Life Planning: Creating the Rest of Your Life

pier-waterfront-horizonAre you thinking about life as it is today? Do you think of your life in terms of a five-year plan? Do you think about the rest of your life? If you are thinking of any or all of these things, then Marshall Goldsmith has some words of wisdom for you.

Life Stages or Transitions
Goldsmith’s ”Creating a Great Rest of Your Life” at BusinessWeek.com helps you reflect on what is or what will eventually be important to us. Below is Goldsmith’s framework:

  1. Wealth
  2. Health
  3. Relationships
  4. Contribution
  5. Meaning
  6. Happiness

Money is Not Enough
Goldsmith works with executives. He found that executives process these six issues as they approached the next phase in their lives. These executives “agreed that while money can be used to pay for nice homes, fast cars, and fine dining, it can’t be used to purchase meaning. Studies on happiness have also shown that, beyond a middle-income level, the amount of money one has bears almost no correlation to how happy one is.” If money isn’t enough, then what will it take?

The Big 3: Contribution, Meaning, and Happiness
The big three are contribution, meaning, and happiness. Let’s assume that you’re on track with getting out student loan debt, keeping your credit card debt low, saving for a house. Let’s also assume that you’re in good health and have great relationships with a significant other, family, and friends. Then are how are doing on making a contribution? Do you want to contribute in some way? Does your life have “meaning,” something that gives purpose to being? Then there’s the big question, “Are you happy?” Trust me, while that seems like an easy question to answer, it isn’t.

You 3.0
Pardon the cliché of using versioning like Web 2.0, but it fits. How are you progressing to the improved you? I recently learned that true happiness can’t be bought; it has to be lived. Money can buy you comfort and toys. When you do have the first three things figured out (wealth, health, and relationships), you realize there has to be more to life. That’s were contribution, meaning, and happiness comes in. Goldsmith observed that “happiness couldn’t be separated from meaning and contribution, but could only come from meaning and contribution.” But do you get there?

Action Plan, per Marshall
Like Goldsmith says, “Think about your life, the rest of your life. Now is a great time to start planning. Begin by challenging yourself.” It’s never too early to start. I wish I had reflected on the rest of my life when I was in my early 30’s. However, I was busy getting my career started. I’m sure I would have felt more pressure if I had that looming out in a distance. I just figured it would take care of itself. Ironic, since I consider myself a control freak. But for those of you wanting create the rest of your life, Marshall recommends the following questions to sit and reflect on:

  • How can you make a contribution?
  • How can you find meaning?
  • What will really make you happy?
  • You may well have 20 or 30 years to live after your present work is finished.
  • How can you make this time count—for yourself and the people around you?

Me v.0
I remember “Lori, the Windows 2000 version” that figured out my initial steps in my career. I also remember the “Lori, the XP version” that figured out what my core competencies were and how to promote them for better gigs up to VP level. My Vista version represented the post-acquisition Lori. Now I get to figure out, “Lori, the open source version.” I know how I want to make a contribution. I finding meaning how I’m making a contribution.

I’m happy. “Who’d of thunk,” as I like to say. As for you, today could be the first day of the rest of your life. Stick with Goldsmith. He’ll enlighten you on career and success in life.

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