“Going Forward Plan” - Effective Tool for Empowerment

 “Life is truly beautiful if we make it so.”

As a Volunteer Mentor, with humility and heartfelt gratitude, it is such an honor and privilege to be able to continually provide guidance and coaching to many youth and adults from all walks of life. There are so many with inherent, untapped, and hidden talent, a variety of skillsets, and immense potential which is truly remarkable and unbelievable. Each person is a precious shining star in this vast Universe which we are all a part of. Accordingly, a critical enabling tool for supporting and assisting today’s youth and adults is to develop a sound “Going Forward Plan” which is an effective means for empowerment.

From a qualitative perspective, overarching elements are:

Vision Statement - One sentence to articulate a Vision in career and in life.

Mission Statement - One sentence to capture a Mission in career and in life.

Purpose Statement - One sentence to describe a Purpose in career and in life.

Some suggested and recommended Motivational Questions include, but not limited to:

Motivational Question 1 - Who are You? - One sentence to bring forth who you really are from deep within.

Motivational Question 2 - What Do You Want? - One sentence to expound what is it that you really want from deep within.

Motivational Question 3 - Why is the word “Impossible” really spelled “I’m possible”?

Motivational Question 4 - What does the phrase truly mean: “Life is a great teacher – she gives the experience first and then the lesson”?

Motivational Question 5 - Why is it that the key to solving any problem lies in first and foremost truly understanding and appreciating the underlying nature and cause of the problem (or solution lies within the problem itself)?

Motivational Question 6 - How do you see yourself “giving back and paying it forward” to others and society-at-large?

Motivational Question 7 – What is your specific plan for maintaining a positive “holistic” lifestyle in terms of proper nutrition, health, exercise, rest, balance, and motivation?

Another key self-analysis tool is:

Strengths – What are specific tangible and perceived strengths which are inherent to you and can be effectively utilized?

Weakness – What are the most likely definitive weaknesses which must be identified, addressed, and you must overcome in a timebound manner?

Opportunities – What are the practical, realistic, and achievable opportunities foreseen for you based on current trends and part of an overall outlook?

Threats – Do you envision any tangible or perceived threats which pose potential risks and what is your definitive mitigation strategy and plan?

Based on global, regional, and national macro-trends, some key goals and objectives which can be updated as required based on dynamic ongoing events:

Near-Term - Where do you want to be one (1) year from now in career and life?

Short-Term - Where do you want to be three (3) years from now in career and life?

Medium-Term - Where do you want to be five (5) years from now in career and life?

Long-Term - Where do you want to be ten or more (10+) years from now in career and life?

Key economic and financial planning tools in the near-, short-, medium-, and long-term include:

Balance Sheet – What is your plan for building tangible assets (e.g., immovable, moveable, liquidity via bank accounts, certificate of deposits (CDs), securities, etc.) and what is your plan on minimizing liabilities (e.g., senior/subordinate/mezzanine debt, over-the-counter derivatives, etc.)?

Income/Expenses Statement – What is your plan for maintaining a sound income statement in terms of tangible sources of earned income, other definitive income sources including capital gains as well managing fixed/variable expenses, interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, etc.?

Cash Flow Statement – What is your plan for tracking sources/uses of funds, waterfall cashflows, and ensuring surplus and cumulative cash flow?

It is essential to develop a user-friendly Excel spreadsheet model to monitor and track monthly fixed/variable income, fixed/viable expenses, tangible assets and pending liabilities, and track cash flows (sources/uses of funds). Must also review monthly bank statement(s) regularly. In addition, must regularly “reconcile the bank statement” while keeping track of deposits/credits and debits. Most critical is to minimize and manage all debt sources as well as other financial obligations and tax liabilities.

A sound “Going Forward Plan” is a highly constructive and enabling tool which provides a positive path in a sustainable manner for everyone.

The purpose of any and all mentoring, focusing on holistic wellness, health, sports, fitness, nutrition, yoga, ayurveda and related is to promote healthy lifestyles and balance between Spirit-Mind-Body.  This includes any and all associated proven processes, methods, techniques, therapies which may also include educational purposes with the goal of creating awareness and disseminating information.  All information on the Blog in no way precludes the mandatory need for seeking definitive prior advice, diagnosis and/or treatment from a qualified medical physician and/or specialist related to Spirit-Mind-Body fitness and/or training program(s).  Prior to starting any Spirit-Mind-Body fitness and/or training program(s), it is mandatory to get a thorough examination by a qualified medical physician and/or specialist.  In addition, a medical physician and/or specialist’s approval must be obtained prior to undertaking any Spirit-Mind-Body fitness and/or training program and as well as continual examination(s) by a medical physician and/or specialist during the entire duration and course of undertaking any Spirit-Mind-Body fitness and/or training program(s).