Step 3b – The REINVENT YOURSELF 5-Day Action Plan

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Recap from last time~?We've looked at Where we are and Where we want to go. In Step 3, Part A, we started answering the question, How do we get there?

We have just one more thing to finish Step 3: Creating and implementing an Action Plan to integrate everything we've worked on in these steps, and finally move forward.

Presenting the REINVENT YOURSELF 5-Day Action Plan!

As always, it's great to see you back for this edition of the Reinvention Journal.

Over the last few months, the Reinvention process has been fun and revealing, but I've found it very slow, with frequent starts and stops. The self-assessment part is easy; it's the?action?part that's hard and, frankly, had me stuck for a while. My multi-creative personality constantly bubbles up new ideas, and I have a tendency to jump in without a net or a plan.

Planning and implementing solid action items is a daunting task for some of us. How about you?

How I got SMART, and you can too

Recently, I had a breakthrough~ In my coach training program, I've learned that the SMART method could make all the difference in breaking down a mountain of details and helping me find clarity and doable steps to finally get things done.

So, I've broken out items from the last 3 steps and distilled them into a 5-Day Action Plan.

Timeline?

Of course, you can do these steps in any timeline, but I have a sense of urgency to get things moving along within a week. I've outlined the plan for 5 days and a few links of recommended resources I've used to better understand each part. Let's keep going!

"When you create an action plan, you detail exactly what actions you'll take, organize and ensure you can accomplish your goals." – Asana.com

THE PLAN IN 5 DAYS

? DAY 1 Action Step: Get Started ??

It's time to jump in! If you haven't already, read Steps 1, 2, 3, and follow along with the observations and suggestions. Log results in your own Reinvention Journal.

As a refresher, here are the links to the articles:

Reinvention Journal – Step 1 | Reinvention Journal – Step 2 | Reinvention Journal – Step 3

? DAY 2 Action Step: Identify Passions, Whys, and Strengths ??

Reflect on your Reinvention Journal entries and these methods. We've covered these in previous articles, and now is a great opportunity to put them all together.

• Use Kristin Guiterrez's worksheets to dive deep into what's important to you! The sheets include The Why That Makes You Cry, and more. See RECOMMENDED RESOURCES below.
• Ikigai template: Write out What you love, What you're good at, What the world needs, What you can get paid for; discover your Passion, Mission, Profession, Vocation (See The 5-Day Action Plan page 2 for the Ikigai template and instructions)
• Identify personality strengths using assessment tools (See Personality Tests in RECOMMENDED RESOURCES below)
• Create a personal list of your strengths: Ask a few trusted friends, and pull points from your past performance reviews

? DAY 3 Action Step: Set SMART Goals ??

In my corporate days, we used the SMART method as a way to set expectations, track progress, and assess progress for Performance Reviews. Why is it SMART? It's an acronym for a method that helped us describe goals in Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound terms (while ensuring the goals were clear, realistic, and meaningful for personal and team planning).

I'm finding that the SMART method can be used in many other scenarios, including personal goal setting.

Using this structured approach, I wanted to see if I could use the SMART method to focus on clear, motivating, and achievable steps that align with my passions and strengths.

To find examples that I could reuse as a template, I wrote a prompt to use the SMART Method to break down steps for writing a fictional piece.

I've used ChatGPT to show me how to do something within a time limit, using a few words about my passions and strengths. I don't like many "write with AI" options, but for cutting through mountains of details, it's a convenient and quick organizing method. (See SMARTY CHAT GOAL EXAMPLE, bottom of the page)

To read more about the SMART method and how to use it, check out the helpful articles from Forbes and Hubspot (See RECOMMENDED RESOURCES below)

Take time now to write out the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound points about your goals~

? DAY 4 Action Step: Develop Action Steps ???

Now that the hard work is done~

• Break down each SMART goal into actionable steps
• Be sure that the steps are broken into chunks that are manageable and doable

? DAY 5 Action Step: Create an Action Plan ??

Your plan can start simply with an Excel sheet or Google Sheets... then get more sophisticated

• Upgrade your plan into PM tools for more features including dependencies, priority ranking, and organizing (Asana, ClickUp, and others have free plans)
• Scale up a complete plan with notes, priorities, and more. Try using Notion

? Ongoing: Check-ins and Adjust (Keep Going!) ??

• Your goals might change, and to keep motivated, you’ll need regular check-ins
• You can regularly review progress and adjust the action plan as needed to stay aligned

→ Reminders for continuing success ??

• Be sure to create your team of supporters (Positive-minded supporters, helpful mentors, collaborators)
• Check in with others who are reinventing themselves; together, you can keep each other accountable, give support, and celebrate your wins!

REINVENTION EVENT RECAP

? Reinvent Yourself with the Confident Leadership Coach, featuring Kristin Guiterrez

We had such an amazing time with Kristin! Her session was so much more than a coaching lecture; her story is so inspiring, and she is always so generous with worksheets.

Some highlights of this session include:

? How she overcame a devastating layoff to find her biggest life purpose

? Turned around "This is all happening to me" into "This is all happening FOR me"

? Became an Executive mentor, keynote speaker, and the best-selling author of "Be a Better Sales Leader"

? Her worksheets "Superhero Strengths", "The Why that Makes You Cry", and more

Replay of Kristin's session

Watch the recording on YouTube here:

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Be sure to copy into your own Google Drive:

The 5-Day REINVENT YOURSELF Action Plan (Google Drive)

Kristin Guiterrez LLC, Leadership Coach Worksheets

Be sure to copy each into your own Google Drive:

Lean into Your Superpower Strengths (Google Drive)

Find the Why 7 Levels Deep (Google Drive)

6 Steps to Prioritizing (Google Drive)

Quoted in this article

Create an action plan that drives results (Asana resources)

The Ultimate Guide To S.M.A.R.T. Goals (Forbes)

How to write a SMART Goals template (Hubspot)

Where to find personality assessments

16 Personalities (free)

Crystal (free)

Clifton Strengths Finder

Myers Briggs Type Indicator

SMARTY CHAT GOAL EXAMPLE (Prompt for ChatGPT)

"I want to write and publish a 30-page Romance short story for cat lovers. Using the SMART Method and my identified passions and strengths, give me tips and plans to complete this within 6 weeks."

1. Passion and Strength Identification:

• What are you passionate about? (List 2-3 activities or areas that you enjoy and are motivated by) Example: "I love writing and have a deep affection for cats and storytelling."
• What are your strengths? (Identify 2-3 personal or professional strengths that you excel in) Example: "I have a vivid imagination and a strong ability to create engaging characters and narratives."

2. SMART Goal Development:

SPECIFIC: What exactly do you want to achieve? (Define the goal clearly and ensure it is focused) Example: "I want to write and publish a 30-page romance short story for cat lovers."

MEASUREABLE: How will you measure your progress and know when you've accomplished your goal? (Set specific milestones or indicators) Example: "I will measure my progress by writing 5 pages per week and reviewing my work bi-weekly until I complete the 30 pages."

ACHIEVABLE: Is this goal realistic, given your current situation and resources? (Ensure the goal is within reach, considering your strengths) Example: "Considering my experience in writing and my passion for both cats and romance stories, this goal is achievable with consistent effort over the next six weeks."

RELEVANT: How does this goal align with your passions and strengths? (Ensure the goal is meaningful and aligned with your long-term objectives) Example: "This goal is relevant because it combines my love for storytelling and cats, which are central to my creative inspiration and long-term desire to connect with other cat lovers through literature."

TIME-BOUND: When do you want to achieve this goal by? (Set a deadline to create a sense of urgency) Example: "I will complete the short story and have it ready for publication within 6 weeks."

3. Action Plan: Break down the steps needed to achieve your goal:

Week 1: Brainstorm and outline the plot, characters, and setting

Week 2-4: Write 10 pages per week, focusing on key plot developments

Week 5: Review and edit the story, enhancing character development and plot flow

Week 6: Final revisions, proofread, and prepare for publication

4. Accountability and Reflection:

• Who will hold you accountable? (Identify a person or method to keep you on track) Example: "I will check in with a writing group or a friend who shares my love for cats and romance stories, updating them on my progress each week."
• How will you reflect on your progress? (Determine a method for reflection and adjustment) Example: "I will journal my thoughts and progress weekly, reflecting on what worked well, any challenges faced, and how I can improve my writing process."

5. Final SMART Goal Statement: Write your final goal statement using the SMART criteria.?Example: "I will write and publish a 30-page romance short story for cat lovers within 6 weeks by writing 5 pages per week to combine my passion for storytelling and cats."

6. Next Steps: What’s the first action you’ll take? (Define the immediate next step) Example: "Today, I will spend 30 minutes brainstorming and outlining my romance short story's main characters and plot."

SEE YOU IN THE NEXT EDITION

Thank you for subscribing and joining us on the Reinvention journey!

As always follow along, journal away, share your thoughts and stories, and we'll continue Reinventing ourselves together~

Opinions in this newsletter are my own, or that of my guests. The content is focused on suggestions but is not intended to replace professional or clinical advice. Copyrights belong to each respective author.

? 2024-2025 Marina Gracen-Farrell