Tasha: Why is the process important to you as a Christian?

•Zarat: Helps to continually rid my life of imbalance because I am a recovering workaholic

•Helps me to reorganize my life around what really matters.

•Helps me to cultivate and master what only I can do (my unique giftedness) and stop trying to be a well-rounded,  “Jack-of-All-Trades/Master of None”

•Encourages freedom for me to be who I was created to be because I will have no excuses at the end of my life

•Any written document can serve as a powerful assessment tool and guide. The written LifePlan, if utilized and updated regularly, creates checkpoints, standards, discoveries and learnings of who God is and has created me to be. What we do is an outflow of who we are. Just like a budget, a legal plan, financial plan, workout plan, nutrition plan, career development plan, business plan, etc. can give a clear picture of past, present, and future. The LifePlan has even greater power as it encourages me to look strategically at all areas of my life, based on my unique giftedness.

•The LifePlan is fully activated and realized when we continually surrender to God, the Creator of one’s LifePlan. I am learning that this is a continual process of humbling oneself to face new realities and act accordingly. 

Tasha: How long have you been a Life Planner\Coach?

•Zarat: I have been a Life Coach/Planner more than half of my life, working with those around me. Early on, I remember creating a plan for myself because I have always desired strategic focus. I must admit that it was just a shell, not compared to Tom’s comprehensive LifePlanning process.

•I started coaching professionally seven years ago, after completing my LifePlan. Several years later I became an Advanced Certified LifePlanner, trained by the founder, Tom Paterson. I now integrate the lifeplanning with coaching for maximum effectiveness and return on investment.

Tasha: What made you become interested and certified in Life Planning?

•Zarat: My Pastor, Dr. Bryan E. Crute, was instrumental in me hearing about Tom’s LifePlanning process and getting my LifePlan facilitated.

•After receiving my LifePlan in 2001, I knew that LifePlanning would be a vital process in accomplishing my life mission.

•I believe in the LifePlan process as a tool that I’ve seen God use to clarify and give future direction for numerous people. 

Tasha: Why should a person consider the Life Planning process?

•Zarat: If that person is maneuvering through a crossroad in their life.

•If they want to better discern God’s unique path for them specifically.

•If that person desires greater balance between his/her many responsibilities.

•If that person wants to invest more of WHO they are into WHAT they do, being confident and clear saying “yes” and “no” to opportunities

•If that person wants a written strategic plan/map that highlights one’s redeemed past, present reality, and incredible future.

•If that person wants a proven, reusable process for continued growth and development regardless of the life season

Tasha: Is there a perfect or better time in a person’s life to start?

•Zarat: Generally those who are experiencing an overwhelming life crisis or participating in lay or professional counseling should wait before engaging in the LifePlan process.

Tasha: What about married couples? Do they do the Life Plan as a couple or as individuals?

•Zarat: The LifePlanning process can create greater synergy, appreciation and focus for couples. With all of what married couples face and desire to accomplish, this is an invaluable opportunity for transformation in their lives and family.

•The LifePlanner can assess which way to facilitate the process. 

As 2009 approached, I was doing some major introspection and asking God some serious questions. God and I have had some serious dialogue.  It feels like my life has been on this roller coaster ride and I want it to end. There were certain things in my life that I did not want to repeat, endure, or continue in 2009. I needed answers, direction, clarity, but most importantly wisdom. I felt like some of my personal goals, visions and aspirations were slipping into a faint distance. Before the holidays, I participated in a one day teaser for a process called Life Planning; it was exactly what I needed in the right moment. Now this was only a teaser, but it ignited my need to pursue several questions with the facilitator. It was the missing piece for me. I also found out Zarat Boyd, who is a good friend of mine, is the only black female certified as an advanced LifePlan facilitator. Pretty amazing, Zarat is an awesome leader, mother, and wife. She actually sat down with me and answered all of my questions about the Life Planning process and why, as a believer we should embark on the journey to see the pattern that God is weaving together in your life. I knew from talking with friend that I was not the only one at a crossroads in my life. Many of my friends felt like their personal visions and goals have been placed on pause or the back burner of their lives. I asked Zarat a few questions and hopefully they will be helpful to others considering LifePlanning or those like me who are searching for what’s next.

 Tasha: What is Life Planning? Define the process

•Zarat: The LifePlan™ experience is a proven, spiritually and behaviorally sound process designed by Tom Paterson, a surrendered follower of Christ, and an internationally recognized strategist and business leader. The LifePlanning process helps you discover your unique design, clarify your life mission, and apply your discoveries to your personal, family, vocation, spiritual, and community life domains.

•LifePlan is capitalized for a reason. A LifePlan is God’s MasterPlan for our life. We discover and live out that unique plan for His purposes, not our own.

Tasha: What does the process involve?

•Zarat: Prayer, meditation on God’s word, full reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide, intimacy, stamina, openness, honesty, confidentiality, a safe environment, love, and surrender

•Guided by a professionally trained LifePlanner, the process involves a series of exercises and tools to gain perspective, acknowledge emerging truths, and accept personal responsibility.

•As a result of the charted pathway and a spiritually-guided 2-day process, you develop a custom tailored MasterPlan that defines your total life strategy. Leading toward your focused LifeMission, it includes detailed, measureable action plans to help you begin to fulfill this mission. All work is done on flip-chart paper in sequential order and later put into electronic form.

•I require a full two days, uninterrupted, for the 18-20 hour process as well as a minimum 3 month commitment to follow-up, coaching for accountability, encouragement, and continued development. 

 Tasha: What are some of the key modules of the process?

•Zarat: Key expectations

•Detailed evaluation & picture of your life right now

•A detailed timeline of key turning points of your entire life

•Talent matrix that highlights key attributes, heart concerns, and top gifts

•Assessments that highlight your drivers, comfort zones, and ways of organizing the world

•Learnings Matrix

•Significance based action plans

•LifeMentors & partners

 Tasha: What are some key questions that LifePlanning addresses?

• Zarat: Who am I?

•What are my talents?

•How did I get to where I am right now?

•How does my past contribute to God’s plan for my future?

•What perspective have I gained?

•What is my significance?

•What is the current match with my success profile?

•What is my plan or action for each area of my life?

Books:Purpose Driven Life-Rick Warren, Pathway to Purpose, Katie Brazelton