Subject: Aberdeen Press and Journal - Aberdeen,Scotland,UK placement
From: "Merilee:::Kern Communications" <[email-masked]>
To: "John" <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:13:20 -0800

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1036662

Put your plan into action 
Published: 20/02/2009

THE phrase "when the going gets tough, the tough get going" certainly holds true for resilient professionals who employ tactical success strategies to sustain their career and home life during difficult economic times like these. 

Work demands can cause family disruptions, while tightening budgets can create friction at home and at the office.

However, there are ways to manage such circumstances and regain control of your own personal and professional satisfaction, says business success and career coach John M McKee. 

Here McKee, author of "Career Wisdom - 101 Proven Strategies to Ensure Workplace Success", explains how to achieve a work/life balance.

Take stock 
Do an honest assessment of where you are with respect to your career, your personal relationships and your financial situation. Ask yourself "what really makes me happy?" and "what is currently making me unhappy?" 

You need to understand precisely where you are before mapping out where you want to go.

Project your future 
Envision how your perfect life would unfold if there were no limits on you financially and you had no obligations. What would be different and what would remain unchanged from your current experience? This will help you to understand what you care most deeply about and consider other options against your current situation. If your perfect life is vastly different then your actual current life experience, change is definitely in order to realise whole life balance.

Create a Personal Action Plan 
A total of 85% of people who rate themselves as satisfied or very satisfied have a clear plan for their lives. 

A good plan takes into account the three different facets of life - the professional self; the one who goes out each day to make a living; the personal self - the one who does things which replenish them, for and with those they love; and the financial self, who understands and manages money for the long haul. Addressing each of these life elements assures you will address, think through, and plan for all critical areas that, ultimately, intertwine.

Challenge yourself 
Developing this tool can be as hard or as easy as one makes it, and requires a level of commitment to take it from concept to completion. The more detailed your life plan, the more readily you can identify areas of weakness and find actionable ways to overcome them. The most successful people also create goals for themselves that push them to work hard, while still being attainable. They give themselves specific time deadlines which are just as demanding to achieve those goals. Be your own boss, and a strict one at that.

Keep tabs 
Like insurance, you should review your life plan after any major life event. Getting married or divorced, starting a family, moving, being promoted, or experiencing significant illness - such events can render your life plan out of date. Since a life plan is one of the most important tools to achieve your goals, make sure it remains current. Don't treat it as a static document, as it's much too critical to be relegated to the bottom drawer. Rather, it's a fluid, continuous work in progress - as are you.

"Many individuals have outward signs of success such as job titles, corner offices, and expensive homes, cars, and other material possessions, but have little satisfaction with their life overall," says McKee. 

"On the other hand, there are a lot of people who are satisfied with their personal lives; but who are very disappointed with their career and or financial situation. This has driven many aspiring professionals to BusinessSuccessCoach. net, through which I and my colleagues have helped countless clients achieve balanced lives and highly successful careers. Indeed, I've witnessed first-hand how, when created thoughtfully and managed closely, such plans can result in huge dividends in all areas of one's life. 

"Simply put, if you want something, have a proactive plan to get it."