Why Your "Life Plan" from 2012 is Probably Useless Now
Chandra Eden, The True Me Yogi
High Performance Habits
Author: Brendon Burchard
"Seek clarity on who you want to be, how you want to interact with others, what you want, and what will bring you the greatest meaning. As every project or major initiative begins, you ask questions such as 'What kind of person do I want to be while I'm doing this?' 'How should I treat others?' 'What are my intentions and objectives?' 'What can I focus on that will bring be a sense of connection and fulfillment?' High performers ask these types of questions not only at the beginning of an endeavor but consistently throughout. They don't just 'get clarity' once and develop a mission statement that lasts the test of time; they consistently seek clarity again and again as times change and as they take on new projects or enter new social situations. This kind of routine self-motitoring is one of the hallmarks of their success."
Why Your "Life Plan" from 2012 is Probably Useless Now
We all know that one person who wrote a mission statement in college and treats it like the Ten Commandments. They decided at 20 that they were going to be a "Synergistic Corporate Ninja," and by god, they are still trying to ninja their way through middle management, even though they secretly just want to bake artisanal sourdough.
Here’s a harsh truth: Clarity isn’t a tattoo. It’s a shower. You have to do it regularly, or things start to stink.
The quote above hits on a massive secret of high performers. They don't just "find themselves" once on a backpacking trip to Thailand and call it a day. They are constantly asking, “Wait, who am I right now? And what am I actually trying to do?”
The Myth of "One and Done" Clarity
Imagine setting the GPS in your car for a destination, driving for five years, and never once checking if you missed a turn or if the bridge is out. That’s what most of us do with our lives. We decide we want something—a job, a relationship dynamic, a fitness goal—and then we put our heads down and grind.
Meanwhile, the landscape changes. You change. The world invents TikTok and remote work. And suddenly, that old map is leading you straight into a swamp.
High performers are constantly recalibrating. Before they start a project, they ask, "What kind of person do I want to be while I'm doing this?"
Most of us just ask, "How fast can I get this over with so I can watch Netflix?"
The Questions You Should Be Annoying Yourself With
To get this level of success (and fulfillment, which is arguably cooler), you need to start interviewing yourself. Regularly. Like a toddler asking "Why?" but with more existential dread and purpose.
Here are the questions the quote suggests you keep on loop:
"Who do I want to be right now?"
Not "Who do I want to be in 10 years?" That’s too far away. Who do you want to be in this meeting? Do you want to be the stressed-out tyrant or the calm problem-solver? It’s a choice you make every time you open your mouth."How should I treat others?"
This seems basic, but when you’re in the weeds of a project, "others" often become "obstacles." Reminding yourself that your coworkers are humans with feelings (and probably their own sourdough dreams) changes how you interact. It stops you from becoming the office villain."What will bring me meaning?"
This is the big one. We often chase what will bring us money or praise. But chasing meaning? That’s the fuel that keeps you from burning out. If you’re slogging through a project and hate every second of it, you probably forgot to ask this question.
Self-Monitoring: It’s Not Just for Robots
The quote mentions "routine self-monitoring." It sounds mechanical, like checking your oil. But it’s actually deeply human. It’s about staying awake at the wheel.
Life moves fast. New projects start, social circles shift, and your priorities evolve. If you aren’t checking in with yourself, you’re just reacting. You’re a pinball bouncing off bumpers, hoping to land in a high-score slot by accident.
So, stop treating your identity like a statue that’s set in stone. Treat it like software. It needs updates. It needs bug fixes. And sometimes, it needs a complete reboot.
Ask the questions. Then ask them again next week. Clarity is a moving target, and you can’t hit it if you’re aiming at where it used to be.