LESSON 3 YOUR PLAN FOR LIFE

What will the world look like then? What do I want to be when I “grow up”? Where will I be in 1, 5, 10, 20 years? What will the world look like then?

Major life issues should Not be left to chance..

People who have the greatest amount of success. PLAN People who have the greatest amount of success PLAN for their life and TRY to follow the plan.

What do the following people have in common?

Philip wants to do well in tryouts and make the team. Dawn needs a “B” on her math test to go on the field trip next week. Randolph is working up the courage to invite someone to Saturday’s big concert. Travis has been saving money to buy a new part for his bike. Melanie wants to confront her mom about her mom’s drinking and get her some help.

GOAL Definition??? A goal is something a person works to accomplish.* *write in notes

GOAL Criteria??? Specific Conditions that can be measured Time frame *write in notes

Something to do… Someplace to go… Something to have…

Think of an example of a goal…. something you hope to accomplish Think of an example of a goal… ...something you hope to accomplish. …share

Goals give direction and purpose to both the game and life. Goals make the game of life more interesting/challenging. Goals guide decisions in both the game and life. Goals must be clear to know exactly what is required to achieve them. There are time limits on goals. Goals are made with teamwork. In life and sports, people do not achieve goals all at once, but step-by-step, yard-by-yard.

MAJOR LIFE ISSUES ARE: Education Career Choice Financial Planning Marriage & Children Overall Health Personal Fulfillment

Developmental Tasks: Growth responsibilities you are expected to accomplish at each stage of life. There are tasks for EVERY stage of life from birth to death!

Young Adult (now to early 30’s) Developmental Tasks:

1) Complete your education and/or career preparation

2) Implement your career, Make your own living

3) Become financially independent & learn to live on your own

4) Find a mate (90%? will marry) Begin parenthood?

5) Take responsibility for your health (diet, exercise, medical care, etc.)

6) Find new social groups, activities & interests, develop new community connections & a wider sense of social responsibility

LIFE PLAN GUIDELINES

Write down goals talk about them with people you trust give yourself time to think them through

Goals should be measureable (What does success look like to me?)

Are goals in different areas compatible Are goals in different areas compatible? If goals conflict, do I have clear priorities?

Goals should be realistic but flexible; Plan on the unexpected (What will the future look like?)

Flexibility = Redirection

Think about the next stage coming up… REVISE YOUR PLAN?

Life changes are inevitable. Those who are inflexible and cannot accept change have difficulty adjusting.

Expect the UNEXPECTED

FUTURE TRENDS What will the world look like in 5, 10, 20 years?

TECHNOLOGY Has changed every area of life Requires new thinking Increasing so fast we can’t keep up How does it help & hurt us at the same time?

Information overload How much new info is there in the world? How much can you handle? Too much to learn: 3rd grade now has 5th grade info? all college degrees 5 years? specialization in every field required..

OVERLOAD More info overload: How much info do you receive in a day from how many different sources? How do you process, use, store, retrieve it? So much, in so many forms we are on OVERLOAD

MATERIALISM How much stuff do we need? Want? Research? Afford? Have room for? Are we preoccupied with buying & owning things? $$ How much can we afford (debt)? Can our standard of living keep going up? Does your stuff matter too much?

Changing Work Patterns Harder to choose a career & get started, education takes longer Work longer hours, more complex & stressful, take more work home Less stable, move & change jobs more, far from family, less connection to community Less structure: more responsible for your own success/knowledge

Changing Work Patterns, Con’t. Keeping up: technology, telecommuting, flexible scheduling Must be a team player, work cooperatively in groups, communicate Creativity is a necessity Plan for your own retirement; can’t depend on a corporation

Aging of America Baby Boomers: soon the largest part of the population will be elderly; society will have to help care for them Issues: I) Health care & costs: nursing home? 2) Quality of life: poor health, little money, isolation, need help 3)Stress on families: “sandwiched”, money, time, few resources for help

Which trends will affect your goals. Which trends can you prepare for Which trends will affect your goals??? Which trends can you prepare for? What other trends will emerge in the future & be a surprise?

Six Goal-Setting Steps Identify Goal(s) -Write them down

Six Goal-Setting Steps 2. Set a Deadline -Put a date on when you will complete your goal

Six Goal-Setting Steps 3. List Obstacles -What obstacles do you need to address? Potential solutions?

Six Goal-Setting Steps Identify Resources -Identify groups or people you need to work with and/or skills you need in order to reach your goal

Six Goal-Setting Steps 5. Plan of Action -Develop a plan of action

Six Goal-Setting Steps 6. Benefits -Ask yourself “What’s in it for me?”

End Lesson 3