Why Your Plan Isn’t Working (And What Actually Matters)

On the Brave Enough Podcast, I joined Dr. Sasha Shillcutt to discuss some of the lessons I've had to learn while chasing career breakthroughs. A central theme emerged: the difference between chasing a plan and being driven by a purpose.

In my book and my work, I always emphasize starting with your "what" and your "why." We build plans around our "what." It is the strategy, the checklist, the long-term goal. As a driven high achiever, I love a good plan.

Your purpose is the "why." It is the fuel that gives the plan meaning and keeps you going when life's hiccups happen.

The problem is that it is easy to get so focused on the plan, the next promotion, or the next goal we are chasing that we lose sight of the purpose that started it in the first place. A plan without a purpose is just a to-do list. It might lead to success, but success without purpose feels empty and drains our energy.

Does this sound familiar?

Let’s be real. It's possible to achieve great things purely from habit and momentum. But if those achievements are not connected to what truly matters to you, they will NEVER bring you the joy and impact you are looking for.

If your answer is a clear "Yes!", that’s fantastic!
If the answer is no, it may be time to re-evaluate.

Deciding what to stop doing can be one of the most strategic decisions you make.

If you feel your plans have become disconnected from your purpose, my FREE Ignite Your What and Why journaling exercise is a great place to start. It is designed to help you get clear on your "what" and your "why" so you can build a purpose-based plan that truly moves you forward. You can find the guide and my YouTube video that explains it there.

Let me know what you're working on today.