Many people don’t like the idea of planning their future. They don’t feel they have the time. Some feel that change comes at such a rapid pace that the plan would be obsolete before they could implement it anyway. Shoot, some people are so successful they don’t see a need to plan.
I admit I can see their points.
But, planning does have benefits. A plan can develop your vision for the future. A plan can guide your career. A plan can help you perceive opportunities. A plan can help you build a balanced life. A plan can help involve others in your decisions. And a plan can help you prepare for retirement.
Without a plan we have a tendancy to get too wrapped up in the present and we lose perspective of how to address what tomorrow may bring. If we intend to grow in any part of our personal or professional lives we must map (plan) what we want our future to look like.
So, here are the basics of workable plans.
- Identify what needs to be done. Where are you not where you want to be?
- Define when you will reach the goal.
- Explore (in written form) possible paths to reach your goal.
- Prioritize the activities along the path you have chosen to reach your goal.
- KIS/KIF Keep it Simple, Keep it Flexible.
- Evaluate your plan. At least once a month track your progress on some visual medium.
- Keep pushing toward the target date.
- Close it out. Evaluate where your plan was successful. Indentify where your plan was not successful and make that the goal of your next plan.
Reg Adkins writes on behavior and the human experience at (elementaltruths.blogspot.com).
