We have all, at one point in time heard the famous quote: “When you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. Straight to the point and very apt.
However, we should ask ourselves, does this inversely mean that everyone who draws up a full-proof plan is assuredly going to succeed?
Short answer, no!
This is because planning requires us to follow-through.
In-depth follow-through must be factored into our plans from the very beginning to ensure that we are meeting our objectives (task by task), as we breeze through the year.
We will be taking a look at the 3 steps necessary not only to plan effectively but to follow-through and achieve success with your goals.
1. Write our your plan on a visible surface or interface – The process of planning can get complicated and confusing very easily, which is why it is important to write out our plan somewhere that is visible to us in our everyday schedule. You do not need to purchase an elaborate journal or invest in an expensive whiteboard to begin planning; you can simply start with a pen, a notebook and let your creative mind run free.
Remember to reassess your goals on a daily or weekly basis, to ensure you are still on track.
Also, be sure to check off necessary milestones that have been reached, review future due dates/ deadlines and continue on this path.
2. Get external support – The age of technology has led to drastic improvements in the way we carry out our work. This is why a majority of business owners/ entrepreneurs today have more than 1 job. Juggling a fulltime job with other activities will be tedious, and as such, we need all the external support we can get.
The following applications are great for task management, planning and goal setting:
Google Calendar: scheduling & reminders
Asana: timely planning and team collaboration
Trello: task management
Google keep: planning & task management
At Tristetix, we currently make use of all of the tools listed above. However, you should stick to the ones that work best for you and meet your work preferences.
Be sure to set up at least 2 reminders in your plan for every deliverable and let your software work for you.
3. Set realistic goals and honest timelines – In creating a full-proof plan that we can follow through on, we must first be honest enough to know our weaknesses and strengths.
How many hours can you dedicate to tasks that require you to sit in a single spot? How many hours a week can you dedicate to an online course?
What kind of activities would you prefer to outsource rather than doing them yourself?
Sometimes, self-discovery may take a while. So never be too rigid on timelines and planning. Start with a set time and see how your day goes.
Not happy with your schedule? Adjust it carefully until you achieve a balance. Realistic goals and pessimistic goals are not the same things. To be realistic is to embrace possibilities knowing that everything is achievable but within the constraints of added value and affordable cost.
Thanks for reading
Don’t forget to begin each day with positive vibes.
