As is his usual, Seth nails an aspect of the business world while the truth inherent is about the real world. In this case, his The modern business plan is lays out a solid way that anyone, everyone, should proceed in life.
Seth wrote that a modern business plan often “obfuscate, bore and show an ability to comply with expectations.” Instead, he wrote, they should focus on 5 key things: truth, assertions, alternatives, people and money.
I would offer that everything you do in life, especially how you approach relationships could be boiled down to these basic concepts.
First, always tell the truth. Especially be true to yourself. Don’t try to tell me something you think I want to hear. If you do that, trying to weasel your way into a friendship with me, later it will come out that you weren’t being honest and that will ruin everything. As Jesus wrote, “let your yes be yes and your no be no.”
Assertions for Seth in a business plan is related to telling how your plan will change things. Similarly, your personal assertions should be as pointed. Be who you are, know who you are, and then set about living your life in a way that is out to change things, to make an impact. Again, if you position yourself in one way, but that does not match your core, then you are only going to be frustrated later. This is particularly acute if you failed to be honest, and then spent valuable time trying to become something that you think others will like better, or sounds more noble (say, the student trying to law school when they’d prefer being a teacher, or the student trying to pursue some degree in social work when they’d rather be a high-paid lawyer).
Knowing that you can make changes, and perhaps more importantly, knowing that you don’t know it all leads to alternatives. If there is one major lesson that I teach my students about critical thinking, it is this. Learn to listen to others in order to learn from their position. You do not know everything, thus even the best laid plans can go wrong. You simply can fail and then, you’d better be in a position to work through alternatives.
I read the leadership guru John Maxwell years ago and he influenced me first about people. He wrote that as you plan on making a successful journey of life, you cannot go alone. You must know who is going with you and you need to be intentional about that. As Seth wrote, “who is on your team, who is going to join your team?” Do you know your weaknesses and then invest in others who will make you stronger? Who are you investing in? Life is far too short to attempt to go through life solo. In the end, you can’t do it.
I like that Seth has the money last. I think money, and the pursuit of it, is largely overrated. We, especially Americans or citizens of the “first world,” have much more than enough to live well for years. If money really is your first aim, you are probably going to find it difficult to do well in the area of truth or people. You’ll need to figure out ways to lie well and you’ll probably have to “step on” others. While that may get you ahead financially, in the end you’ll die poor and alone. Still, Seth is right that money is a part of the equation. You need to incorporate financial wisdom in all that you do; you should start with avoiding most debt like the plague. And you should be careful to avoid letting money become your master—as Tyler Durden stated well, the things you buy end up owning you. Better off avoiding that fate.
If you follow this plan, you will find yourself happily working your way on the journey of Success for Life.