Once the draughtsman’s standard, the term ‘blueprint’ has evolved to mean a fundamental plan or life model. How clear is yours – and do you need to revise it?

From 1842, when the blueprinting process was invented by John Herschel, until the 1940s, the intricate designs of engineers and architects were faithfully reproduced in vivid shades of Prussian blue. Those classic images of white lines on cyan provide a great metaphor for personal development and working towards a clear and carefully considered plan.

In life, people are constantly working towards blueprints, be they for a career, a night out, a milestone celebration or tonight’s dinner. A person’s identity, potential and day-to-day life are an alchemy of the values, beliefs and expectations they hold about themselves and their place in the world. But what are the signs and the ramifications of working to an outdated model? How does a person keep their life’s blueprint current and aligned with their highest potential?

Before taking its position on the Paris skyline, the Eiffel Tower in France existed as 1,700 general and 3,629 meticulous drawings. Commissioned as the gateway to the International Exposition of 1889, which celebrated the centenary of the French Revolution, its life was supposed to be short but sweet. Plans to dismantle it after the close of the exhibition, however, were abandoned when its designer, Gustave Eiffel, eager to save his construction, went back to the blueprint and supervised changes to incorporate a meteorological station in 1890. Later modifications included a military telegraph station in 1903, a laboratory for studying aerodynamics in 1909 and the addition of 20 metres to the tower’s height to accommodate television transmission. It’s a long-standing and globally recognised structure that exemplifies the benefits of going back to the blueprint, reassessing what was required then – and why – and adapting it to a new set of values and needs.