Conducting a Comprehensive Personal Inventory

 What you complain about and do not change is a CHOICE.

Conducting a comprehensive personal inventory is a powerful way to gain insight into your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals.

Why is this important?

A personal inventory helps you understand yourself better, identify areas for improvement, and align your actions with your values and goals.

What are the benefits?

The benefits include increased self-awareness, improved decision-making, enhanced personal and professional growth, and a clearer path to achieving your goals.

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Illustration by PJ Milani

Steps to Conduct a Comprehensive Personal Inventory:

1. Set Clear Objectives:

• Determine what you want to achieve with your personal inventory. Are you looking to improve your career, personal life, or overall well-being?
• Allow yourself to dream big. If you don’t try to get out of your comfort zone, you won’t be able to expand your potential and discover what you are capable of doing.

1. Gather Materials:

• Have a notebook, journal, or digital document ready to record your thoughts and findings. I personally use Notion and my phone notes app. Start simple with something handy and accessible.

1. Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses:

• List your skills, talents, and areas where you excel.
• Identify areas where you struggle or need improvement.

1. Evaluate Your Values and Beliefs:

• Reflect on what is most important to you in life. Consider your core values and how they influence your decisions and actions.
• Ask yourself, “Does this align with my beliefs and core values?” It’s important that what you aim to achieve is something you strongly believe in and hold in high regard.

1. Analyze Your Goals:

• Write down your short-term and long-term goals. Are they aligned with your values and strengths?
• Set short-term goals (1–3 years) and long-term goals (5–10 years).

1. Review Your Accomplishments and Failures:

• Take stock of your past achievements and what you learned from your failures. This can provide valuable insights into your patterns of behavior and areas for growth.

“The patterns we perceive are determined by the stories we want to believe.” — John Verndon

1. Seek Feedback:

• Ask trusted friends, family members, or colleagues for their perspectives on your strengths and areas for improvement.

1. Reflect on Your Habits and Routines:

• Examine your daily habits and routines. Are they helping you achieve your goals, or are there areas where you can make positive changes?

“Pay attention to the intricate patterns of your existence that you take for granted.” — Doug Dillon

1. Create an Action Plan:

• Based on your findings, develop a plan to leverage your strengths, address your weaknesses, and achieve your goals. Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.

1. Regularly Review and Update:

• Personal inventories are not one-time activities. Regularly review and update your inventory to reflect your growth and changing circumstances.

Remember, your attention is a superpower.

It’s super easy to spot a green car if you are thinking of a green car. It’s also easy to find opportunities if all you think about is looking for opportunities. It’s easy to find reasons to be mad if you are focused on being mad. Your attention matters because what you think about or focus on is what you see and what you become.

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