Write a brief story of your life and career to date. Why and how have you become who you are today? What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Now write your story again through the eyes of people who know you well: your parents or partner; your best friend or boss. Would they have a different interpretation of your life and career from you? Does this tell you anything about yourself that you might not have noticed before?

Are you content with yourself and your present life? What would you like to be different? Why? What are the opportunities and threats to your life and career? What would you have to do (and forgo) to bring this change about? Would it be worth it? And what would the effect(s) be?

Who else would such changes affect? Who could help or hinder you in these changes? What resources would you need to effect them? In what sequence would these changes have to come about, and how do they fit into the other timetables of your life?

Now draw up an action plan, identifying the actions you will have to carry out over the short, medium and long term.

Take the first step in implementing it today. Commit yourself to it by telling someone else about it and enlist their support to keep you motivated.

At the end of the first month and every three months thereafter, review the progress of your plan and make any necessary adjustments.