Reconciling the intangible and the uncontrollable
We all are looking for results. We all know there are actions we need to take to help us get those results. And we all struggle with the nuances that taking action reveals.
Chances are, you've grappled with this dilemma. I think it's safe to say we all do in some way or another.
Recently, Maya and I completed our first coaching certification with the fantastic team at Flourishing Coach. During our training, a subtle jewel box in planning caught my attention—a shift that promised to transform how I approach my own planning work and guide my clients to do the same.
My Evolution of Planning
For years (coming onto my 9th year now), my planning process revolved around four life domains: wellbeing, relationships, profession, and personal interests.
Each quarter, I studiously crafted:
My vision of an ideal way of being
The reasons driving these aspirations
My areas of focus (goals)
The action steps to propel me forward
It did the job, I knew what it was that I said I wanted to achieve. But despite the significant time and effort, something felt amiss. When I got into the doing, I would hit up against some unseen and hard to distinguish barriers that would prevent progress.
5 Hidden Gems that I think have the potential to transform planning
Gem 1: The Intangible
I think most planning helps us sort out the following:
The Goal: What you aim to achieve.
Tangible Results: Pragmatic outcomes stemming from goal attainment
But goals aren't merely achievements; they embody more profound dimensions. What is missing is the stuff we don't see:
Intangible Results: Values, mindsets, and character traits cultivated along the journey.
Unveiling the intangible creates a deeper connection to our objectives. They serve to become internal drivers that help us push through challenges so we can get to the other side.
Gem 2 & 3: The Controllable and Uncontrollable
This was a powerful distinction. How often do you spend time distinguishing potential obstacles? It's a challenge on the best of days. Understanding and defining these 2 gems is a great place to start.
Controllable Obstacles: Personal, professional, and mental barriers within our influence.
Uncontrollable Obstacles: External factors—global shifts, market dynamics—beyond our control.
Acknowledging both empowers proactive planning. We see more of what would typically be hidden in the shadows and corners. but how do you plan for these?
Gem 4 & 5: Taking Action and Creating Plans to Cope
Armed with insights of our potential obstacles, we develop 2 types of plans:
Action Plans: Strategies to overcome the controllable obstacles.
Coping Plans: Responses to unforeseeable challenges.
After doing this work, the foresight I got left me with a renewed readiness for what's to come.
A Moment of Reflection
There is so much we have yet to uncover. The only thing that is stopping us is our own willingness to explore and understand. And I think that's the thing about growth and awareness. It's a subtle trap when we start believing we have acquired everything we need and stop looking.
What we don't realize and could not know, is the lesson, tool or perspective that lay just outside our current way of thinking.
Want to explore this work for yourself?
I've included my 30-90 day planning document for you at no charge
