Be Your Own CEO

Your Personal Plan for Starting Off 2013 in Balance

Be Your Own CEO

Becky Stuto

January 7, 2013

Everyday from the moment we open our eyes we are faced with two glorious decisions. We can either take control of our lives or life can control us. Now, admittedly, there are things that happen that are out of our control such as, natural disasters and the like that we would never choose to have happen. However, you can still choose what action you will take, passive or active.

To take control of your life or exercise personal leadership is to take responsibility for our actions and decisions in all areas of our lives. It requires being connected with your values, your vision and to set meaningful goals for yourself. As a result of doing so, you will more productive days, a more optimistic attitude, your stress level will decrease as your free time increases.

A great way to get started is to envision yourself as the CEO of your own life. By applying this concept to your own life you are asking yourself “how would I run my life”? My guess is that you would be inspired to think, plan and act in a more efficient, creative and result oriented manner. As your own CEO, here are some ways in which you can take control of your life and exercise personal leadership:

Determine Your Values: Your values give you structure and purpose. They help you to determine how your time and effort is best spent. In fact, it is very much like a mission statement that companies use to spell out their goals and direction of their business. Your values will also provide you with an internal roadmap for decision-making.

Plan, Be Organized and Set Goals:  Think of the big picture of what you want in your life and then break it down into manageable parts. For everything that you want to accomplish, you need a strategy or action plan. Set goals in line with your mission statement and then devise a plan on how to achieve them. Nothing happens by itself or simply by thinking about it or dreaming. The level of your success will be determined by how much action and energy you put towards those goals. This approach will also sharpen your critical thinking and problem solving skills. Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Maintains a Positive Attitude: It can be one of the most difficult things to do if your best efforts to take control of your life do not go exactly as planned. You have to be prepared for roadblocks and obstacles. However, a positive attitude and an unshakable belief in your abilities make it more likely that you will succeed. Usually, those who cannot gain control of their lives give up at the first sign of difficulty or trouble.

Have Fun:  This is your life and your adventure. Taking control involves a lot of planning, strategy and executing. It can be weigh you down if you forget to make time for some fun. Living a productive life means making time for work, recreation and relaxation. Your plan and mission statement allows you to live a unique life that fits your perfectly so have fun and live bold!

Your Take Control Challenge

Try an experiment where you envision yourself as the CEO of your own company called It’s My Life. Then make the plans, decisions and choices that you think a successful happy CEO should make. Next right down how that makes you feel and any changes that occur as a result.