LIVING FORWARD
Today’s post is a summary of New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt and executive coach Daniel Harkavy book Living Forward. The book is a step-by-step guide where, Hyatt and Harkavy share simple but proven principles to help you stop drifting, design a Life Plan with the end in mind, and chart a path that will take you there. And you can work the process in just one day.
“Most people spend 5 hours researching buying a car, but never take a day to do a life plan.” Michael Hyatt
7 Steps to Creating Your Life Plan
“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.”
Step 1: Acknowledge The Drift
“We don’t realize we are in The Drift! We just wake up one day and find out we are there!”
A. How did we end up here?
It happens when we are UNAWARE
It happens when we are DISTRACTED
It happens when we are OVERWHELMED
It happens when we are DECEIVED
B. The Consequences of the drift
Confusion
Expense
Lost Opportunity
Pain
Regrets
Step #2 Understand the Mission
“If you don’t like where you are at right now putting together a life plan will give you the clarity you need to move forward.”
A. Definition of a life plan
A short written document
Created by you for you
It describes how you want to be remembered
It articulates your personal priorities
It provides the specific actions necessary
It is a living document
B. Asking the right questions
How do I want to be remembered?
What matters most?
How can I get from here to where I want to be?
Step #3 Appreciate The Benefits
Clarifying Priorities
Maintaining Balance
Filtering Opportunities
“You will learn how to filter your opportunities so you can say no to the good so you can say yes to the great.”
Facing Reality
Envisioning the Future
Avoiding Regrets
Step #4 Design Your Legacy
Begin at the end
Yes, you will leave a Legacy
“Leaving a legacy is inescapable, the impact of your life will ripple throughout eternity.”
Writing your Eulogy
“Writing your on eulogy is a GIANT wake up call”
Identify your key relationships
Describe how you want to be remembered by each group
Make your legacy statements as compelling as you can
Step #5 Determine Your Priorities
“If we’re not careful we will get so busy reacting to our days that we don’t stop to check our actions against our priorities”
Nine Basic Life Accounts
1. • The Circle of Being
Spiritual
Intellectual
Physical
The Circle of Relating
Marital
Parental
Social
The Circle of Doing
Vocational
Avocational
Financial
2. Three Action Steps
Identify your life accounts
Determine the condition of each account
Prioritize you life accounts
“If you aren’t clear on what your priority is than everything is.”
Step #6 Chart The Course
Five Part Action Plan
1. Purpose Statement
2. Envisioned Future
3. Inspiring Quote
4. Current Reality
5. Specific Commitments
Step #7 Dedicate One Day
“You get more of what you are focused on” Michael Hyatt
A. How to prepare
Block time on your calendar
Decide where to go
Take the necessary supplies
Determine to be offline
Enroll your family & friends
B. Maximize your time
Check your attitude
Remind yourself of the goal
Trust the process
Listen to your heart
Don’t worry about getting it perfect
Stay focused
Favorite quotes from Michael and Daniel about their book
How I take care of me impacts how well I take care of others.
It’s important that as humans we intentionally create a future that is bigger than our present.
False spirituality is putting yourself last! You can’t love or serve others when neglecting yourself.
Self leadership always precedes team leadership.
How I lead myself impacts how I lead, love and impact others.
Our lives are shaped by the questions we ask.
Law of diminishing intent: The further out you push something, the least likely it is to get done.
Join over 3,900 Fellow Leaders reading The Learning To Lead Newsletter each week!
Recent Articles
Join over 3,900 Fellow Leaders reading The Learning To Lead Newsletter each week!
©2025 Learning To Lead | Helping Good Leaders Become Great Leaders