FROM OVERWHELMED TO ON-ASSIGNMENT: Your 90-Day Roadmap to Purpose

Valarie Harris
Dec 19, 2025
4 min read

Your 90-Day Roadmap to Purpose

Have you ever stared at your to-do list and thought, "I don't need another idea—I need a plan"? If you're nodding your head right now, you're not alone. Between ministry obligations, work responsibilities, business ventures, family commitments, and all those dreams you're carrying in your heart, life can feel overwhelmingly chaotic. You might feel like you're spinning your wheels furiously but not actually going anywhere.

Dr. Val, founder of Stepping Out With Purpose, understands this struggle intimately. She's created a practical framework to help women leaders, educators, aspiring entrepreneurs, and authors move from that place of overwhelm to being firmly on assignment—with a clear 90-day roadmap to guide the way.

The Problem: Chaos Despite Abundance

The challenge isn't that you lack ideas or ambition. You have plenty of both. The issue is that when your heart is full but your calendar is chaotic, you need more than inspiration—you need a strategic plan. You need a roadmap that transforms all those swirling thoughts and possibilities into focused, purposeful action.

Dr. Val emphasizes an important truth: when you enjoy what you're doing, you won't experience burnout. If you're feeling burned out, it's a signal that some of the things filling your schedule aren't aligned with your true calling. This is your invitation to refocus.

Step 1: Choose One Primary Assignment

Here's the foundational principle: you cannot build a roadmap without a destination. For the next 90 days, you need to ask yourself a critical question—what is your primary assignment?

This isn't about listing everything you want to accomplish. It's about identifying the one thing that matters most right now. Perhaps you want to start a prayer group, launch a women's chat community, begin journaling consistently, draft your book, or connect with people who need your specific expertise.

Take a sheet of paper and complete this sentence: "In the next 90 days I will _____." Write down several possibilities if you need to, but then narrow it down to the most tangible goal—the one that makes your heart race with excitement and purpose. This is the goal that's really calling to you, not just the one that sounds good or that others think you should pursue.

Step 2: Break It Into Monthly Milestones

Once you've identified your 90-day goal, it's time to break it down into manageable monthly milestones. Since 90 days equals three months, you'll create a three-phase approach to achieving your assignment.

Let's use the example of starting a women's group. Your breakdown might look like this:

Month 1: Clarify your message and outline what you'll be doing with the group. You can't just gather people without knowing what you'll offer them. What transformation will they experience? What problem will you solve? Map out the vision clearly enough that when you share it, people will immediately understand the value.

Month 2: Gather your materials and prepare your content. What specific topics will you cover? What insights will you impart? Whether you're working with women, men, or a mixed group, you need to have your curriculum or framework ready. This is the preparation phase where you do the behind-the-scenes work that makes everything else possible.

Month 3: Open the doors and start enrolling people. Begin inviting participants to join your group. This is where your preparation meets action, and your vision starts becoming reality.

Your brain might be telling you, "Oh, I can do that!" And Dr. Harris is here to confirm: yes, you absolutely can. Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You're not in this alone.

Step 3: Create Weekly Big Three Actions

Now it's time to zoom in to the weekly level. Each week, ask yourself: what are my Big Three actions that will move me forward?

Notice the emphasis here—you don't need 30 tasks. You need three needle-moving actions per week. These might include having three clarity conversations about your vision, going live once on social media to share your message, or creating one to two pieces of content or curriculum for your upcoming program.

This approach aligns with productivity research that emphasizes focusing on what truly matters. The "done by one" concept suggests identifying one crucial task to complete by midday, helping you focus your energy on what genuinely moves the needle forward. When you apply this principle throughout your week with three focused actions, you create consistent momentum without overwhelming yourself.

Overcoming the Obstacles

The roadmap is clear, but what about the obstacles? Fear, procrastination, and naysayers can derail even the best plans. Dr. Harris offers powerful advice: get the naysayers out of your ears. Stop allowing fear and procrastination to hold you back. You already have the expertise and what it takes to make these things happen.

Submit your plans to God in prayer. He will direct your path and help you maintain bold focus—not the scattered attention that comes from listening to too many voices, but the laser-focused clarity that comes from knowing your assignment.

Consider working with a coach who can keep you on track. Even coaches need coaches. Having someone to help you navigate confusion and stay aligned with your goals can make the difference between dreaming and doing.

You're Not Behind—You Just Need a Roadmap

Here's the truth Dr. Harris wants you to understand: you are not behind. You simply need a roadmap and possibly a guide to help you navigate it. You have the expertise, the dreams, and the capacity. What you need now is focus, structure, and the courage to take that first step.

Your purpose is calling. It's time to stop juggling and start focusing. It's time to move from overwhelmed to on-assignment. Your 90-day journey begins with one decision, one primary assignment, and three focused actions each week.

The question is: what will your 90-day goal be?