21/10/2022
Using Gary Keller's GPS framework in everything: life, career, business, wellbeing, relationships and beyond
A business plan should be one page.
Anything longer than one page ceases to be a business plan, and is instead an 'operations manual'. That's one of the main takeaways I got from Gary Keller's 2.30hr interview on Tim Ferris' podcast. The podcast has really changed the way I think about my business. If I could summarize the learnings in one word: SIMPLICITY.
Simplicity is just like creativity and athletic ability. Some lucky folks are born with it. Most have to work really hard at it. This will explain my strategy for doing just that. But first, what is the GPS framework?
G = Goal (x3)
What is your overall goal here? I avoid making this too short-term or too long-term. Medium-term is the best, around 12 months. It's really up to you how big-picture you make this goal, but it should be high-level enough that the rest of the plan isn't too narrow-minded.
P = Priorities (x3)
Three priorities that you need to focus on that will get you to your goal. Some examples: 'increasing new customers', 'building a new product'. Think of it this way: when you're planning your weeks/months - these are the broad categories that you should block out. For example, in March we're going to focus on acquiring new customers. If something comes my way that's about building a new product - I will defer that until April, which is the month I'm prioritizing 'building a new product'.
Strategies (x5 for each priority)
Five strategies for each priority - so you'll have 15 strategies in total. Each of these strategies needs to be practical, without being too narrow-minded. So, something like (a) 'outbound campaigns to acquire new customers' is a much better strategy than (b) 'cold call 100 people everyday to acquire new customers'. Strategy (a) is better because it gives room for figuring out the best ways of getting results. Strategy (b) is based on an assumption that you already know what works; and that's a losing game - the market changes all the time, your assumptions don't mean a thing.
Applying this framework to life beyond business.
I have really been enjoying playing around with planning the other areas in my life beyond business: wellbeing, relationships, giving, personal development etc. One of the easiest area to plot with the GPS framework has been wellbeing. Here's an example:
My wellbeing GPS
Goal: to invest in my wellbeing now, in order to ensure I live a long, healthy, happy life.
Priority 1: Fitness
Strategy 1a: Swimming
Strategy 1b: Running
Strategy 1c: Yoga
Strategy 1d: Muscle management
Strategy 1e: Hiking
It's not necessary to share all of my wellbeing GPS - this is more to illustrate how a wellbeing GPS should look. Go ahead and do this for three priorities, and you've got your GPS! This should be able to fit onto one page. If it can't - then you need to keep on iterating on it. Which brings me onto the next point...
Mastering the art of the GPS framework
Unless your brain automatically 'gets it', and you're able to produce an amazingly simple and effective GPS first time round, you're probably going to need to work on your GPS multiple times. For example, we're hoping to have a business/sales GPS confirmed and 'locked in' by the end of this week (today is Tuesday).
I'm on version 4 of the GPS, and will probably be on version 10 by the time it's 'locked in'. Here's some practical advice:
Write it on blank paper. The brain is more creative on paper
Keep that paper on your desk/by your side. Your brain will think of edits/additions as the day goes on. Jot them down to be considered in your next version.
Next version: brand new piece of paper, making sure that the edits/additions are considered.
Repeat this once in the morning, and once in the afternoon. This is a very important document. If you don't prioritize it now, you're destined to go round in circles for the rest of the year
