Ideation & Assessment
Looking for ideas and ways to assess them while breaking them down? Check out this process for generating, evaluating, and transforming ideas into actionable steps.
Goal and plan ideation
Section titled “Goal and plan ideation”A general approach to generating ideas for goals and plans includes the following steps:
- Define a desired state: Start by identifying the desired state, which is typically about creating value — for example, aiming to feel as good as possible over time.
- Identify challenges and areas for improvement: Pinpoint the challenges, problems, or areas that need improvement to achieve the desired state.
- Seek solutions to overcome challenges: Explore potential solutions to address these challenges, drawing on logical thinking or insights from past experiences.
Given the vast number of potential options and sources of inspiration, ideation is typically intertwined with the assessment of ideas to ensure relevance and feasibility.
Assessment guidelines
Section titled “Assessment guidelines”Assessing a goal or plan typically involves evaluating both the expected impact and the effort required over time, factoring in timing and likelihood of success.
Impact
Section titled “Impact”The impact of a goal or plan can be evaluated in various ways:
- Aspects of well-being: Evaluate factors like emotional impact, survey results, or levels of satisfaction.
- Quantifiable metrics: Use measurable indicators such as financial outcomes, KPIs, or time savings.
- Pros and cons: Compile a clear list of advantages and disadvantages.
- Challenges and opportunities: Identify potential obstacles and opportunities during implementation.
- Likelihood of success: Assess the probability of positive or negative impact. Long-term plans often carry the highest risk due to unpredictable variables.
Effort and feasibility
Section titled “Effort and feasibility”Effort is typically assessed by examining:
- Time and energy required: The duration and level of effort needed to execute the plan.
- Investment: Financial or resource-related investments.
- Opportunity cost: Trade-offs of prioritizing this plan over other opportunities.
- Emotional cost: Potential positive or negative feelings — joy doing the task, or stress and frustration.
- Available resources: Whether current resources are sufficient to achieve the goal.
- Likelihood of feasibility: The probability that the required effort can be sustained.
Timeline
Section titled “Timeline”The timing of goals or actions significantly influences impact and effort. Goals labeled as “urgent” typically need to be addressed in the short term to remain effective.
Balancing metrics and intuition
Section titled “Balancing metrics and intuition”Not all decisions can be made solely on metrics, pros and cons, or collective agreement. Sometimes, intuition and feelings play a crucial role — particularly when experience informs what seems most sensible.
Endeavor breakdown
Section titled “Endeavor breakdown”When goals or plans appear too complex, breaking them into smaller, manageable components is essential. This simplifies the process, making it both achievable and motivating. By deconstructing high-level aspirations into clear milestones, you can maintain focus and track progress effectively.
Example: A mountain is climbed one step at a time. A large project is delivered one milestone at a time. Breaking a complex goal into weekly targets makes the path feel achievable.