Successful executives know where they’re going, stay focused, and have an uncanny ability to know when to say “NO.” They may not use these exact words, but they’re operating off a LifeMission. They’ve discovered there’s limited unscheduled time and know their current “Season of Life.” The following thoughts are meant to help you develop your own unique game plan.

 Step 1 — What’s Your Destination?

Reflect on these rhetorical questions:

1. How do you know you’re on the right road if you don’t know where you’re going?
2. When you’re sitting in your rocking chair in the twilight of your life, what would you like to look back at?
3. If you were writing your own eulogy, what would you like it to say?

Step 2 — Realize That Time is a Limited Resource

Many resources can be increased through hard work, good investing, inheritance, and even luck — but time is a finite resource. We all get 24 hours each day. Have you ever thought about how you spend your time? Download the Doescher Advisors “How I Spend My Time” tool, which will provide a simple way to reflect upon your time commitments (you don’t need to fill it out!).

Step 3 — What “Season of Life” are You In?

Reflect on the following questions:

1. Are you still in school? Are you going back to school?
2. Are you married? Do you have children? Are your children still minors? Do your children live with you? Are you a single parent? If so, what is your support system? Are you coaching sports teams or do you have some other commitment related to your children (i.e., PTA)?
3. If you’re married with children, do both spouses work outside of the home?
4. How demanding is your job? Is it 24/7? Does your work require travel outside of your home city?
5. Are you involved in outside organizations (i.e., charities, service clubs, a neighborhood association)?
6. Do you attend church? Do you have other commitments/responsibilities related to church? Do you belong to a social or athletic club? Are you involved on the board or on a committee? What other responsibilities, hobbies, or activities do you have? Do you travel recreationally?
7. Do you have responsibilities for aging parents, adult children, or others?
8. Do you have a regular exercise program and/or participate in golf, tennis, fishing, hunting, etc.?

In developing your LifeMission, you need to consider what’s important to you now — and realize that may change over the years.

LifeMission Summary

In a survey of 95-year-olds, Dr. Tony Campolo, a professor of sociology, asked them, “What would you do differently with your life if you could live it over?” Many responded: “We would reflect more, risk more, and invest in people more.”

With their advice in mind, begin the process of developing your LifeMission.

• Think about “How I Spend My Time” and reflect upon your current “Season of Life.”
• If you’ve ever used any assessment tools, consider and incorporate your identified strengths.
• Brainstorm key words, thoughts, and themes.
• Format isn’t important. We’ve evolved from words to a graphical representation of our LifeMission.
• Like strategic planning, your LifeMission is an ongoing process.
• Be accountable to someone.
• Just do it!