As biotech brand managers we are constantly using our strategic vision to transform brands – what about our own? What if we applied some of our strategic thinking to our own lives to do more of what we love?

What’s Your Vision?
Just like a successful biotech brand, you can’t be all things to all people. To do more of what you love, you need a vision that focuses on your unique specialties – the things you do best and value most. Just about everyone I know is looking for more balance in their life (even the retirees here in Maine) yet they lack the critical vision of how to get there. Best-selling author and leadership development expert Roxanne Emmerich says, “Balance is about choosing how you will run your life and being brutally truthful to yourself in the process. This choice is your vision.” What qualities are most important to you? What are your specialties? What will be your focus? Make a list of the top five.

Is Your Vision Still Blurry?
A personal SWOT analysis could be a worthwhile exercise!

Create Structure
The most effective people know how to structure their lives. Everyday you continue to make choices and unless you structure fun you won’t have it.

Show Up
Part of showing up is having rituals or following a schedule but the real part of showing up is being mentally present and fully engaged in the moment. Are you really showing up and being effective towards the task at hand if you are complaining about all you have to do?

Start Fresh & Early
Put your biggest goals for the day or weekend first by starting when you are the freshest.  Everything takes longer than you think and it’s frustrating when the end of the day or Sunday evening is approaching and you didn’t accomplish that one great thing.

Take A Class
To get better at something you love, or a quality you want to work on, sign up for a class. It involves a commitment and you are more likely to stick with it.

Get Closer to It
Examine your environment. Are they healthy places for you? Living in Maine, I made a career choice to live and work where I want to end up. Sure there are sacrifices (like no Nordstrom in the entire state) but working along the ocean’s edge refreshes my creative spirit and makes a daily difference for me, my family and my clients.

Stop Wishing, Start Doing
You can wish for results but you have to actually take action to get them. Nan Russell, a contributor for Fast Company says, “All your hoping won’t get you results or enable great work. Turn what you know into what you do. It’s the doing that’s key.

 “Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success.” – Albert Schweitzer.

 Here’s a related article from Nan Russell: Ten Rules for Hitting Your Stride At Work