justifying why we are on autopilot and keeping us from examining if indeed we are in active choice or have passively accepted what has come our way.
Too many people go through life without a plan. And sure, there is something to be said for spontaneity, but not when it comes to designing a life you want.
Some of your greatest fulfillment in life will come from your achievements. That is, having a dream, creating a plan to get there, and carrying out that plan to its fruition. It doesn’t matter what the dream is; it just has to be yours and propel you to take action. Whether it is to get promoted, learn a new trade, write a book, build a successful business or career, go on the vacation adventure of a lifetime, find that perfect match for you, start exercising with a specific end in mind like building up to running your first 5k, or making sure you focus on personal development and aim to be the best you can be.
What matters most is that you get to spend your time living out your plan and not someone else’s.
Bottom line, do not spend your life in pursuit of someone else’s dream or idling in one place with no progress other than the passing of time or bound to security and familiarity. Take a look at your life, where you are today personally and professionally. Ask yourself if you are going toward something, building, aiming for more than living one day at a time. Consider making your efforts and daily actions culminate in something amazing that has a lasting positive impact in your life.
You’ve got this! It all starts with that intentional first step and the resolve to follow through.
Ready to create a life and career that feel more aligned with who you are?
Book a free 30-minute conversation with Odilia to explore what you want next and how you can move forward with greater clarity and intention.
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