Want to download this Growth Guide?
If you want to put your business in order, start by putting yourself in order. This principle isn’t just a soundbite; it’s a foundational truth.
The same strategic thinking that transforms businesses can revolutionize your personal life. Here’s how to approach your life with the same intentionality and focus you bring to your professional goals.
Tactical vs. Strategic Living
To achieve different results in your personal life, you must do things differently.
Tactical living is about sustaining the status quo—getting through the day, checking items off the list. Washing dishes, managing schedules, or even your exercise routine might fall into this category.
Strategic living, on the other hand, is about stepping back, evaluating, and aligning your daily actions with long-term goals.
"If you want to get different results in your personal life, you have to start by doing different things."
This mirrors what it means to be strategic in a business, where the focus shifts from maintaining current operations to envisioning and planning for future growth.
Just as a business leader steps back to evaluate overall goals, align resources, and innovate processes, individuals can apply the same approach to transform their personal lives. It’s the difference between maintaining and truly transforming.
Three Big Questions to Answer
When you apply strategic thinking to your personal life, the process becomes an intentional exploration of purpose, values, and vision.
Just as businesses define their mission, core values, and objectives to steer decisions and actions, these principles can provide clarity and alignment in your personal journey.
Whether you're an individual seeking growth or part of a team, such as a couple or family, these questions are universally applicable:
- Why Do We Exist?
In your business, this would be your mission. In your personal life, it’s the question of purpose.
Reflect on what motivates you at your best and the values that drive your most meaningful actions.
For individuals, this can mean understanding what brings fulfillment and clarity to your life.
For couples, it might mean exploring why you got together in the first place and what motivates you to keep growing as a team. - What Do We Stand For?
These are your personal core values.
Instead of imagining aspirational ideals, focus on what’s already true when you’re at your best.
Are you prioritizing relationships? Adventure? Contribution? Define and protect these values to guide future decisions.
This applies equally to individuals defining their principles and those working together as a couple or family. - Where Are We Going?
This is your personal vision.
Who do you want to become? Define success in key roles—whether as an individual, spouse, parent, or leader—and align your daily actions with these aspirations.
Focus on character development and the impact you want to have on others.
Collaborative, Committed, Curious
Approaching these questions requires three essential postures:
"Commitment is when you fall in love with something to such a degree that you put structure around it for the times when you no longer feel in love with it." — David Brooks
- Collaborative: For couples and families, think in terms of "we" rather than "me." For individuals, seek input from trusted friends, mentors, or coaches.
Collaboration ensures diverse perspectives and strengthens your approach. - Committed: Fall in love with the process, even during times when you don’t feel like it.
Commitment transcends fleeting motivation. - Curious: Ask questions, listen deeply, and model the curiosity you wish to see in others.
Turning Big Questions into Daily Habits
Answering these foundational questions is only the beginning.
The real work happens when you align your habits and routines with your mission, values, and vision.
- Morning Routine: Set the tone for your day by focusing on what matters most.
- Resource Alignment: Ensure your budget, calendar, and learning efforts reflect your priorities.
- Eliminate Distractions: Replace unproductive habits with activities that support your goals.
- Rhythms for Rest and Reflection: Incorporate weekly, monthly, and annual check-ins to evaluate progress and realign where necessary.
Practical Applications for Individuals, Couples, and Families
Strategic living isn’t just for individuals.
Couples can strengthen their relationship by approaching life as a team. Shared evaluations—whether during date nights, long walks, or dedicated retreats—can lead to breakthroughs in understanding and alignment.
Families, too, can benefit from asking these questions together and setting a unified direction.
For individuals, strategic living means taking time to pause and reflect on your personal goals.
"The things you do daily create the person you become permanently."
Regular self-evaluations can provide clarity and a sense of direction, while intentional planning can help ensure you’re aligned with your core values and vision for the future.
As you prepare for 2025, take time to think strategically about your personal life.
Align your habits, values, and vision, and you’ll find yourself equipped not only to lead others but to live a life of purpose and impact.
