Many of us recognize the importance of having a Plan B. For some of us, that might be a part time weekend job. And, for others, it's writing a blog that has a large, enthusiastic readership. Still others are successful affiliate marketers. Regardless of what Plan B we have, most of us agree that, today, it's economic suicide without one.
If you don't have a Plan B yet, consider using my three-step approach to tailoring your plan around your unique talents and skill sets. I call this laying your foundation to achieve success.
It starts with a review and assessment of your childhood experiences followed by choosing two of your personality traits. The final component, self-development, is the cornerstone that ties the first two into a complete success package.
Let's start with your childhood experiences. We start here because so much of what children do is fed by pure passion. What are some of your earliest memories? Things that made you deliriously happy? What childhood games did you play? Do you remember trips your family took when you were young? Did you go camping? Did you like dinosaurs or trains? What was your favorite season and why?
Sit quietly without distractions, and make lists of things you did, foods you liked, places you traveled, books you read. Don't stop to pre-judge. Keep your pen on that piece of paper or hold your fingers over the keyboard. Let the flow of ideas and energy carry you forward with this exercise.
Each one of the items on your list will trigger its own list of sub-topics. You are mining deep into your own memories, desires and wants. From these lists, you will unearth your strongest passions. It's these passions that will influence your Plan B.
Once you feel satisfied, it's time to move on to the second component. Before you can select two personality traits you need a detailed list. One of the easiest ways to come up with this list is to ask some of your close friends and professional associates to give you their feedback. It's as easy as writing an email asking for their help. Ask for a 3-5 sentence testimonial.
While you're waiting for people to respond to your request, take some time to analyze yourself. Be brave with this and keep the exercise rooted in the present moment. For example, are you an extrovert or an introvert? Do you like meeting new people in crowded noisy places or would you prefer a small group setting where you know everyone? Are you a team player or do you prefer to go it alone?
What's important to keep in mind is that there are no right or wrong answers for this or the first exercise. This is all about what's true and unique for who you are.
When you've got a list of personality traits, choose just two of them. Pick the absolute best that describe you. Why is this important? We all run on emotional adrenalin. The wellspring for this energy comes from your personality traits. Identifying your best two personality traits will give you insights into how you will take action when it comes time to execute your Plan B.
Put another way: emotional adrenalin drives activity. At some point, you will get stuck. It's part of the creation process. When this happens, you'll be able to dig deep into your psyche and use those two personality traits to get you through this. They will be the energy (the jet fuel) that keeps you moving forward.
Don't skip this part. Identifying your strengths is vital to laying a solid foundation before you decide what course of action to take. As an example, if you determine that yours is a more "go-it-alone" personality, you may decide that you won't be comfortable in one of the more socially-oriented direct sale home based businesses.
Once these two components are taken care of, let's tie them together with the final element: personal self-development. The work we do on ourselves. The reality is that individual success, in any field and at all levels, requires that you be open to making yourself be the best you possible. This doesn't happen overnight. It's a journey, a process, a lifelong exploration. Working through the process will transform your life.
In short, what we've looked at is a formula that combines three components: childhood experiences + two personality traits + self-development. Added together, they let you harness your passions around your vision which will point you towards your Plan B.
Spend time figuring out who you are and what's important to you. If you lay this foundation using my three-step approach, you will tailor a Plan B around your unique talents and abilities. Ignore this step and you may find yourself getting distracted by someone else's Plan B. And, sadly, when you borrow what doesn't belong to you, you postpone or deny your own success.
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