Plan, Act, Impact

About the Author

Colt McAnlis is an engineer, mentor, consultant, and lover of pumpkin pie. As a developer advocate for Google, his content has helped more than 4.5 million developers learn to build better, cheaper, and more performant applications. Prior to Google, Colt was a graphics and performance engineer in the games industry for Microsoft’s Ensemble Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, and Petroglyph Games. He has been an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University and takes the opportunity to lecture at UCLA every now and again.

Main Idea

Plan, Act, Impact: A Playbook to Elevate Your Perspective and Unstick Your Career by Colt McAnlis covers effective ways to achieve the goals that matter to you in your career. The book helps readers let go of cynicism and negativity towards their work, opening up opportunities and helping them achieve their professional goals. It emphasizes escaping the mania of the moment, building clear objectives, and recognizing the positive impact one can make. The journey can be challenging, but the book provides the necessary tools to overcome obstacles and succeed.

Table of Contents

1. Discover What’s Blocking You From Making an Impact
2. Low-Level Goals
3. High-Level Goals
4. Making Impacts
5. The Art of Goal Setting
6. Unimpactful Actions
7. It's Not You, It's Your Stress
8. Learn What It Takes
9. Establish a Solid Foundation
10. Impactful Actions
11. Make a Plan
12. Impactful Actions Playbook
13. Source Potential Actions

Discover What’s Blocking You From Making an Impact

The first step to making an impact is identifying what is holding you back. For example, Joanna, a dedicated employee who is always first to arrive and last to leave, still doesn't receive the promotion she deserves. The problem is that she doesn't make an impact. Understanding how to make an impact is crucial for career advancement.

"Companies value the impact that a person makes." - Colt McAnlis

Low-Level Goals

Low-level goals are basic needs related to biology and survival. If these needs are unmet, they take precedence over higher goals. For example, feeling unsafe in personal life will overshadow work-related goals. Meeting these basic needs is essential before moving on to higher goals.

• Ensuring personal safety and security.
• Fulfilling basic biological needs like food and shelter.

High-Level Goals

Once low-level goals are met, individuals can focus on higher-level goals, which are more complex and fulfilling. These goals build on the foundation of basic needs and lead to self-actualization.