After the Vision and Mission are established, it is time to Analyze the Current State. To analyze one’s current state takes honesty and reflection. For example, if my current state is poor and I create a plan for a current state that is stable, then the plan will not work. It is important to take a deep look into where one is today.
As I mentioned in step one, I am writing this for my personal goals. When I honestly look at my current state it is struggling. I am fighting an uphill battle but I know that I will win once I reach the top of the hill, so I am focused on this hill. From a professional standpoint, if one is creating a strategic plan for professional goals, then one should focus on knowing where one wants to go, one’s competition, and one’s niche.
This stage is very important because from this stage is the rest of the plan built. I always judge myself harder and set high goals that are barely obtainable, so, I must involve others in this stage. I need to make sure that I am not judging myself too harshly or creating a plan for someone who is in a dire situation.
Now that the current state has been analyzed, it is time to move on to the third step: Setting Objectives.
Disencumbering my Chains 