Home
>
Strategic Planning
>
The Power of Strategic Thinking: Creating Meaningful Success

The Power of Strategic Thinking: Creating Meaningful Success

Too much goal setting and strategic planning can leave you feeling like you're working against the forces of nature; too little and you end up where you never intended to be-with a life or business that is bigger, smaller, or different than what you genuinely desire. Though getting you and your organization where you most want them to be at any given time can be hard work it can also be exhilarating. Is there a better way? Is it possible to minimize the stress and maximize the exhilaration while still accomplishing those things that are most important to you?

Absolutely-it simply requires a shift in consciousness. The "win at all costs" mentality (win-lose) continues to give way to the "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" mentality (win-win). And this is evolving further. Today we can position ourselves for success, contribute to the success of others, and be responsive to the needs of our changing world (win-win-win).

If your first thoughts echo the sentiment "the world is going to hell in a hand basket," please note that we needn't go with it, nor must we turn back time. Instead, we must take responsibility for our thoughts, feelings and actions-in life and business. What we do affects not only the quality of our lives, but others' lives as well. We have an unprecedented opportunity in today's world to create meaningful lives, powerful and productive organizations, and contribute to a greater good for our global community. The change begins with each one of us.

IDENTIFY YOUR HIGHEST VISION:

"What is your greatest intention for your life and business?" Knowing the purpose for your existence is important. The quality of the goods we create, the services we extend, and the relationships we build are central to all that we are and all that we do. "If you don't know where you're going you might end up somewhere else" is a light-hearted statement that conveys very real wisdom. Yet when people are asked what they most want to accomplish in their lives they all too frequently respond with, "I just want to be successful."

This response is way too vague to be helpful. Genuine success must be personally defined and be inclusive of all aspects of who you are, what you do, and what you want to accomplish. That said, we also know that it is our financial integrity that sustains our ability to contribute in productive and meaningful ways, live in accordance with our greatest desires, and call forth the gifts and talents of others. Our personal and professional lives are inextricably interwoven and it is imperative that we stay attentive to multiple bottom-lines.

KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR "POSSIBILITY FUNNEL":

"What specific things do you want to direct your attention and efforts toward?" Fulfilling our greatest intentions is a multi-faceted endeavor. It is essential that we not make decisions prematurely, nor let the "tyranny of the possible" stop us from moving forward. Decisions must be made within the context of all of the things that are most important to each individual or entity. Life and business need not be lead in a linear fashion-it's not in our best interest to move from point A to point B with blinders on.

All of our values, the possibilities that intrigue us, and the goals we are striving toward must be within the scope of our vision at all times. Many who have locked into a single goal to the exclusion of all others will tell you how quickly life can get out of balance. A singular focus can cost people their health, loss of significant relationships (both personal and professional), and access to other opportunities that might have served them better.

DECIDE ON THE ONE NEXT STEP:

"What is the ONE next step you can take to move yourself toward your goals?" Every intentional step a person takes offers them new opportunities and insights that will serve as guides for the next step they will want or need to take. It's not necessary to know exactly how things will happen or have everything you anticipate needing before you begin. We can't start an ascent at the top of a mountain, and if we continually focus on all that the trip will entail we can become so daunted that we never begin at all.

Once we have the "big picture" and have grasped the magnitude of our potential journey, we must focus our attention on taking each individual step. Though you can anticipate some of what you'll encounter and can stand ready to respond to changing circumstances, count on life and business to be full of surprises. Trust that you'll know what you need to know when you need to know it and that you can acquire the learning or resources as the need for them arises.

HOLD YOUR GOALS LIGHTLY:

"Do your goals continue to be what you most want to work toward?" Choosing what's most appropriate for us at any given time allows us to make new decisions the minute a given goal or action stops being right. It doesn't matter how much we've invested personally or financially, if a goal is no longer suitable we are better served to release it and move on. Imagine relaxing into the flow of your life, or being able to support your organization's ability to be both goal-oriented and responsive to changing circumstances. Nice thought, huh?

Knowing what you want and why you want it is essential, but staying open to other possibilities is both wise and prudent. Sometimes obstacles are put in our paths to direct us elsewhere, other times to test our resolve and commitment. At the very least obstacles invite us to reassess the "rightness of our direction," and to relinquish our hold on a goal when it serves us well to do so.

UTILIZE EACH NEW VANTAGE POINT:

"Where do you want to go from here?" As you achieve goals or decide they're no longer right for you, new decisions must be made and new directions determined. By continually scanning our changing horizon we create a fluid and self-correcting way to continually experience success. When you consistently reevaluate the "rightness of your direction," you can identify new opportunities and possibilities in the same moment that you are achieving or releasing another goal. Has someone new been drawn to you who can further your efforts? Is there a new use for your efforts? Has something changed, internally or externally, that leads you to feel differently about your goals? Do you want or need to alter course?

Change is the only constant in life and business, it is important to stay open to unintended outcomes and unforeseen possibilities. When we relinquish our need to exert our will over everyone and everything (power over) we can relax into new opportunities for our lives and businesses (power to).

CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES AND CONTINUE ON:

"What have you accomplished and what new sense of purpose has arisen?" Powerful and productive decisions in life and business reflect people's highest visions-and highest visions grow with each step taken. Life and business aren't intended to be a series of starts and stops, at their best they are a constant evolution toward excellence. When someone says, "you're getting there," the smart mouth says "there where?" Each of our goals is merely a mile marker and as it is accomplished or discarded it is replaced by yet another. Life satisfaction increases and the culture of an organization is enhanced tremendously, however, when we take time to acknowledge every step taken as a genuine accomplishment.

Once the celebration is over, our sense of purpose calls for meaningful action to continue.

Success is both a destination and a journey, travel lightly and savor each moment!

Susan J. Schutz founded Highest Vision in 1999. Highest Vision services ? executive coaching, leadership development, and team building -- reflect her deep conviction that professionals can be attentive to their "bottom lines" while also creating lives worth living and businesses that contribute to the good of all. For a free subscription to VantagePoint, Highest Vision's free E-zine for trailblazers in life and business, go to http://www.highest-vision.com.

house refresh service Lincolnshire ..

In The News:

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.

Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.

The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.

Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.

Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.

Scammers are sending fake Facebook settlement payout emails that mimic legitimate notices from the privacy settlement administrator to deceive users.

Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.

The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.

OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.

Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.

The Power of Strategic Thinking: Creating Meaningful Success

Strategic Planning