Strategic Life Planning: Guide to Personal Success

Life Strategy Digest: Crafting a Fulfilling Life Journey

Introduction or Summary

Welcome to this edition of Life Strategy Digest, where we delve into the transformative concept of applying strategic business principles to the personal realm of life management. In this issue, we will uncover the intricacies of strategic life planning, as introduced by strategist Rainer Strack, Dr. Susanne Dyrchs and Allison Bailey . Explore a comprehensive Seven-Step Life Strategy Program. This newsletter and youtube video is your guide to conceptualizing a life strategy that transcends conventional pursuits, steering towards a fulfilling and

meaningful life.

Section 1: Understanding Strategic Life Planning

• 00:00 - 00:58: Introduction to Strategic Life Planning
• Bridging the gap between corporate strategy and personal life management.
• Envisioning life as an amalgamation of integrated choices, paving the path to fulfillment.

Section 2: The Seven-Step Life Strategy Program

00:58 - 03:43: Elaborating the Steps

• Step 1: Defining Personal Success and Life's Greatness (01:24) Tailoring your definition of success, setting the cornerstone for a remarkable life.
• Step 2: Identifying Personal Purpose (01:51) Unearthing your core motivations, guiding your life's direction.
• Step 3: Crafting a Personal Vision (01:51 - 02:20) Sketching a vivid picture of your ideal future.
• Step 4: Assessing the Life Portfolio (02:20) Evaluating your life's investments in time, money, and energy.
• Step 5: Learning from Best Practices (02:20 - 02:47) Embracing wisdom from successful life strategies.
• Step 6: Making Life Portfolio Choices (02:47 - 03:17) Decision-making to align your life with your vision and purpose.
• Step 7: Ensuring Successful, Sustained Change (03:17 - 03:43) Implementing and maintaining the changes for a lasting impact.

(To help, we created a life strategy worksheet, which should be filled out after you’ve gone through all the steps.)

Section 3: Components of a Fulfilling Life (PERMA-V Model) 03:17 - 04:12

• Exploring the pillars of well-being: Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement, Vitality.
• Debunking the limited satisfaction derived from money, fame, and power.

Section 4: Strategic Life Units and Areas

• 04:12 - 05:37Understanding life as a constellation of strategic units. Diving into 16 life units and 6 strategic areas, framing the canvas of your life.

Section 5: Creating and Analyzing the Strategic Life Portfolio

• 05:37 - 08:35 Mapping out your life investments, weighing importance against satisfaction.
• Employing a strategic life portfolio matrix to visualize and balance life priorities.
• Pinpointing high-importance, low-satisfaction areas for targeted improvement.

Section 6: Adapting and Optimizing Life Strategy

• 08:35 - 09:33 Navigating control over satisfaction levels and time allocation.
• Refining life focus areas for a life portfolio that resonates with your purpose and vision.

Section 7: Importance of Direction and Preparation in Life

• 09:33 - 10:00The pivotal role of direction amidst life's uncertainties.Synchronizing life strategy with preparation to maximize forthcoming opportunities.

Other studies have found that proven life-enhancers include practicing kindness, mindfulness, meditation, and gratefulness; cultivating more humor and laughter; dedicating time to learning; and developing a growth mindset (that is, believing your abilities and life can improve through effort and persistence).

Download in pdf from HBR

Timeline of Events

• 00:00 - 00:58: Introduction to the concept of Strategic Life Planning.
• 00:58 - 03:43: Detailed exploration of the Seven-Step Life Strategy Program.
• 03:17 - 04:12: Unveiling the PERMA-V Model and its significance.
• 04:12 - 05:37: Deciphering the strategic life units and areas.
• 05:37 - 08:35: Crafting and analyzing the Strategic Life Portfolio.
• 08:35 - 09:33: Insights on adapting and optimizing life strategies.
• 09:33 - 10:00: Emphasizing the importance of direction and preparation.

Timelines provide a snapshot of the journey through strategic life planning.

Remember, the essence of this journey is not merely in understanding these concepts but in actively integrating them into your life. Our aim is to shift the paradigm from pursuing conventional markers of success to embracing a life strategy that resonates with your unique definition of fulfillment and purpose.

Who/What is?

• Rainer Strack is a senior partner emeritus and a senior adviser at BCG, where he built up and led the global People Strategy topic for 10 years. In 2014 he gave a widely watched TED talk on the global workforce crisis. He formerly coheaded the Future of Work initiative for the World Economic Forum, and in 2021 he was inducted into Personalmagazin’s HR Hall of Fame. He is a fellow of the BCG Henderson Institute.
• Susanne Dyrchs is an executive adviser, a coach, and a people strategy expert. She is also a BCG U faculty member and a coauthor of numerous publications on organizations, leadership, and talent. She has written a personal account of her transformational journey, Wir-Zeit [Us Time], which was published in 2021.
• Allison Bailey is a senior partner and a managing director at BCG. She leads the firm’s People & Organization practice globally and is a coauthor of several publications on the future of work, the bionic company, digital learning, and upskilling. She is also a fellow of the BCG Henderson Institute.

Where? Applicable in various life areas and units.

When? Any life stage, ideally starting when conscious about life direction.

How? By adopting the seven-step strategy program, assessing life units, and applying the PERMA-V model.

Why? To invest strategically in fulfilling life areas, aligning with personal success, purpose, and satisfaction.