The holidays have come and gone, and we've started a brand
new year! Most of us have a list of Resolutions, goals,
projects or dreams for the coming year. Some use a rigorous
goal-setting process, while others are more casual, but
almost everyone knows where they want to go and what they
hope to achieve in 2015.
What's less common is having a plan to actually "get
there."
We've all heard the old joke that "the best laid plans of
mice and men go oft astray," or the more cynical version
that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." At
the start of the year, we all have great intentions! We
want this to be a wonderful year. We're going to get in
shape, make more money, spend time with loved ones, travel
and invest wisely. Who doesn't want to "be, have, and do"
more and better than last year?" We all have GREAT
intentions!
But we know how often the future tends to repeat the past.
Year after year, too many of us continue down familiar
paths and life stays about the same. The problem is not
with hard work--sometimes I think we work too hard and
sacrifice too much in our quest for success. And the
problem isn't with talent or education or desire. We've got
that!
The problem is that most people work from an inadequate
plan.
After more than 25 years of experience, I am
convinced that most people do not understand the importance
of a thorough, detailed plan. They have a dream or goal,
they have a general sense of how to get there, and they
think they are ready for success. Unfortunately, they are
wrong.
In building a new home, no one jumps from an architect's
sketch to hiring contractors and giving them only a vague
set of plans. NO! To build a home requires many separate
sets of blueprints. There are blueprints for the
excavation, more for the framing contractor, and another
set for the electrical systems. The plumber wants a set,
and so do the heating people.
And yet, how many of us attempt to achieve our goals with
only a simple list of "steps?" Don't do that to yourself!
If you are serious about your goals for 2015, invest a
couple hours (or more) and consider the following:
1. DEFINE precisely how you'll measure success. "What gets
measured, gets done." When you can describe your goal to a
child in a few words ("We're going to Disneyland for your
birthday."), you're getting close. Keep it simple. Be
specific.
2. LIST the steps. What are the incremental actions
required to achieve your goal? What problems will you face
and how will you solve them? Create a written list of as
many steps, actions and benchmarks as you can.
3. SEQUENCE the steps. Few people can run before they
walk, so be clear about what comes first, what comes
second, and so forth. To achieve your goals, it's critical
to do things in the correct order, first things first.
4. CALENDAR your steps. What has to be completed this
month? What must be done by March? How will you know if
you're on schedule in August? Write it down!
Life teaches us that the most complex problems can be
solved if we follow directions. My favorite example is
cooking. Give me a kitchen of wonderful ingredients, pots,
pans and utensils and (most of the time) I'll only succeed
in making a mess. But add one more thing--a recipe--and
suddenly I can cook!
Your success is something like that. You've got your goals
and resolutions. Now, use a detailed plan (a good "recipe")
to make sure you achieve them in 2015.
new year! Most of us have a list of Resolutions, goals,
projects or dreams for the coming year. Some use a rigorous
goal-setting process, while others are more casual, but
almost everyone knows where they want to go and what they
hope to achieve in 2015.
What's less common is having a plan to actually "get
there."
We've all heard the old joke that "the best laid plans of
mice and men go oft astray," or the more cynical version
that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." At
the start of the year, we all have great intentions! We
want this to be a wonderful year. We're going to get in
shape, make more money, spend time with loved ones, travel
and invest wisely. Who doesn't want to "be, have, and do"
more and better than last year?" We all have GREAT
intentions!
But we know how often the future tends to repeat the past.
Year after year, too many of us continue down familiar
paths and life stays about the same. The problem is not
with hard work--sometimes I think we work too hard and
sacrifice too much in our quest for success. And the
problem isn't with talent or education or desire. We've got
that!
The problem is that most people work from an inadequate
plan.
After more than 25 years of experience, I am
convinced that most people do not understand the importance
of a thorough, detailed plan. They have a dream or goal,
they have a general sense of how to get there, and they
think they are ready for success. Unfortunately, they are
wrong.
In building a new home, no one jumps from an architect's
sketch to hiring contractors and giving them only a vague
set of plans. NO! To build a home requires many separate
sets of blueprints. There are blueprints for the
excavation, more for the framing contractor, and another
set for the electrical systems. The plumber wants a set,
and so do the heating people.
And yet, how many of us attempt to achieve our goals with
only a simple list of "steps?" Don't do that to yourself!
If you are serious about your goals for 2015, invest a
couple hours (or more) and consider the following:
1. DEFINE precisely how you'll measure success. "What gets
measured, gets done." When you can describe your goal to a
child in a few words ("We're going to Disneyland for your
birthday."), you're getting close. Keep it simple. Be
specific.
2. LIST the steps. What are the incremental actions
required to achieve your goal? What problems will you face
and how will you solve them? Create a written list of as
many steps, actions and benchmarks as you can.
3. SEQUENCE the steps. Few people can run before they
walk, so be clear about what comes first, what comes
second, and so forth. To achieve your goals, it's critical
to do things in the correct order, first things first.
4. CALENDAR your steps. What has to be completed this
month? What must be done by March? How will you know if
you're on schedule in August? Write it down!
Life teaches us that the most complex problems can be
solved if we follow directions. My favorite example is
cooking. Give me a kitchen of wonderful ingredients, pots,
pans and utensils and (most of the time) I'll only succeed
in making a mess. But add one more thing--a recipe--and
suddenly I can cook!
Your success is something like that. You've got your goals
and resolutions. Now, use a detailed plan (a good "recipe")
to make sure you achieve them in 2015.
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