Looking And Planning Ahead…

It’s the start of another year and with that comes opportunity.  But is all starts with a good plan.  What are you looking to do this year?  So often we have ideas of what we want, but don’t plan enough on how to carry out these thoughts.

We think about desired results, but forget to look ahead and what we need to do to achieve the outcome.  Think of it as if you were going on a trip without a map, money or clear destination.  It would be a little hard to say where you would end up and what shape you would be on arrival. 

I have said this many times; I don’t believe in making resolutions, but instead suggest you find a plan you can stick with until you reach your desired goal. It’s as if we believe results will magically appear even if we don’t put in the work. It is possible to get what we want if we want it desperately enough? The secret is to plan the result, be consistent and stick to the strategy. 

This may sound familiar. You wanted to accomplish something and started with a great beginning. Then before you know it you lose desire, interest, become overwhelmed and give up because it was too hard.

Here are a few ideas to help with whatever you desire:

Write down what you want to achieve.  Writing will make it more of a commitment on your part.  Once you have the desire in writing work backwards on how you can reach your goal. 

Take baby steps.  If you decided to run a marathon, you wouldn’t start with ten miles the first day.  You would work up to it by running small distances and build over time.  Work your plan the same way.  Each day or week you can add more and with it comes more confidence.

Find your weaknesses and what will motivate you to stick to your plan.  We all have days we lose momentum.  If you can counter with your motivating self-talk or planned rewards you will find progress. Remember most of your accomplishments will come from your internal desire and self-discipline.

Make decisions easy.  Find routines to keep you on track.  Too many choices can derail your best intentions.  Find what you can to make repetitive actions, so you don’t have to think about choices. Always be prepared.  A good plan is your safety net when you have a weak moment.

Finally, and most important, know why you want to make the desired change.  If you don’t have a clear vision of why you want to obtain it, you cannot stay on track. Having a clear and specific plan along with knowing why you are doing it will take you a long way to reaching your desires. 

“All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.” - Earl Nightingale.