Quite often people set their goals based on actions, responsibilities and time frames. Great start!
But there’s more to consider!
If you’ve ever set up a really good plan yet never come away with the grand prize, there might be a reason … this may help.
Don't let this happen to you!
Today we’re going to address those factors.
The SWOT
If you're in business you've no doubt heard of the SWOT.
Strengths : Weaknesses : Opportunities : Threats
Businesses apply this tool to their situations to leverage business opportunities. Businesses don't just set goals and yell "Tally-ho!" and onwards toward ensured success.
Strengths and Weaknesses are generally considered internal and within the control of the business.
Opportunities and Threats are generally external to the business. Business can influence them but tend to have less control. These include market trends, economic disruption, new competition entering the market and so on.
In a personal SWOT, I’d argue they are all internal.
Let me explain.
Strengths
A Strength is something you are good at. So, a Strength is something you will want to leverage. How can you use what you know to build you product, presence and persona.
Weaknesses
A Weakness, is an area for development. So you may want to take actions to lessen the impact of your weaknesses.
HOWEVER! You may also decide not to address a weakness, if it won't impact on achieving your goals. And even if it does, not enough when compared against your strengths. Besides, perhaps you might be able to outsource it.
(cough! finances, cough!)
An example of a weakness not worth addressing may be spelling and grammar. (stay with me you English Lit. professors). I see so many spelling errors and grammar errors of people who are teaching me how to write online, I could go nuts!
BUT! They have 30,000 plus subscribers and are making $,000 per month so … 🤷♂️
Opportunities
An Opportunity, in a personal sense, is something you want to leverage.
For example, seeking the advice from someone who has more experience than you.
In business, it's all about competition, so there is little sharing if it might affect competitive advantage.
In the personal arena, it's all about collaboration. People want to help each other. Asking someone for help is more likely to result in a positive experience.
Threats
The internal threat might be seeing yourself as having Impostor Syndrome. You don’t think you have the authority to speak about your topic.
That thinking is the threat to your success in achieving your vision.
So when you are planning to achieve your vision, address opportunities and threats head on. Each one might be a sub-project of your plan.
How will you overcome your impostor syndrome? Who can you talk to about it? What advice will they have? How did they deal with it? Have they dealt with it? 😳
What about the fear of failure or making a mistake? These are real threats to your success. If nothing else, they will delay your achievements, while you have this inner wrestle.
What to do!
Review your Vision
What actions have you described in your plan that might be affected when completing a SWOT analysis?
How can you leverage your specific strengths and leverage opportunities to help accelerate your progress?
What threats do you see that need focused attention?
Do you need to address a specific weakness?
It could be something like:
"How do I reach out to a mentor?"
"How can I contribute if someone asks me?"
"What if I reach out and they don't respond?"
"How do I set up my schedule so I do write every day?"
“Which platforms should I focus on?”
List the Opportunities
Write down your opportunities and you'll start to see ideas and solutions. Capture those and make time to list down steps to leverage them.
Notice the Threats
Spend time noticing your thoughts. Are they thoughts that help you or hinder you? Write them down. Writing them down helps you see them for what they are: assumptions and fallacies.
If they are real threats, do they belong with the Weaknesses?
Are they leading you to take action or return to the safety of your comfort zone?
Whichever they do, ask the question: is this leading me to my goal?
Choose the step that moves you towards your goal.
Grasping your Vision
By completing a personal SWOT, you get greater clarity on your current situation. You begin to see ways of addressing issues.
This reinforces your "Why", your Purpose. You begin to gain greater conviction about why you are doing what you are doing.
As you review your plan and actions, you will begin to see connections of how one action and influences another.
Now you have momentum. And it’s like you can't stop, even if you wanted to, which you won't!
Some Questions for You
How is this series working for you?
What would you want to see added?
Does anything need to be clarified?
Are the templates useful? How might I improve them?
Any other feedback?