feebleoreo...

I know just how you feel - until I saw Patrick's vertical map, I had virtually no idea what it meant for me. I've always been the kind of guy who takes good ideas and makes them better, rather than the kind of guy who can create from nothingness (hard work instead of genius, I guess). Patrick's map turned on my proverbial lightbulb. I saw it as a way to put down what I'm expected to do at the most basic level - these are the largest buckets I can imagine and don't get rolled up into anything else. Another way to look at it is these are things I can't delegate. If it can be delegated, it's only at 10K or Runway-level. Good luck, and please let us see what you develop.

Here's what I came up with for 20K:

20,000 Feet ? Areas of Responsibility

Personal
> Relationships
> [My Wife]
> Be a loving, supportive husband.
> Support her career decisions.
> Be a best friend.
> Happily reach our financial goals.
> [Our 2 Boys]
> Be a good father.
> Be involved in their education, including knowing their teachers.
> Ensure their health and safety.
> Keep them active and intellectually curious.
> [La Casa Verde]
> Make our house a home.
> Manage the bills.
> Take care of home-related responsibilities (oil, septic, etc.).
> Lifestyle
> Get active to ensure my health and fitness.
> Get out of the house more often.

Professional
> Management
> Develop junior leaders.
> Manage my own career.
> Planning
> Manage force structure.
> Ensure smooth mobilizations.
> Maintain lineage and honours for all units.
> Training/Certification
> [Career development] coursework.
> [Specific computer program] certification.
> Functional area coursework and certification.
> Facilitator training.
> Lean 6σ.

One of the hard things with the 20 000 ft area is that 20 000 ft areas of focus/responsibilities may or may not be connected with 30 000 ft 1-2yr goals. Sometimes you have areas of focus that are just things you have to be responsible for in the present.

For me, examples of things at 20 000 ft:
-home maintenance
-clinic management
-family commitments
-professional development
-Work IT
-a conference a friend is planning
-personal health
-my intentional community

The conference isn't part of my 1-2 year plan, or my long-term goals/vision. It's an area of responsibility that I've committed to, however, and it consists of several sub-projects (so it can't just be seen as a project).

That said, some choose to disregard the level altogether.

I don't know whether I've helped clarify things, or muddied the waters...

NurseGirl: Wouldn't the conference thing tie in with a 12-24 month professional goal of making more contacts, increased responsibilities (i.e., being the mouthpiece for the company at a conference/trade show) or as a step to a promotion?

Just curious.

Regards,

Mike Greene

No, helping my friend plan the conference is a favour I'm doing because I've planned confences before. She works in a diferent field and I'll be surprised if much professional benefit will come to me.

Surely, it’s part of your desire to share your skills and knowledge with those who would benefit them - which could be blurred with the goal to provide social value through your work? I don’t know if you see your profession in this light, but I find it helps me if I do.