Why you should have a strategic life plan
If I could do a TED Talk on a topic it would be this - Do less. Achieve more.
And it would apply to life as much as it does for work.
Think about it. If you were creating a strategic plan for your business, would you attempt to achieve every ambitious goal you have within the next 30 or 90 days? Of course not. Trying to do everything at once would strain your resources, confuse your customers, and burn you out. The result? Mediocrity at best, and at worst, a complete meltdown.
Take the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) as an example. This proven framework, embraced by hundreds of thousands of successful start-ups and scale-ups, emphasizes narrowing your focus. Beyond daily operations, EOS recommends identifying just 2-3 company priorities—called “rocks”—to concentrate on for the next 90 days. By committing your energy to a few essential things, you accomplish them with excellence. You’re able to move the needle on BHAGs (big hairy audacious goals), and, little by little, you make a big impact.
This principle isn’t exclusive to EOS. Many business strategy frameworks offer similar guidance: the more focused you are, and the less you attempt to juggle, the more you excel. Why? Because you’re no longer spreading yourself too thin. Instead, you’re pouring your best efforts into what truly matters.
Here are some other compelling examples:
Natalie Ellis, co-founder of Bossbabe, encourages her community to focus on a single, high-quality offer and sales funnel, mastering it rather than chasing multiple mediocre initiatives.
Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, preaches the power of eliminating non-essential activities to make meaningful progress in life and work.
Basecamp founders David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried are known for advocating a “less is more” approach, driving success through streamlined, focused work processes.
“What’s that—you don’t have a strategic life plan? It’s time to change that.”
You might already have this approach integrated into your work or business strategy, but have you applied it to your personal life? What’s that—you don’t have a strategic life plan?
It’s time to change that.
The same principles of prioritization and doing less can transform your personal goals and pursuits.
There have been too many New Year’s Day lists of things I want to accomplish without having the proper time, space, and foundation set up for me to achieve them, leaving me discouraged that I wasn’t achieving what I wanted for myself.
I want you to achieve everything you desire, whatever that means to you: getting out of debt, traveling the world, earning that big promotion, starting a side hustle, getting fit, leading your child’s PTA, joining a board, volunteering, or even writing a book. But here’s the reality and the truth: if you set ten different goals and try to tackle them all within the next three months—or even the next year—you may be setting yourself up for failure.
Taking on too much without a solid plan or adequate support means spreading yourself too thin. Your efforts become diluted, you burn out, and ultimately, you achieve less. But by focusing on one or two priorities at a time and giving them your all, you’re far more likely to make meaningful progress and experience real success.
I like to think about it as what season you’re in. Did you just start a new job or a new business that needs more attention right now? Then you may need to let go of some volunteer activities. Is it important for you to focus on your health? Then you may need to adjust happy hours with friends to long walks or defer plans for a bit.
It is not easy to say “no” to people who need you, are counting on you, or expect you to be there for them. But there are so many ways to show up for people while also still making space for yourself. I’ve found just by communicating what it is you’re trying to achieve offers them a bridge to support you rather than be hurt. And remember, a ‘no’ doesn’t have to mean forever; it can simply mean ‘not right now.’
So, with all my love, I encourage you to identify your top priorities for this season and commit to doing less. Focus on what matters most, and give it your best. Your future self will thank you.