There’s a great question in life: Would you rather be right or happy? I have no doubt: I would rather be happy.
When I was only 4 years old, my family and I escaped Vietnam one day before the Fall of Saigon. My mom was able to flee with 8 of her 10 children. But sadly we had to leave 2 sisters behind. My father was stranded in Australia and the first husband was captured and left for dead. Eight years later, my mom died suddenly, and we instantly became orphans.
For years, I was lost, and I tried to find myself and the meaning of life to no avail. It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I finally started to turn the corner (Read more about my life in “Confronting My Elephants”). Fast forward over 35 years and I can tell you that I am one of the happiest people on planet earth!
So what’s the secret? It’s simple. I live as if I will die tomorrow, and learn as I will live forever. Life is short and there is not one person who knows when their final day is going to be. I’ve learned the hard way. It’s NOT about title, money, accumulation, and other material things. It’s about leaving a legacy, building relationships, and focusing on things that money can’t ever buy.
Over 10 years now, I’ve created a ‘Life Map’ for myself, and I’ve even done the same for my family. Looking back, it’s humbling to see how it has transformed my life—and the people I love. But I don’t want you to believe me. I want you to try it out for yourself.
If you’d like to achieve happiness, consider trying the ‘Life Map.’
Wishing you the happiest year of your life!
Your ‘Life Road Map’
Background: The ‘Life Road Map’ was created by Rubi Ho over a decade ago. He created it off of the premise: If he were to literally die tomorrow, what would he have regretted NOT having done today?
This question came about because his mom did die suddenly when he was 12, he never knew his father, and the fact that his 10 brothers and sisters became orphans due to the Vietnam War (You can read more about his life autobiography: Confronting My Elephants).
Your goal is to complete this ‘Life Road Map’ at the beginning of EVERY year, visit it throughout the year and renew it at the END of every year!
With that question, Rubi came up with the following key areas to his ‘Life Road Map.’
The objective: Work on EACH And EVERY area EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
The Life Road Map Sections
- World Influence/Area of Service:
- Where do I want to ‘leave my mark’ on this earth?
- What do I want to be doing?
- How would I like to serve?
- Be an influence?
- What would I like to accomplish here this year?
This area is where ‘Career’ would fall under. Importantly however, ‘Community Service’ and/or other externally facing areas would also fall under here.
The importance here is two-fold:
- It doesn’t have to have a monetary tie: At the end of the day, your personal ‘value’ is NOT about how much money you make but the ‘difference’ you make.
- Ideally, your ‘career’ can feed into this area, but it is NOT the only thing you have to focus on in this area.
Exercise: Write down the Primary goals you’d like to accomplish in this area.
WORLD INFLUENCE/AREA OF SERVICE GOALS
| Around Career: See Strategic Overview
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Around Community:
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| Other:
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Other:
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- Spiritual Health:
- Where do I want/need to grow spiritually?
- What do I want to accomplish in this area in the next year?
‘Spiritual Health’ is about realizing we are ultimately ‘spiritual beings’ having a ‘human being’ experience. Individuals with Spiritual Health truly are more at peace and happy with themselves and also towards others. As with ALL the areas, it’s personally your call as to how much or little you’d like to add here.
Exercise: Write down the Primary goals you’d like to accomplish in this area. Write down only ONE goal in each box.
SPIRITUAL HEALTH GOALS
- Mental Health:
- Where do I want/need to grow mentally?
- What do I want to accomplish in this area in the next year?
‘Mental Health’ is about mind training as much as it is about being a life-long learner. Where do you want to continually grow? What books would you like to read this year? Where would you like to grow your mind more?
Exercise: Write down the Primary goals you’d like to accomplish in this area. Write down only ONE goal in each box.
MENTAL HEALTH GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR
- Physical Health:
- Where do I want/need to improve physically?
- What do I want to accomplish in this area in the next year?
‘Physical Health’ is taking care of your body, it’s the only one you’ve got in this lifetime! What do you need to do this year to make sure your body is as healthy as possible? NONE of us know when are time is ‘up’ in this world but that doesn’t mean we can’t be as productive and healthy as possible until then!
Exercise: Write down the Primary goals you’d like to accomplish in this area. Write down only ONE goal in each box.
PHYSICAL HEALTH GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR
- Relationship Health:
- What is my role with the most important relationships in my life?
- What do I want to accomplish in this area in the next year?
‘Relationship Health’ is about ensuring the most important people in your life are NOT forgotten and receive your presence, energy and time. To be clear, your role is different with every single relationship. Be clear and specific on what you’d like to achieve and accomplish with each group. Is it ‘more communication, presence, or engagement?’
Exercise: Write down the Primary goals you’d like to accomplish in this area. Write down only ONE goal in each box.
RELATIONSHIP HEALTH GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR
| WITH FAMILY/WHO/WHAT:
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WITH FRIENDS/WHO/WHAT: |
- Financial Health:
- What are my financial goals I’d like to accomplish this year?
- Where can I give more?
- Where can I invest more?
‘Financial Health’ is ultimately about ensuring you have peace of mind when it comes to your finances. Although ALL sections of the Life Road Map are important, this one is especially important to Rubi Ho because he grew up extremely poor and had to learn to overcome the stereo-type that a human’s ‘worth’ is about how much someone has in their bank account! This is a totally false stereo type!
‘Financial Health’ is NOT only about financial accumulation but ALSO About Financial Stewardship! It’s about what you GIVE and leave behind for others as well. Just as important, it’s also about getting financially stable so that your debts do NOT get in the way of your service!
Exercise: Write down the Primary goals you’d like to accomplish in this area. Write down only ONE goal in each box.
FINANCIAL HEALTH GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR
| GROSS INCOME GOALS:
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GIVING FINANCIAL GOALS:
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| SAVING FINANCIAL GOALS:
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INVESTING FINANCIAL GOALS: |
LIFE ROAD MAP
Exercise: Transfer your key areas of your Life Road Map to the sections below
‘AFFIRMATION STATEMENT’
Perspective: If we are honest with ourselves, there is always that little ‘seed of doubt’ that exists within all of us at one time or another. That ‘doubt seed’ that says, ‘you aren’t worthy, you aren’t good enough, you don’t deserve it!’ DON’T believe it! YOU ARE WORTH IT! YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH! YOU DO DESERVE IT!
The Affirmation Statement is defined as the statement of belief AND commitment that all things ascribed in your Life Road Map shall come to pass! It is a statement that you not only write to yourself but also to the Higher Power within yourself. For Rubi Ho, that higher Power is God. It is just a statement of Faith as it is a statement of belief in yourself that you CAN do this!
Exercise: On the BACK of your Life Road Map, please write down your Affirmation Statement, sign and date it!
Affirmation Statement
CHECK OUT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS FROM THE RUBI HO GROUP
Become a SAOL™ Certified Coach & Consultant
2018 Classroom Dates
March 18 – 24, 2018
June 3 – June 9, 2018
Blue Ash, OH
SAOL Executive Coaching for Managers
2018 Classroom Dates
Catered to Your Schedule & Location
ABOUT RUBI HO
Rubi Ho and SAOL™ Coaching and Consulting is ALL about helping Organizations, Teams and Leaders drive and optimize convergence, alignment and performance throughout a company! He and the SAOL Coach and Consultants do this by being experts at resolving issues pertaining to strategy, leadership, performance and overall alignment and helping leaders become their ‘Highest Selves!’
