For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of working with my high-performance coach, JP (johnpeitzman.com). One of the first things he helped me with was gaining clarity on how I want to show up in the world. It wasn’t about creating a strict set of rules to follow or a rigid structure to fit into—it was about discovering something simple yet powerful that could keep me grounded.
That’s how my Clarity Chart came to life.
It’s not a rulebook I turn to every day, but rather a reminder—a North Star—of who I am at my core. When life gets unpredictable or throws me off course, this chart brings me back. And the beauty of it is, it’s simple.
In this blog post, I’ll break down the three main areas of my Clarity Chart and why each one matters. This tool isn’t just for me—it’s something anyone can create to gain deeper self-awareness and direction. Because when you know who you are and what drives you, life becomes a little clearer.
Self – The Core of Who You Are
If you had to choose three words to guide your life—words that define the best of who you are and how you want to show up—what would they be?
When I created my Clarity Chart, I didn’t just pick words that described me—I picked words that reflect the best version of me. The version I want to show up as, every single day.
Here’s what I landed on:
- Transparent – I am an open book. Others, especially my family and close friends, know me for who I truly am and understand where I am pouring my energy and why. I am candid with others about my thoughts and feelings.
- Humble – I know that I am not perfect and never will be. I am often wrong and have an infinite amount to learn from others. I value others’ perspectives because understanding them informs me about the world and makes me a better person.
- Caring – I care about the physical, mental, and financial well-being of those around me, especially my family, close friends, and associates. I provide them with help and guidance in pursuit of their best interests.
These words aren’t just labels—they’re a compass. When life gets chaotic, they remind me how I want to think, act, and make decisions.
Interactions – How You Engage With Others
How do you want people to feel after they interact with you? Heard? Understood? Inspired?
The way we engage with others says everything about who we are.
One of the biggest shifts I made in my personal growth journey was becoming intentional about how I show up for others. It’s easy to go through life distracted, half-listening, thinking about the next thing on our to-do list.
But when I sat down to define how I want to engage with people, I chose three words that guide every interaction I have:
- Present – You have my full attention. I am not distracted or thinking about what else I need to do today. I am 100% focused on what you are trying to communicate to me and am seeking to understand your point of view.
- Empathic – I try to understand your perspective in the context of your personal history, culture, and background. I imagine how you must be feeling and know that you believe what you’re saying is the truth and that your opinions are logical and obvious. I meet you where you are.
- Engaging – I infuse the conversation with energy, excitement, or gravitas—whatever the moment calls for. I bring all of myself along and pour my mental energy and life experience into making the interaction meaningful.
I don’t always get it perfect. But when I do these three things well, my relationships deepen, my conversations become more impactful, and I walk away knowing I showed up the way I intended.
Success Markers – Your Formula for Achievement
Success isn’t an accident. It’s the result of who you choose to be—day in and day out. If you had to define the traits that push you forward, what would they be?
When I reflected on the times I’ve been most successful, and the traits I admire in others around me—whether in business, personal growth, or life in general—I noticed a pattern. There were three qualities that consistently made the difference between progress and stagnation.
These three words now serve as my Success Markers, guiding me toward even greater achievement:
- Meticulous – I pay a tremendous amount of attention to detail and hold myself to a high standard of quality. I do things right or don’t do them at all. I build systems to simplify my work and make it more efficient, leading to increasingly better outcomes.
- Committed – If I say I will do something or decide to achieve something, I do. My word matters, and I follow through on my commitments, both to myself and others.
- Driven – I am constantly looking for new opportunities and identifying new and better processes. Once identified, I work relentlessly at execution until the goal is achieved.
Staying Grounded: Putting Your Clarity Chart into Action
My Clarity Chart is more than just words on a page—it’s a tool that keeps me anchored, no matter what life throws my way. It reminds me who I am, how I want to engage with the world, and what fuels my success.
And the best part? Anyone can create one.
If you’ve never taken the time to define your own guiding principles, I encourage you to do it. Choose three words that represent the best version of yourself. Pick three words that define how you want to interact with others. And select three words that will drive your success.
Write them down. Reflect on them. And when life gets chaotic, let them bring you back to center.
So—what words would be on your Clarity Chart? I’d love to hear what keeps you grounded.
And if you’d like some help figuring it out, I’d love to work through it with you.
Through my coaching, I help people gain clarity, define what truly drives them, and build a framework for success.
