From Vision to Victory: Creating Your Personal Success Strategy
From as early as I can remember, I’ve always been a strategic thinker. In elementary school, I wasn’t just a student, I was the unofficial assistant. I graded papers, organized classrooms, and completed tasks so quickly and efficiently that teachers would often comment on my productivity. While I didn’t realize it at the time, I was developing a skill that would shape the rest of my life: being strategic with a strategy.
As I grew older, developing a strategy became my go-to approach for everything; whether I was earning a degree, starting a business, relocating, or helping a friend plan a project. No matter the goal, I always began with a plan.
In today’s world, “strategy” is a buzzword used in business meetings, coaching sessions, and social media. But what does it really mean? Let’s explore a few definitions to ground our understanding.
Defining Strategy
There are many interpretations of strategy, depending on the context and the expert. Here are a few that resonate with me:
"A plan for interacting with the competitive environment to achieve organizational goals."
(Daft, 2013)"A plan of action defining how an organization will use its resources to gain a competitive advantage in the larger environment."
(Cummings & Worley, 2014)"A careful plan or method; the art of devising or employing plans."
(Merriam-Webster, 2025)
These definitions capture the essence of strategy from an academic and professional standpoint. Based on my experiences, I’ve developed my own personal definition:
Strategy is a plan that outlines actions and resources, enhancing the ability to achieve a desired outcome.
This personal definition blends formal understanding with lived experience and something I’ve applied consistently throughout my life to obtain success.
Strategy in Action
Whenever there’s something I want to achieve; whether it’s earning a degree, launching a business, or helping a friend, I create a strategy. If a friend tells me they want to reach a goal, I spring into action, helping them map out exactly what needs to happen. That’s what I do. I plan; strategically. Here are two highlights of achievements from having a strategy:
Personal: Obtained a Master of Science in Management & Organizational Behavior with a 4.0 GPA while serving as the PTA Treasurer for my child’s school and working full-time.
Client: Developed two strategies Program Launch Strategy and Funding Strategy with a new nonprofit organization resulting in them launching their first program, increasing their funding and obtaining a partnership with a large corporation in town.
Over time, I’ve developed a simple, repeatable process that anyone can use. I will share in the next section.
Cheronda’s Process for Strategic Planning & Strategy Implementation
Step 1: Start with the End in Mind
A detailed goal provides direction and accountability. What are you trying to achieve? I get really specific in this part! For example, if my friend says, “I want to get a Bachelor’s degree,” it’s time to dig deeper. What type of degree? Do you want to study online or in person? Full-time or part-time? When do you want to start and when do you plan to finish? Why do you want to earn this degree?
The more specific you are, the easier it is to build a realistic and personalized strategy. For instance, instead of saying, “Get a degree.” you could define the goal as:
“Earn a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 3 years with a GPA of at least 3.0, while continuing to work full-time and attending my children’s events.”
Understanding exactly what you want helps clarify the actions you’ll need to take and the resources you’ll need to gather. When I work with clients, I also explore where they are in relation to the goal:
Have you achieved this before?
Have you tried many times without success?
Is this something entirely new to you?
Knowing your starting point shapes the strategy just as much as knowing your destination. It informs how much support is needed, what mindset shifts might be required, and where to focus early momentum.
Step 2: Identify People, Places & Things (Resources)
Resources will vary based on your desired outcome. The people, places, and things listed below are examples of what someone might need when earning a degree while being a parent. For example:
People: Guidance counselors, mentors, life coaches, babysitters or tutors
Places: Local libraries, bookstores, a friend’s house (where kids can play and you can study)
Things: Laptops, textbooks, study guides, reliable internet access
However, if your goal is to raise money for a nonprofit or purchase a home the resources you need will look completely different.
This is one of the most commonly skipped steps when people make a strategy. Properly identifying and using resources greatly enhances your ability to achieve your goals. People who can support you, places that offer the right environment and tangible things you’ll need are resources that have allowed myself, friends and clients to strategically achieve success. Skipping this step can leave you underprepared and overwhelmed.
Some resources will be free, while others will require payment. Plan accordingly and determine what’s truly essential for reaching your goal.
Take the time to ask yourself:
Who can help me?
Where can I go to get what I need?
What tools or materials will support me in this journey?
Knowing who and what will support your goal helps you plan more effectively. Strategic success starts with leveraging the right support.
Step 3: Take Action
List out the specific actions you need to take to achieve your goal. Each action should begin with a verb, a doing word. Avoid vague terms like “get” or “do.” For example, instead of saying “get transcripts,” write “order transcripts online.” The clearer and more specific your action step, the easier it is to execute.
Examples:
Enroll in school
Request a change in work schedule
Order transcripts online
Study every Wednesday
Research free resources at college (i.e. counseling, tutoring, scholarships)
Yes, this step is that simple. It does not need to be overcomplicated. This is where many people get stuck in decision paralysis or become overwhelmed by the size of their goals. To avoid that, I recommend starting with 3 to 7 clear action statements. These will serve as your roadmap in your strategy and give you direction without being too overwhelming. These action steps build momentum and turn your to-dos into a Strategy.
Step 4: Create Your Success Strategy
Now that you’ve identified your desired outcome (goal), outlined your resources, and listed your action steps, it’s time to put it all together and build your Success Strategy; your personal roadmap to achievement. This isn’t just a checklist; it’s a blueprint for your future. Creating a Success Strategy gives your goals structure, focus, and momentum.
How to Build Your Success Strategy
Give Your Strategy a Title: This helps bring your goal to life. Make it fun and personal like “Degree Me” or serious and specific like “Project Graduation 2028.”
Define the Outcome/Goal: Write your goal in a clear and specific statement, just like we did in Step 1.
Set Your Achievement Date: When do you want to complete this goal? If it's long-term, set progress checkpoints to stay on track and make adjustments. Checkpoints should be every 6 months or more frequent depending on the goal. For someone in school checkpoints could be every semester which could be as soon as 5 weeks or as long as 16 weeks (4 months).
Outline Your Strategic Plan: This is where everything comes together. Use your resources and action steps to build a strategy that’s clear and doable. The Strategic Plan will outline your milestones and tasks. Make sure to include deadlines and dates!
Milestones are key phases or checkpoints that show you're moving in the right direction.
Tasks are the detailed steps needed to reach each milestone.
Sample Success Strategy
Title: Project Graduation 2028
Outcome/Goal: Earn a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 3 years with a GPA of at least 3.0, while continuing to work full-time and attending my children’s events.
Achievement Date: May 2028
Strategic Plan
Milestones:
Enroll in school
Request a change in work schedule
Study every Wednesday
Research free resources at college (i.e., counseling, tutoring, scholarships)
Tasks:
Start school Fall 2025
Apply for school by the July 1, 2025 deadline
Order and submit transcripts by June 15, 2025
Enroll in courses by August 15, 2025
Request a change in work schedule for Fall 2025
Speak with manager about how earning this degree benefits the company by June 1, 2025
Submit formal schedule change request by July 15, 2025
Study every Wednesday Fall 2025
Secure 2–3 babysitters to watch the children from 6:00–9:30 PM by August 1, 2025
Create a rotating babysitter schedule by August 15, 2025
Identify a quiet, dedicated study space by August 15, 2025
Research free resources at college (ongoing through May 2028)
Schedule a meeting with a college advisor
Explore the college’s website to find tutoring, scholarships, and counseling services
You Can Do It!
I know this sample looks so simple; but that’s the point! It really is that simple. Strategies don’t need to be complicated to be effective. In fact, the simpler your plan, the more likely you are to follow through. Overplanning can lead to being overwhelmed, which stalls progress.
Clarity leads to action. The clearer your goals, steps, and resources, the easier it is to take consistent, focused action—and that’s what gets results.
Celebrate Your Wins
Once you’ve created your Success Strategy, share it with those who will support and hold you accountable: friends, family, co-workers, mentors. Let them know you’ve made a plan and you’re sticking to it. This way, they’ll support you (and know not to disturb you during your study hours). Every milestone you hit? Celebrate. Every major task completed? Celebrate.
Your strategy is the map, but you are the one who brings it to life. When you work the plan you’re not just planning to be successful, you’re living successfully and strategically.
Make it Happen
Strategy isn’t just for corporations, it's for everyday people with everyday goals. Whether you're pursuing education, growing a nonprofit, or managing your life, a thoughtful strategy can be your superpower. It’s how I move through the world, and I believe it can help you too!
Need help creating your strategy? Book a Strategy Session with me to develop a strategy tailored to your outcome, timeline, and resources.
References
Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2014). Organization development and change (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Daft, R. L. (2013). Organization theory and design (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Merriam-Webster. (2025). Strategy. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strategy
