Step 2: How to Make One-Page Family Vision Plan

The Family One-Page Vision Plan adapts the One-Page Strategic Plan from Scaling Up to align a family around their BHAG, values, and actionable steps. It consolidates the family’s vision, priorities, and progress metrics into a single, easy-to-reference document. The plan is designed for use during quarterly check-in meetings (1–1.5 hours every 3 months) and the yearly weekend retreat (2.5 days annually) to maintain focus, track progress, and foster unity. Below is a template for the plan, followed by guidance on how to use it in check-ins and retreats.

Family One-Page Vision Plan Template

Section	Content	Description
Core Identity	Values: List 3–5 core family values (e.g., kindness, adventure, learning). Purpose: A brief statement of the family’s mission (e.g., “To grow together and make a positive impact”). BHAG: The 10–20-year audacious goal (e.g., “Travel to five continents by 2035, creating lifelong memories”).	Defines who the family is and their long-term vision, aligning all actions with this foundation.
Long-Term Vision (3–5 Years)	Goals: 2–3 major milestones toward the BHAG (e.g., “Save $5,000 for travel” or “Plan two international trips”). Metrics: Measurable indicators (e.g., “Savings account balance” or “Number of trips planned”).	Outlines the mid-term steps that bridge today’s actions to the BHAG.
Annual Priorities	Top Goals: 1–3 priorities for the year (e.g., “Start a family travel fund” or “Volunteer together twice”). Critical Numbers: Key metrics to track (e.g., “$2,000 saved” or “2 volunteer events completed”).	Focuses the family on what matters most this year to advance the BHAG.
Quarterly Action Plan	Actions: 3–5 specific tasks for the next 3 months (e.g., “Open a savings account” or “Research one destination”). Who’s Responsible: Assign family members to each task (e.g., “Mom opens account, kids research”). Success Criteria: How success is measured (e.g., “Account opened with $500” or “Destination shortlist created”).	Breaks annual goals into immediate, actionable steps with clear accountability.
Progress Tracker	Milestones Achieved: List completed goals or tasks (e.g., “Saved $1,000 in Q1” or “Planned first volunteer day”). Celebrations: Note wins to celebrate (e.g., “Family game night for reaching savings goal”).	Visualizes progress to maintain motivation and recognize achievements.

Example Family One-Page Vision Plan

Based on a BHAG of “Travel to five continents by 2035, creating lifelong memories.”

Section	Content
Core Identity	Values: Adventure, togetherness, learning. Purpose: To create shared experiences that strengthen our bond and broaden our horizons. BHAG: Travel to five continents by 2035, creating lifelong memories.
Long-Term Vision (3–5 Years)	Goals: Save $5,000 for travel, plan two international trips, learn basic phrases in two languages. Metrics: Savings account balance, number of trips planned, language lessons completed.
Annual Priorities	Top Goals: Save $2,000, plan one family volunteer trip, research one continent. Critical Numbers: $2,000 saved, 1 volunteer trip completed, 1 continent research report.
Quarterly Action Plan	Actions: Open savings account ($500 initial deposit), attend one travel expo, create a family travel journal. Who’s Responsible: Dad opens account, teens attend expo, kids start journal. Success Criteria: Account opened with $500, expo attended with notes, journal created with first entry.
Progress Tracker	Milestones Achieved: Q1: Opened savings account ($500). Q2: Attended expo, added $300 to savings. Celebrations: Family movie night for Q1 savings goal, dinner out for expo attendance.

How to Use the Family One-Page Vision Plan

In Quarterly Check-In Meetings (1–1.5 hours, every 3 months)

Purpose: Review progress, update the Quarterly Action Plan, and celebrate wins to keep the BHAG on track.

Agenda with Plan Integration:

Opening and Reconnect (10–15 minutes):
1. Share the Family One-Page Vision Plan (e.g., printout or digital display) and restate the BHAG.
2. Quick icebreaker: “What’s one thing we did this quarter that made you proud?”
Review Progress (20–30 minutes):
1. Check the Progress Tracker: Discuss milestones achieved (e.g., “We saved $500!”) and update the tracker with new wins.
2. Evaluate the Quarterly Action Plan: Did we complete tasks? If not, why? (e.g., “We didn’t research a destination due to school schedules.”)
3. Compare progress to Annual Priorities and Critical Numbers (e.g., “Are we on track for $2,000 saved?”).
Address Challenges and Opportunities (15–20 minutes):
1. Identify obstacles (e.g., “Saving is hard with unexpected expenses”) and brainstorm solutions (e.g., “Cut dining out once a month”).
2. Discuss new ideas to advance the BHAG (e.g., “Could we volunteer locally to practice for global trips?”).
3. Update the Long-Term Vision or Annual Priorities if needed (minor tweaks only).
Plan Next Steps (10–15 minutes):
1. Create a new Quarterly Action Plan: List 3–5 tasks for the next 3 months, assign responsibilities, and define success criteria (e.g., “Kids research one country, success = 1-page summary”).
2. Ensure tasks align with Annual Priorities and move toward the Long-Term Vision.
Closing and Commitment (5–10 minutes):
1. Update the Family One-Page Vision Plan with the new Quarterly Action Plan and Progress Tracker entries.
2. Celebrate wins (e.g., add a star to the tracker or plan a small reward like a family outing).
3. Reaffirm the BHAG with a ritual (e.g., read it aloud together).

Outputs:

Updated Family One-Page Vision Plan (new Quarterly Action Plan and Progress Tracker).
Clear tasks and responsibilities for the next quarter.
Renewed family motivation and accountability.

Tips:

Keep the plan visible during the meeting (e.g., on a poster or shared screen).
Involve kids with simple tasks (e.g., coloring the tracker or reading a value).
Store the plan in a shared location (e.g., family journal or cloud doc) for easy access.

In Yearly Weekend Retreat (2.5 days, annually)

Purpose: Reflect deeply on the BHAG, celebrate the year’s progress, update the Family One-Page Vision Plan, and recommit to the vision.

Agenda with Plan Integration:

Friday Evening: Reconnect and Celebrate (2–2.5 hours)

Share the Family One-Page Vision Plan to set the context.
Review the Progress Tracker and Milestones Achieved to celebrate wins (e.g., “We saved $1,800 and planned a volunteer trip!”).
Create a visual (e.g., a timeline or photo collage) using the plan’s data to showcase the year’s journey.
Update the Celebrations section with a retreat ritual (e.g., “Family dinner for reaching savings goal”).

Saturday Morning: Reflect and Assess (2.5–3 hours)

Use the Core Identity section to discuss: “Do our values, purpose, and BHAG still resonate?”
Evaluate the Long-Term Vision and Annual Priorities: “Are we on track for our 3–5-year goals? Did we meet our critical numbers?”
Review the Progress Tracker to identify patterns (e.g., “We’re great at saving but lag on research”).
Discuss challenges and opportunities, updating the Long-Term Vision or BHAG if needed (e.g., extend the timeline due to life changes).

Saturday Afternoon: Recommit and Plan (2–2.5 hours)

Reaffirm the Core Identity and BHAG with a group activity (e.g., rewrite the BHAG on a new poster).
Update the Annual Priorities for the next year (e.g., “Save $2,500, plan one international trip”).
Set new Critical Numbers (e.g., “$2,500 saved, 1 trip planned”).
Draft the first Quarterly Action Plan for the year, assigning tasks and success criteria.
Revise the Long-Term Vision if new milestones are needed (e.g., add “Learn travel photography”).

Saturday Evening: Celebrate and Integrate (2 hours)

Discuss how to integrate the updated Family One-Page Vision Plan into daily life (e.g., monthly BHAG talks, a savings jar).
Add a new Celebration to the plan (e.g., “Vision board party for new annual goals”).
Plan one immediate action from the Quarterly Action Plan to start post-retreat.

Sunday Morning: Finalize and Commit (1–1.5 hours)

Finalize the updated Family One-Page Vision Plan, ensuring all sections (Core Identity, Long-Term Vision, Annual Priorities, Quarterly Action Plan, Progress Tracker) are complete.
Print or create a new version of the plan (e.g., a framed poster or digital doc).
Commit to the plan with a ritual (e.g., sign the plan, take a family photo with it).
Set dates for quarterly check-ins and assign a coordinator to update the plan.

Outputs:

Fully updated Family One-Page Vision Plan for the next year.
New annual priorities, quarterly goals, and progress tracker.
Strengthened family commitment and a tangible plan reminder (e.g., poster or journal).

Tips:

Display the plan prominently during the retreat (e.g., on a whiteboard or easel).
Use creative activities (e.g., kids decorate the plan, teens design a digital version) to engage all ages.
Take photos of the plan and retreat activities to add to the Progress Tracker for future nostalgia.

Implementation Notes

Format: Create the Family One-Page Vision Plan as a single-page document (e.g., Word, Google Docs, or hand-drawn poster) for easy reference. Use a table or visual layout for clarity.
Storage: Keep a physical copy (e.g., in a family BHAG journal) and a digital backup (e.g., shared drive) for accessibility.
Updates: Revise the plan quarterly for the Quarterly Action Plan and Progress Tracker, and annually for Annual Priorities and Long-Term Vision. The Core Identity and BHAG should remain stable unless major family changes occur.
Inclusivity: Ensure all family members contribute to the plan (e.g., kids suggest celebrations, adults set metrics). Use simple language for younger members.
Example BHAG Context: For “Travel to five continents by 2035,” the plan tracks savings, trip planning, and shared experiences, making the BHAG tangible and actionable.

Benefits of the Family One-Page Vision Plan

Alignment: Keeps the family focused on the BHAG, values, and priorities, mirroring Scaling Up’s emphasis on team alignment.
Clarity: Consolidates goals and metrics into one page, reducing confusion and ensuring everyone understands the plan.
Accountability: Assigns tasks and tracks progress, similar to Harnish’s Rockefeller Habits, fostering family collaboration.
Motivation: Celebrates wins and visualizes progress, maintaining enthusiasm for the BHAG over years.

This adapted tool transforms the One-Page Strategic Plan into a family-friendly framework that supports your BHAG process, ensuring regular check-ins and retreats are structured, engaging, and impactful.