You should have a life strategy and here's why
Lessons on how to create a strategized life towards your dreams
They say it doesn't matter how many answers you have if the questions you ask are wrong. How can we ask (and find answers) to the right life-decision questions if life is (hopefully) at least 80 years long?
As I write this post, I'm 24 years old. I can't stop thinking about what it means to be truly successful — after all, I will be a quart of a century very soon. And social media doesn't make it easier.
In my constant search for personal development and my "addiction" to life management videos, I stumbled across this incredible video from Harvard Business Review, and later I read more and more about it.
In this post, I'll share my notes on Rainer Strack's Life Strategy framework with the pzazz of many other things I've read and watched before.
Note: this is based on Harvard Business Review and Rainer Strack's material. All sources are indicated at the end of this post!
Tight on time? Let me send you a reminder to read it later!
Life Strategy? What are you talking about?
In Tech, "strategy" is just another buzzword people use when they have nothing more specific to say. Why would anyone apply this cliché in their personal life?
A Life Strategy follows the ideal of strategic planning from big companies (like Google and Meta) that have been planning their steps for a long time. In life, however, no one cares about ROI or customer lifetime value. Instead, it's a holistic approach to living intentionally and making our finite time in this world as meaningful as we can.
Such strategy will give you clarity and direction to know what choices you should make and consistently build the future you want — and not be a hostage of fortuitous events.
Background: how do companies define their strategy?
Companies like Google have a strong connection to long-term strategy. Starting from clear visions, mission, and values, they have specific OKRs (objectives and key results) that make goals and dreams achievable and accountable for and make well-informed decisions.
Besides that, they are constantly adapting to new realities and needs, as well as have constant reviews and feedback on their plans.
Seems complicated? Believe me, it's not. Follow me.
Step 1: How to define a Great Life?
Let's start with the basics: what is a "great life"? A subject term like this can't be objectively defined for a group.
The first step, then, is to specify what a great, successful life looks like for you.
Overcoming the Hedonic Treadmill
The concept of "hedonic treadmill" suggests that every achievement or acquisition we gain over time is eventually reverted to a baseline level of happiness. How can we break free from this cycle and find lasting satisfaction?
To measure a life well-lived and avoid the treadmill, we need to choose the right metrics that align with our true values rather than external validation.
And there's a system for that: the PERMA system, introduced by Prof. Martin Seligman.
The PERMA Model — or the Theory of Wellbeing
The PERMA+ model was invented by Dr. Martin Seligman to understand what makes life worth living and how to define, quantify, and create well-being. The five letters represent areas in life that are naturally motivating and contribute to well-being.
Positive Emotions: Cultivating joy, gratitude, and contentment.
Engagement: Being fully absorbed in activities that challenge and interest you.
Relationships: Building deep, meaningful connections with others.
Meaning: Finding a sense of purpose that goes beyond personal gratification.
Achievement: Pursuing and achieving goals that matter to you.
These five areas are the baseline, and you can add more areas that make sense. These will be your specific metrics. To understand where you are, you should think about what a "10/10" life would be in that area — will you change the world? Gain a Nobel prize? Become a millionaire?
Strack also mentions Vitality, as health is essential to long-term quality of life — "If you're healthy, you have 1,000 problems. If you're ill, you only have one."
After assessing the 10 for each area, think about how you can achieve those goals — these are the metrics you can use to understand your progress.
The PERMA model and the concept of the hedonic treadmill provide the first step of awareness to begin strategizing your life. Now, let's go to step 2: Defining your Purpose.
Step 2: Defining Your Purpose
Companies have their "north starts" and we need to have them too.
The purpose will ensure you know where you going and why you are going there.
Key Questions to Define Purpose
What are we good at?
What does the world need?
What are our values?
What excites us?
Crafting Your Purpose Statement
A purpose statement acts as a guide and guardrail for your life strategy. To draft yours, delve into resources like Brené Brown's work on values and purpose.
Understanding What the World Needs Reflect on what concerns you in the world. Is it love and security or specific goals like the UN's Sustainable Development Goals? Ask trusted individuals for their perspectives on your strengths and values.
Step 3: What is My Life Vision?
Envisioning where you want to be in the future is crucial for setting the direction of your life.
"If you don't know where you want to go, then it doesn't matter which path you take." - Lewis Carroll
Visualizing Your Future
Think about the story you want to tell about your life when you're 80. Create a vision board with images, notes, and symbols representing your aspirations.
Developing a Vision Mantra
Derive a few key themes from your reflections and craft a concise vision mantra to encapsulate your life’s direction.
Step 4: Assessing your life portfolio
Assessing your life portfolio involves evaluating the balance between various aspects of your life.
Understanding the Portfolio
High Importance, Low Satisfaction: Urgent areas needing more attention.
High Importance, High Satisfaction: Areas to maintain and nurture.
Low Importance: Areas that require minimal focus.
Use bubble charts to visualize the time spent on each area relative to its importance and satisfaction.
Aligning with Your Vision
Analyze if your current time investment aligns with your vision. If not, identify necessary changes
Step 5: Choosing life benchmarks
Identify role models whose lives inspire you. Analyze their approaches and adapt relevant strategies to your own life.
Testing and Adapting
Not all strategies will work for you. Experiment and refine your approach based on your unique circumstances.
Step 6: Ensuring a successful and sustained life change
Identify role models whose lives inspire you. Analyze their approaches and adapt relevant strategies to your own life.
Testing and Adapting
Not all strategies will work for you. Experiment and refine your approach based on your unique circumstances.
Step 7: Reviewing the strategy
Identify role models whose lives inspire you. Analyze their approaches and adapt relevant strategies to your own life.
Testing and Adapting
Not all strategies will work for you. Experiment and refine your approach based on your unique circumstances.
Thoughts? Share them here!
Thank you for reading!
I hope this text was a good investment of time. If you want to read more about this theme, check the references below!
Check the Insights Hub section to read other posts like this.
Thank you for reading!
HBR article | HBR video | The PERMA model
