Four Components To A Successful Roadmap
The best approach to these elements out of the usual order we expect them to be in. We’re taught to start at one, then get to two, then end up at three. This is incredibly confusing if you don’t know what step two is. And how are you supposed to know what the steps are if you’ve never taken them before?
If we flip the order and start with the finish line, then contemplate where we’re starting from, we can more easily define the steps in the middle that will take me from one place to another.
1. Start with the finish line
You’ve got to start with the end in mind. This is counterintuitive but super effective in figuring out where you want to end up. You should have one clear and defining objective, one goal you’re focused on right now. This will be your finish line.
2. Where are you starting from?
Now that you know where you want to go, your finish line, you need to practice some self- awareness and be really honest about where you’re starting from.
What assets, resources, and habits do you currently have that are going to help you with your journey? How can you expand on them and use them for exponential growth? What habits do you have that might derail you or push you off course? How can you be intentional in planning around those in advance so they don’t sneak up on you? What good habits could you develop to replace those negative ones?
3. Brainstorming
Now that you know where you’re going and you know where you’re starting, the next step is a brainstorm of
every single thing you can think of that might help you get closer to the goal. Even if it seems crazy or impossible, write it down! Brainstorming is a powerful way to be creative and always starts with good questions.
4. Create Mile Markers
Mile markers are what move us from point A to point B and give us clear direction to our finish line. At this point your brainstorm page is likely to create a lot of stops and starts and unproductive attempts. So, to move forward as efficiently as possible and successfully reach the goal we’ve got to get it organized. The question is, How do we do that? The answer is, surprisingly, with another question.
Look at your brainstorm and ask yourself, of all the ideas you’ve got there, what are the three major things that, if you actually achieved them, would without question get you to your goal?
Getting from twenty ideas down to three might seem impossible, especially since so many of them would be helpful. Typically three or four will be the all the mile markers you’ll need to get you back on track if you get lost or stuck along the way.
How do you choose your three? People often hesitate to write these down, because they seem nearly as impossible as the dream itself. The thing about a mile marker is that it’s something you cannot easily achieve without taking a bunch of other steps to get you there. Go to your end goal and ask yourself, What is the step that comes just before this? Then choose two to three more mile markers working back from there.