If I could only keep one document related to my business, it wouldn’t be a strategic plan. It wouldn’t be a budget or a marketing plan. It would be my OPB Life Plan.
That answer surprises people.
After all, I am a business owner. Shouldn’t the most important document be something directly tied to revenue, growth, or operations?
The truth is, every important decision I’ve made in business has been shaped by something much bigger than business.
It has been shaped by how I want to live.
Most People Build Their Business First
Many professionals and business owners spend years building a business and then hope it eventually creates the life they want.
They work hard, grow revenue, add responsibilities, and chase opportunities. Somewhere along the way they wake up and realize they’ve built something successful, but they’re not sure it’s aligned with the life they actually want.
I wanted to approach things differently.
Years ago, I completed a OPB Life Plan. The process forced me to think deeply about what matters most, the legacy I want to leave behind, and the person I want to become. Instead of starting with goals, it started with a much harder question:
“What do I want people to say about my life when I’m gone?”
That’s not a typical business exercise. But it changes everything.
The Eulogy Exercise
The Life Plan begins by writing your own eulogy. Not your résumé, accomplishments, or net worth.
Your eulogy.
It forces you to confront a simple reality: most of what consumes our attention today won’t matter much in the long run. What people remember is who you were.
- How you treated others.
- The impact you made.
- The relationships you invested in.
- The values you lived out consistently.
When you gain clarity on those things, decisions become easier.
What Matters Most?
One section of the Life Plan asks a simple question: “What matters most?”
That’s a question every leader should revisit regularly. For me, the answer wasn’t business growth. Business was important, but it wasn’t first. Health, family, relationships, faith, and purpose are all equally as important, and my business exists to support those things, not replace them.
That’s a lesson many leaders learn the hard way.
Business Is Only One Account
One of my favorite concepts from the Life Plan is the idea that life is made up of multiple accounts. Work is one account. Family is another. Health is another. Finances, relationships, and personal growth all require attention.
When we focus exclusively on business success, other accounts often become overdrawn. I’ve coached enough leaders to know that business problems are often life problems in disguise. A struggling marriage impacts leadership. Poor health impacts decision-making. Lack of purpose creates burnout.
The goal isn’t balance. The goal is alignment.
Why This Matters
The reason this remains the most important document in my business is simple:
It reminds me what success actually looks like. Revenue goals change. Markets change. Businesses evolve. But the things that matter most tend to stay remarkably consistent.
A Life Plan gives you a filter for decisions. It helps you say yes to the right opportunities and no to the wrong ones. It reminds you that growth isn’t just about building a bigger business. It’s about building a meaningful life.
Your Play
If you’ve never created a Life Plan, I would encourage you to start. Not with your goals or your business strategy, but with your life.
Ask yourself:
- What matters most?
- What kind of legacy do I want to leave?
- Who do I want to become?
Because the best businesses are rarely built by people chasing success.
They’re built by people who know exactly why success matters in the first place. Are you ready to build your playbook?
