Work Your Plan!

However you define success is up to you.  But one thing’s for sure: success just doesn’t happen overnight – you have to have a plan and then start working your plan in a consistent and disciplined manner.  If you’re in a bike, for example, you need to start pedaling to reach your destination.  You just don’t pedal once or twice,  you need to do it consistently or you’ll lose your balance and fall.

Once a reasonable plan is made, immediately implement it.  Acting quickly is an imperative for your business.  Don’t get me wrong, do think things through carefully.  But be careful to avoid excessive reasoning and  “paralysis analysis” that often hinders you to move forward.  Get things going fast, and then as you go along, make some “corrections and adjustments” if necessary.

None of us are particularly fond of rude surprises.   Not fun!  Don’t wait until the the estimated completion dates to see if you’ve reached your goals.  Schedule frequent progress checks, meet with people or teams involved to measure the task status and updates.  At those meetings, discuss the following:

• Is each goal still legitimate and achievable?
• Where are we in terms of reaching each goal?
• Have any situations or conditions changed since we originally set each goal?
• Do we need to make any changes to our goals, our action plans, or our performance levels?

The answers to these questions provide the acumen we need to steer us in taking our important mission to reality.

Now go start pedaling!

“Idleness is a constant sin, and labor is a duty.  Idleness is the devil’s home for temptation and for unprofitable distracting musings; while labor profiteth others and ourselves.” – Anne Baxter

Plan Your Work

Success is the result of clearly defined goals combined with well thought out plans to accomplish those goals.  People who are successful always have clear goals on which they stay focused.  Those who are unclear about where they are going experience failure, and this often results to a stopping point for them.

Plans provide us with the direction, focus, and organization we need to stay on task.  And since humans are not equipped with perfect memories, it’s always a good idea to make sure that they’re written action plans.

There are a few questions that may be helpful in developing our plans:

1.  What needs to be accomplished?

2.  Why is it important to get this done?

3.  When does it need to be accomplished?

4.  Where am I in relation to this task?

5.  Who will be involved in finishing this task?

6.  How will it be accomplished?

After answering these questions in detail, perform the last step by adding contingencies.  Do your best to anticipate the unexpected by asking possible “what if” questions.

Failure does not deter those who are committed to their own unique vision of success.  As the old saying tells us, “the world steps aside for those who know where they are going.”