PL ANNING
Do You Have Your
20/20 Vision?
BY MARSHALL MARTIN, CERTIFIED PETRA COACH
YEARS AGO, I had a triathlon coach who
told me that the work you do in the first
90 days is what sets you up for strong
performance throughout the year. This
principle applies to business as well. The
first quarter of the year is the time to
reflect on the previous 12 months, build
a vision for the future, lay the proper
foundation, and set work plans for your
best performance both personally and
professionally. The following steps will help
you get there:
Set Aside Time to Plan
For your personal life, start with a
One Page Personal Plan (OPPP). Most
businesses have strategic documents,
but most business professionals do not.
Everyone should have a document that
lays out what they want to accomplish
personally and professionally as well as
what their legacy will be once their career/
life is done. The first quarter of the year is
a good time to take out your OPPP, reflect
on your successes from the previous year,
and set new goals for the year ahead. Did
you maintain or build strong relationships?
Reach the accomplishments you aspired to?
Set new rituals? Create more wealth? If you
answered no to any of these questions, ask
yourself why and reset for the coming year.
Just as the OPPP guides you in your
personal life, a One Page Strategic Plan
(OPSP) will guide you in business. As the
year closes out and the new one begins,
you should be asking yourself similar
questions as you did above in your OPPP.
Did the business accomplish its goals? Did
the team grow at the same rate that the
business grew? Did the culture maintain
harmony? Did the business accumulate
wealth? Take the time to review the Annual
Initiatives and Targets from the past year
and reset those, along with future Three
to Five Year Targets and Thrusts and
Capabilities. Revisit these often as they will
keep the day-to-day chaos from taking over
and align the organization for success.
Engage a Coach
Behind every great athlete is a great
coach who inspires them to be better and
holds them to what they say they will do.
If you are not currently using a coach, you
should be looking for one. Find that person
who you can trust to lead you to achieve the
things you know are possible if you keep
focused and have accountability. A good
coach is not always going to tell you what
you want to hear, but they will tell you what
you need to hear so you can get out of your
own way on the road to success. You cannot
do alone what you can do with a coach to
push you along.
Take Care of You First
High performance starts with your
ability to play hard on a consistent basis.
Business is a grind, and to be able to
keep pace with the rigors of the game
of business, you must be willing to take
5
care of yourself. It’s proven that those
who incorporate healthier lifestyles
perform at a higher level in business and
set an example for others. For 32 years, I
have participated in triathlons and have
competed internationally at the highest
levels in an effort to consistently keep
pace in business. Just as I mentioned above
in regard to hiring a coach in business, you
should also have a coach or a trainer in your
personal life that holds you accountable to
high health standards. Your energy levels
will skyrocket and active blood flow to the
brain helps facilitate critical thinking and
decision making.
Establish or Join a Peer Group or Align
Yourself with Other Accountability
Partners
Surround yourself with a group of friends
and colleagues that are going through the
same things you are. Often as leaders, we
find ourselves feeling alone, not realizing
that there are many who are on the same
journey. These groups will also hold you
accountable to what you say you will do
and can help you navigate challenges in
your business and personal life. There are
always many opportunities to attend social
gatherings to build networks of people who
can help you on your journey.
The year 2020 is just kicking off, and it is
not too early to start planning to get ahead.
Think like a champion and you will have your
best year ever.