Personal strategic planning?
Often in these lines we deal with business strategy, planning or business models. Almost always, thinking about the company or the organization.
It should be considered that, sometimes, we apply strategy or planning not only to the company, but also to ourselves (as when we speak of leadership, reflecting on our abilities to lead, a term that sounds strange, but is sanctioned by the Spanish Academy). We will then be talking about strategic planning applied to oneself.
And with regard to formulating our own strategy, already in a previous column (EF 33/Oct/21) when analyzing the challenges for 2022, we pointed out that we are at a new beginning. “The pandemic has marked a before and after in our lives. People will rethink their personal, work, health, money, life goals... A time of great changes in habits and thinking is coming, to relearn, to adapt!”
We mentioned that one of the challenges was precisely that what is natural and healthy would become relevant, for example: producing one's own food, meditating, exercising and taking care of one's diet are and will be predominant themes. Being healthier, we commented, will be (or already is) the 'new luxury'.
This new approach to our way of life, was it caused by the pandemic? Of course! Many times strategic rethinking is caused by a strong change in the environment (and the pandemic was a strong change), so, since we are talking about strategic planning applied to oneself, let's reflect on the meaning of personal well-being, that ' new luxury.
A recent study on the 'wellness' market published by McKinsey led me to reflect on the categories of wellbeing to understand what they mean, what they encompass and whether they are worth considering in our personal planning.
According to McKinsey estimates, it is a market of 1,500,000 million dollars. You read that right, a million and a half million dollars. Here are some thoughts about it.
Better health ( health ). It goes beyond medicine and vitamins to include medical devices, telemedicine and remote health care services, as well as personal health trackers (now from electronic watches).
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Better physical condition ( fitness ). Interest in keeping fit increased, sales of home exercise equipment increased exponentially, as many people sought to maintain their pre-pandemic fitness levels. There were also those who had time to exercise for the first time and, having experienced the benefits that it brings, they will surely try to keep it that way.
Better nutrition ( nutrition ). It has always been an important part of feeling good, being fit and staying healthy, but now consumers are looking for foods that help them achieve their wellness goals as well as being tasty. There is an increasing demand for healthy and organic food.
Better appearance ( appearance ) . People seek to be more comfortable, acquiring clothes more oriented to well-being (in English: athleisure) but at the same time elegant. They also demand beauty products (eg skin care and collagen supplements) including non-surgical aesthetic procedures as well.
Sleep better ( sleep ) . It goes beyond traditional sleep aids like melatonin to app-enabled sleep trackers (on mobile, tablet, or computer) as well as other sleep-enhancing products.
Better full attention ( mindfulness ) . Looking for mental well-being, taking time to meditate (with applications focused on meditation, with self-help books to meditate better and, for those who profess a religion, on religious topics). This category has gained widespread acceptance by many people in a relatively short time.
Towards a transcendent sense of life
Reflecting on these categories, the excellent book by Dr. Alejandro Llano came to mind, The Successful Life (Editorial Ariel, Barcelona, Spain. 2002). Finally, personal well-being is the result of a personal battle for continuous improvement, which entails the search for a transcendent meaning in our lives.
As Llano explains, a successful life is that of one who manages to give the best of himself; in which it is implicit that happiness cannot be something that 'happens to me', but something in which I, as a free person, take an active part, seeking that personal well-being.
So let's consider whether we should seek this personal well-being that will make us more satisfied with ourselves, more productive and effective in our lives, but above all, have a more balanced, fulfilling and better quality life.
Dean of the Business Policy area (Strategy and Management) at the Pan-American Institute of Senior Business Management (IPADE).
