As I look into the New Year and all the possibilities it could bring I can’t help but look back on the last year and think about what I would change. To be honest although I’m far from perfect and made more mistakes then I care to admit, I wouldn’t change anything. Each time I make a mistake I’m able to learn and grow from that error whether it was in judgment, business, a relationship or anything else. This last year has been anything BUT easy and because of that I’ve grown a lot as a person. I’ve learned how to be a more effective leader and businesswoman as well as what it means to be a true friend. But if I don’t decide right now to take what I’ve learned and establish new goals in my life, especially for this upcoming year, everything will have been a waste.
Each year my dad does something that I began doing a few years ago. He doesn’t just come up with a few “New Year’s Resolutions” and call it a day. He comes up with his “Personal Strategic Plan”. This way he doesn’t just set goals, but he comes up with strategies for how he’s going to achieve each new objective. This year I decided I wanted to share my 2010 Personal Strategic Plan with all of you for two reasons. First of all it gives me a form of accountability…to all of you. And second I want to show that although there is not necessarily any “right” way to set resolutions, but if you write down your priorities, where you are currently, your objective and finally your strategies that you have a much better chance of actually sticking to the goals you’ve set out. I’ll be giving you updates periodically through my blog whenever I have a victory or a pitfall. But no matter what I know what I want to accomplish in the next year and I can’t wait to start! So without any further ado…
Mal’s 2010 Personal Strategic Plan
Life Priorities:
1. Spiritual: To consistently grow in my personal relationship with Jesus and drawing closer to him in order to allow him to reveal his will for my life and let HIM fulfill his perfect plan for my life.
2. Family and Friends: To love my family and friends unconditionally, to respect my parents as personal, professional, and spiritual leaders in my life, to spend quality time with my brother as well as friends and become someone who will always be there in their times of need.
3. Health: To make my health a priority in my life and accept that I’m not completely recovered and therefore must create balance in my life.
4. Business: To grow LVCMag into not only a strong, financially profitable company, but to also develop it into a catalyst for transformation in the way women view and value themselves, especially in the 18-35 year old demographic.
5. Dream: To finish writing my play, produce it and draw awareness to and raise money for West Nile Virus survivors and research.
Spiritual Situation:
Over the past three years I have had to totally depend on God for everything including my next breath. Now that I’m in recovery from the virus I don’t want to lose my closeness to Jesus.
I’ve had to deal with crises in my health, family and business and the only one who has gotten me through the last year was Jesus and his consistent love, strength and power. Now that I’m out of the woods health wise I don’t want to stay stagnant in my relationship with him, but instead want to grow within him and allow him to move through every part of me.
OBJECTIVE: To consistently grow in my personal relationship with Jesus and drawing closer to him in order to allow him to reveal his will for my life and let HIM fulfill his perfect plan for my life.
Strategies:
1. To have a personal quiet time with him everyday no matter how busy, tired or lazy I am and to make that time with Him my priority.
2. To not only read the Word, but to go deeper into it. To study through other books and sermons what I’m reading in order to let it be completely absorbed into my spirit.
3. To hold myself accountable to other Christians and complete Bible studies with other women of God whom I respect and can learn from.
4. To allow God to lead me back into ministry and to complete the work he has set out for me.
Family and Friends Situation:
Because of all the trials of the last year I am now closer with my family than ever. I want to continue to grow my relationships with my family as well as continue to strengthen relationships with my friends. After everything my family has gone through this past year we’ve definitely had our difficulties, but now that we are coming out the other side we know we are able to get through anything together.
OBJECTIVE: To love my family and friends unconditionally, to respect my parents as personal, professional, and spiritual leaders in my life, to spend quality time with my brother as well as friends and become someone who will always be there in their times of need.
Strategies:
1. To respect and love my parents even though I may not always agree with them
2. To spend at least one evening a week with just family
3. To be consistently praying and available to encourage family and friends in their times of need as well as in the good times
Health Situation
After three long years of struggling with my heath consistently I’m finally beginning the recovery phase. Although due to my last relapse I am not in the place I want to be physically when it comes to strength or flexibility. For me it’s of the upmost importance to achieve balance in my life. I tend to want to go everywhere and do everything to the detriment of my health and therefore balance must be my priority.
OBJECTIVE: To make my health a priority in my life and accept that I’m not completely recovered and therefore must create balance in my life.
Strategies:
1. To eat 5 to 6 small healthy meals a day making sure to get enough protein in my diet
2. To complete cardio training at least 5 days a week
3. To work on strength and flexibility training 2 to 3 times per week
4. To never sacrifice on my sleep and to make sure I always get at least 8 hours
Business Situation
LVCMag has been around for over a year and is finally at a point where it is fulfilling my ultimate vision for the website. We are slowing growing in visitors as well as gaining positive press. I am lucky enough to have finally found the dream staff to work with me to assist women in discovering how to live the darling life, the cherished life!
OBJECTIVE: To grow LVCMag into not only a strong, financially profitable company, but to also develop it into a catalyst for transformation in the way women view and value themselves, especially in the 18-35 year old demographic.
Strategies:
1. To prepare for and execute the “It Girl Promotion” to spread the word about LVCMag and allow women the chance to not only learn more about the website, but also allow them to become a part of it through winning cash prizes and ultimately getting to be in a national commercial for the company
2. To continually encourage my staff to use their gifts to the best of their abilities and help them achieve their career goals
3. To continue to find sponsors for LVCMag.com which will allow us to grow as a company
4. To develop more networking opportunities in order to help other business men and women in their endeavors and promote them through lvcmag.com
5. To use press releases to gain press opportunities in order to share LVCMag with women around the world
6. To get involved with non-profits around the world in order to use LVCMag to draw awareness and raise funds for causes which we are passionate about
Dream Situation
I have been working on my documentary theatre piece, Clinging, for a year now. I am 2/3 of the way done with my first draft of the play. I am passionate about spreading awareness for West Nile Virus and producing this play will allow me to use my gifts to do so. However, I find myself so caught up in other aspects of life that I’m not able to consistently write.
OBJECTIVE: To finish writing my play, produce it and draw awareness to and raise money for West Nile Virus survivors and research by the end of 2010.
Strategies:
1. To write every day…even if it’s just one sentence!