Top 5 Countdown – Step 4, Related – DOL Priority Shift (Aug Scores vs Jan 1 Scores)

I recently outlined the steps necessary to utilize the Energy and Action Framework with a baseline step followed by five steps forward – all aimed at helping you get very clear and real with yourself in terms of priorities and driving more meaning into your life.

As I was authoring the Step 4 article, it became apparent that I had a post waiting to be shared. As I reviewed my metrics and gave it some more thought, there are a few articles to be shared – this is the first of those.

I’ve outlined the two most recent reporting periods where I sat down and recast my DOL priorities, and focused in on my top 5 Dimensions of Life in terms of these priority scores. The table below captures the complete list of DOLS, the Top 5 from August 2017, the Top 5 from January, and the net ‘power ranking’ changes over the two timeframes. One thing to note – I did stack rank all 13 DOLs – however to keep things a bit focused – I am focusing on the top 5 only.

Here’s the raw data for your consideration:

August Scoring
In August, I was exceptionally focused on nailing down some core beliefs and revising some additional elements as the end of the year was looming increasingly large – thus the #1 priority of Values, Purpose, and Legacy.

My financial life was a strong focus area as I took a goal to refresh my budget and cash flow approach. Baselining my spending was something I did achieve back then as a meaningful output.

My third priority was increasingly itchy. I found as I considered my legacy and purpose that some of my most memorable events of my life were very entrepreneurial in nature. This was a dimension that was partially scratched in recent years as part of my professional life, however it wasn’t totally addressed. It was during this timeframe that as I realized some core truths about myself which were inextricably linked towards my predisposition to jump in and get started with new ventures. I am most happy at work when I’ve got this angle in my day to day to create and build. Outside of my career – this was a focus area, setting the stage for January’s scoring which will be covered in a moment.

My career and work life are exceptionally important for me, and in the August timeframe – I knew that this was going to continue to be a very critical area of priority, there were many days during this period where this DOL was #1 in terms of time and energy spent.

Finally, my energy and spiritual dimension was very much an area of enrichment and of increased awareness. This was a constant area of focus for all of 2017.

Jan Scoring
Entrepreneurial Business Plans / Delivery – this is an absolute priority for the year, and this reporting period it is definitely a very large area of focus for me. The realizations achieved in 2017 were instrumental in the launching of this online project, and of a few additional conversations that are now underway. There is a lot more in store for this DOL as the year continues forward, and it is going to be a very steady march all aiming at building out my vision in this area of my life. Inspiration and motivation are steady and growing each day.

My work life remains near the very top of my priorities, and just as important – my career progression is something that is being re-evaluated during this timeframe. It is a natural time to do so given the review/planning cycles inherent in this time of year. Around this time last year, I also did a fundamental revisit on a variety of elements of my career and work life. This is a big time focus zone for this first quarter of the calendar year.

The third priority is my finances. Tax time and a retrospective of last year are also cyclical types of things that are typically annual in nature. Unfortunately, I have not yet achieved the breakthrough clarity on all elements of my current state financial landscape to the degree that I know them by heart. This quarter is all about closing down increasingly unnecessary and unintentional spending that is largely unwarranted. This quarter is also focusing on the outstanding cash that I am owed or that I’m due from third parties. This is an area that has experiencing languished performance over the past year, and this is the year that it will be wrestled to ground.

My health and physical fitness is at a very high level, however I’m not enthusiastic about my current level of fitness. I will be dropping some recent pounds of fat that were slowly added over the last few months, and also continuing to drive my strength and hypertrophy to new levels on a monthly basis.

My character, discipline, and integrity are a daily habit set that is getting an unreal amount of focus. Authoring my integrity report was a step on this journey aimed at becoming very focused on this area of my life as a priority area. Additionally, I’m very motivated to up level my discipline levels. Much more to come on discipline in the coming weeks.

What’s the Point?
Well the change in ‘power rankings’ here really are a reflection of the progressive journey I’m on. I know for a fact that these new Top 5 areas will experience more focus and output this quarter given my increased in focus on them. I am exceptionally focused on my entrepreneurial endeavors, my work/career, and financial areas of life. These are fairly constant areas of focus for me historically, and this first quarter is no different.

My Energy and Spiritual DOL fell completely out of the Top 5 dropping 3 slots to a position of 8 out of 13. I can tell you that this is still an area of focus and of continued refinement. However, it is not as much of a daily priority this current quarter. Part of this is a direct result of the work poured into this area over the last year. My sleeping patterns are increasingly better, and this is juicing energy perhaps more than anything else. Additionally, my openness and consciousness in terms of my spiritual life is increasingly taking on a life of its own given some practices I’ve put into place. Probably some routines and details to be shared here on this.

My Values, Purpose, and Legacy dropped the most – it went from #1 in August to #12 in January. Does this mean that I no longer give a damn about this DOL? Hell no! I’ve poured a lot of time and effort into this DOL last year, and I’ve achieved some exceptional clarity. I know what I need to be doing. I know how I need to be doing it. I also know what being the best version of me – means. As such, this is not the burning priority it was last year. Important yes, but burning and urgent priority – not right now.  I’

My Health & Physical Fitness is a return to the basics for myself. I am focused on getting ripped and much stronger this quarter. I will get back to where I was last year in this quarter, and I’ll continue to progress towards the goals I’ve set for the year in 2018. This is a jumpstart quarter for me.

Finally, my newest entry to the Top 5 – Character, Discipline, and Integrity is a pervasive focus for me spanning all DOLs really. This is a build upon the clarity I’ve achieved last year, and now to manifest the reality I have arrived at will require an improvement in my daily discipline and an intense focus on my word. My word and action both represent how I will be characterized by those around me and I lead with integrity first and foremost. This is the quarter that I will also be jumpstarting some new habits in this DOL.