Plan Ahead NOW!

Yes!  You heard me right, Plan Ahead NOW!

I know you’ve heard this a million times, but why do most people fail in life?  It’s not like anyone wakes up and says  “I’m going to do everything in my power to be a complete failure in life”  NO, It’s because they are too focused on the day to day activites and not focusing on the future.

They fail to PLAN ahead.  I’ve come up with an acronym for PLAN AHEAD.  This idea was taken from a leadership book that I’ve been reading.

Predetermine A Course Of Action
Lay Out Your Goals
Adjust Your Priorities
Notify Key Personnel
Allow Time For Acceptance
Head Into Action
Expect Problems
Always Point To The Successes.
Daily Review Your Plan.

1. Predetermine A Course Of Action.  – What is it exactly you are trying to accomplish?  Lay out a road map in your head of what it is you are going to do.  Think about the route you’re going to take to accomplish this.

2. Lay Out Your Goals – This is just more than saying “I’m gonna write a book”  You need to break it down into parts and small sections.  Determine small goals for your project.  I suggest putting time deadlines on each goal.  If you can’t break up the task, it will seem  as if it is too much to do.

3. Adjust Your Priorities – Determine what needs to be done first.  For instance, if you are going to interview a person and they are only available at a certain time, be sure you free YOUR time up to be there when they are available.   Always have the end in mind, but remember certain things need to be done before other tasks can be accomplished.

4. Notify Key Personnel – This includes telling others what you are trying to accomplish.  If you do need a person to help you accomplish your goal, then tell them.  Tell others that are not involved with the project that you will not be available while working on this task.

5. Allow Time For Acceptance – This is HUGE.  Most people have a great idea, create all the necessary components, but don’t allow ANY time for it to be accepted.  Think about this,  How long is a movie advertised before it is put out into the theaters?  This should be the mindset when you create something.  Let the people WAIT for what you have to offer.  This will create more attraction to your creation.

6. HEAD Into Action. The most important step in this plan ahead acronym.  Head into your course of action.  Go ahead, finish your creation.  Promote it, let others see what you’ve created, get pointers on what you could do to IMPROVE your creation.  Don’t just come up with all these ideas and never implement them.

7. Expect Problems.  How many times have you thought, “Well my creation has got to be PERFECT before I show anyone else?”  This is such a wrong mindset.   Expect problems to happen with your work.  Three or four great minds are better than just one.  Don’t get frustrated when problems arise.   There will always be problems.  Work past them and start focusing on your success.

8. Always Point To The Successes.  This is the positive mindset you need to have!  Don’t sit around and think about all the failures of your project, instead focus on the great things that have come out of your creation.  Don’t let the negative people try to bring you down. You have done more than most of the society would ever think of doing.  Keep up your work!

9. Daily Review Your Plan – Look at what works and what doesn’t.  Always try to improve your creation.  Test different strategies and eventually you will have a polished creation.

Remember to PLAN AHEAD!

Filed Under: Change Your Thinking

Tags: plan ahead