Most people I work with have created project plans for their technical work, inventions, products, or constructions. And yet, when it comes to their personal growth, they tend to “wing it.” We need a personal project plan for self-transformation.
Science explains that only 8 percent of people achieve their goals. According to the research, they succeed not simply because of who they are but more often because of what they do.
Happiness research has demonstrated that people who are engaged in something of personal significance — whether learning a new skill, changing professions, or raising a family — are far happier than those who live life without a vision or ambition.
When you find a happy person, you are also finding a project.
So, what is the best project plan for self-transformation? As for all the projects you’ve worked on before, you’ll need a plan. You’ll have to define a clear method to attain your objective.
Project Plan for Self-Transformation Step 1
Start Asking Yourself the Following Three Questions
- What are the fundamental pain points you are currently experiencing?
- What are people telling you about areas in which you need to improve?
- What is your intrinsic motivation for self-transformation?
I realized that people could easily find answers to the first two questions but fail to consider the third one. And yet, the third question is the most important. Why?
Because if you only consider the first question, you are essentially “running away from pain,” which means you only look at what you want to avoid.
For the second question, you might be doing it because other people have asked you to improve, and you could fall into only trying to satisfy their needs.
Both are significant and need to be part of your plan; however, if you do not have intrinsic motivations for this self-transformation, you’re missing the personal reasons that will drive you forward, especially when facing barriers.
Project Plan for Self-Transformation Step 2
What Are Your Intrinsic Motivators?
You can think about the following two points:
- Yourself: What change do you want for yourself as a result of achieving your personal transformation goals? (More time to think, work-life balance, less stress, more fluidity in social contexts, feeling more centered and less scattered, etc.)
- Your Business or Career: What change do you want for your business or career as a result of achieving your goal of self-transformation? (Higher role, more efficiency in your work, ability to manage your day better, ability to empower your team, more success, ability to exert influence, higher income or sales, etc.)
You won’t get to your destination without a plan and intrinsic motivators.
Like any endeavor, there is often a lot of desire and excitement at the outset, but with time, hurdles appear, and your enthusiasm wanes. So you need a personal North Star that will help you overcome your doubts and prepare for obstacles and fatigue.
As an executive coach, every time I work with a client, I help them create a Personal Development Action Plan that includes their intrinsic motivators to achieve their goals.
With a clear plan and objectives, just like for your technical projects, you’ll be able to overcome obstacles and achieve your self-transformation.
We Can Help
How about you? Do you have a project plan for self-transformation? And what are your intrinsic motivators? To learn more about how to start a project plan for self-transformation, creating a Personal Development Action Plan, and how an executive coach can help, contact Roberto for a consultation.