“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14:28-29

Have you thought about retiring, furthering your education, or maybe purchasing a new home or car? Whatever the goal may be, you need a strategy to accomplish your goal. Winston Churchill once quoted, “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.”

To achieve your goal, you need a strategic plan. You might ask, what is a strategic plan? Balance Scorecard Institute defines a strategic plan as “a document used to communicate the organization’s goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals and all of the other critical elements developed during the planning exercise.”  Basically, it is a process of visualizing what you desire in the future and translating that desire into goals and objectives, and mapping out how you are going to achieve them.

In the corporate world, many organizations utilize strategic planning; however, I believe we can also develop a strategic plan for our own lives. It is very difficult to achieve anything without a plan. 

What do you plan to accomplish in the next five years? What are your short-term and long-term goals? Let’s say you have a long-term goal of purchasing a new vehicle in 3 years. Your current vehicle is getting old, and you would like to purchase a new one. Your strategic plan may consist of saving money for a down payment, increased insurance and property tax (if applicable) and higher maintenance costs; pay off current debts to make room for the new car expenses; and research to see the value of possibly trading in your current vehicle. You must estimate the cost of this new purchase.

Forbes offers five steps to a strategic plan for businesses; nonetheless, I believe we can also apply these same five principles to our own lives when establishing goals.

1. Determine where you are. Access where you are in life—spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially.
2. Identify what’s important.  What are your priorities? For example, is it family, faith, money, success, etc.?
3. Define what you must achieve.  What are your goals and objectives?  Would you like to lose weight, start your own business, buy a new car or home, or maybe establish a closer relationship with God?
4. Determine who is accountable.  Determine who will be accountable for certain strategies and actions and who will hold you accountable.
5. Review. Review. Review.  Hold regularly scheduled reviews of your plan and refine it when necessary.

Let me provide you with a biblical example.  In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah was a God-appointed leader who used a strategic plan when God laid it upon his heart to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He developed a well thought out strategic plan to accomplish the vision God had given him. Nehemiah went to Jerusalem where he assessed the damage and secured the resources for his task. He also appointed leaders and delegated the assignments among them. Despite the enemies attempt to thwart their plans, Nehemiah and his team rebuilt the walls in an impressive 52 days.

Take some time to think about your goals. I challenge you to develop a strategic plan for whatever goal you have in mind. Please share your strategies with me; I would love to hear about them.