What exactly is a personal development plan? It is not some secret mysterious schedule; it is merely a guide for you to follow to get yourself from where you are right now, to where you want to be in the future. That means, basically, that your personal development plan is your roadmap.

If you are going to go on a journey like this, you want to ensure you know where you are starting and where you are going. What better way to get that roadmap than to draw it out yourself! This gives you a custom personal development plan suited perfectly to you and your personality… but where do you begin?

Where am I?

First, take your inventory and make a list that outlines where you are right now in your life. Having this down is critical because you cannot start a journey anywhere if you do not first know exactly where you are at and how many miles there are to the finish. Include whatever aspects of your life that you want your personal development plan to cover…. personally, professionally and even physically.

For example: If you are Single and lonely and want to develop more fulfilling relationships, then put Single and lonely in your list.

Long Term List

Then determine exactly where you want to be in the longer period. Go out at least one if not five years. Again, customize as appropriate for you whether your goals may be better relationships, more money and better health. Someone else may simply need one or two of these, or perhaps something different altogether. This is your life and your individual journey. What you want to improve will fit within your beliefs and core values and no one else’s.

Following on from the top example of being Single and lonely, you might put for a long term goal of five years that you would like to be married to a wonderful partner.

Short Term List

Next, determine what short term achievements will help you enroute to your personally important long term goals. What progress would you like to make on all these fronts in say, six months. Short-term goals are what you will focus on day to day. They are the easily attainable steps that you begin your journey with, in order to make it possible to find your way to your desired long term outcome.

Continuing with the example of Single and lonely, your short term goals might include something like ‘meeting 3 new potential partners this month’.

Action Steps

Now that you have both your short list and long term list compiled, breath for a minute! Then put together a list of actions that will help you to achieve the outcomes on your short term list. Brainstorm lots of options and have a bit of fun with this. It’s great if you can identify some steps you can take that will be easily attainable for you. Then you’ll see daily or weekly progress, and you’ll feel some quick gratification. As you see your steps toward a small goal reaping rewards, you’ll appreciate that your larger goal is achievable. Lather, rinse and then repeat until you have covered the basic short-term goals and you can see you are well on the way to your long term goals.

Again, carrying on with the Single and lonely example, your list of options to achieve your short term goal (ie. to meet 3 new potential partners this month) might include things like: join an online dating website; ask friends if they know anyone to introduce you to; look for singles functions in your area and sign up to attend.

Helpful Resources

Do you have all the resources you will need to meet your personal development plan within your allotted time frame? Often there are challenges, obstacles, setbacks and difficulties along the way to your goals. These personal challenges are often some of the reasons you have not yet mastered your goals! While you are developing your personal development plan is the best time to identify what these challenges might be in your case. By planning for them now, you can best prepare to face them and manage.

Using the Single and lonely example, if you are a very shy person who does not like to speak with new people, this would be a challenge given your goal. Resources for you could include; books on gaining confidence; joining a public speaking group to help you develop the skills to more comfortably socialize; life coaching to increase self esteem and self empowerment. Finally

Choose a mentor, someone who has achieved what you want to achieve. This could be a friend or colleague, but keep in mind that it does not have to be. You can glean a lot of insight and information from famous mentors as well by reading their books or signing up for a seminar.

Bottom line is, once you have created your personal development plan, you have your roadmap to get you where you want to go. Honor your hearts desire and the direction you want to go in your life. Act on your plan and develop your most fulfilling life possible!

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