“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
Having a plan is so important. If we don’t have a plan we get off course and create a different result than what we’ve set out for. Whether you’re selling a product or a service, if you don’t have a plan, instead of actively creating what you want, you will be reacting to stay afloat. Be intentional with what you want to create instead of putting out fires or floating along. I have a step by step system that I use. This system works if you work it. Here are the 7 steps:
- Big Vision – Look at the year ahead and decide where you want to be at the end of it. If you already set up a plan, check in with it. Are you on track? Does this plan still make sense? If it doesn’t, redesign that plan. Get really clear on your vision, don’t worry about the how. Where do you want to be at the end of 2019? What is the experience of life you want to have? What does your bank account look like? What do relationships look like?
- Ask yourself, “Am I emotionally and energetically aligned with this vision?” – This is the #1 thing that will decide if you hit your goal at the end of the year. Do you believe that you get to have this goal?
- Work backward – Look at where you will be at the end of the year and break it up into quarters. Define the milestones that have to happen in order for you to hit your goal.
- Create the plan – Take one or two days away from your day to day life for some powerful planning time. If you don’t have a whole day, get away to an inspirational place outside of your business or outside of your day to day distractions to plan. Look at one project at a time and work backward to break it up into pieces, put it into a timeline, and assign it to whoever is responsible. If you need more resources, figure out what those are.
- Define the obstacles – What are all the potential obstacles that might get in the way with this plan? Write it all down. Then, if this happens what could you do to stay on track with your plan. When an emergency comes up, you already have a plan in place to handle it.
- Build in checkpoints – I recommend having checkpoints every 2 weeks. Look at your results and ask yourself if you are on track. If you’re off track, what do you need to do to get back on track?
- Create accountability – I suggest finding a partner to create accountability. Report to your partner at every checkpoint and if you haven’t checked in have them reach out to you. Accountability partners can also make sure that you are taking care of yourself while you’re working towards achieving your goals.
I invite you to work through this system and can’t wait to see you crush your Q3 goals!
Xo,
Lisa