The Assessment Strategy
Personal Development is Complex!
Okay, I know I write a great deal in this blog about successes. But, what happens when you feel things are not going right? Let’s talk FAILURE for a moment today!
This Just Isn’t Working!
On my Journey To 4.0, I have hit many milestones that I am very proud of…I have also missed a couple as well. This is not a bad thing! So to make sure that I am constantly evolving as a human being, I like to implement what I call the The Assessment Strategy. (Simple title…simple implementation) I do this once a month to make sure that I cleanse the practices that aren’t working and bolster the practices that are working. Here’s what I do.
1. Look at my list! (If you don’t have one, start today. You can’t be successful chasing AIR! Your list makes it tangible) I question what on that list has been successful in terms of hitting the milestones or unsuccessful in terms of missing the marks I have set for each item. Once I assess each item quickly…I make a note, positive or negative, about each item.
2. Assess Each Item. I really think about each item and how it fits into my long-term plan. If it is physical fitness and I am not seeing the type of results I expected, I research a different form of exercise. If I have not lived up to my milestones when it comes to my personal development (attitude for example), I research a different route to get to my defined attitude expectations.
3. Add / Delete. This is the most important step. After I assess each item, I find that some of the things I thought were going to make things better, may have made things worse or just didn’t work. If this is the case, I delete this item off of my list! I then check to see if there is something that I can add that may replace the item I deleted? If so, I make sure I have learned from what failed on the first go around, then replace the item with the intention of NOT making the same mistake.
This Should Be Quick And Simple…Set A Half Hour Every Month!
Your own Assessment Strategy should be executed in a way that is not cumbersome. Add it to the calendar in your phone to a day that is not busy for you every month. Set a reminder. You will NOT do it unless you write it down. (As you can see, I really like to stress the tangibility of things)
Make it fun by getting your spouse or a family member involved. Ask them questions like “Have you seen positive changes in this area from me?” “Did this technique that I tried to implement make things worse or better in your mind?” Take their answers to heart or just use them as a reference, but either way make sure that you are looking at yourself objectively.
Because Personal Development Is Complex…
…everyone needs to stop and take a look themselves. There are many positives such as:
- Eliminating bad habits you didn’t know existed
- Getting rid of wasteful things in your life
- Stopping to enjoy the successful completion of milestones
- Just getting to know yourself better
List It! Implement It! Assess It! Rinse Then Repeat!
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