"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am constantly putting out fires" You've probably heard talk like that a time or two. You may sound like that yourself on occasion.
Are you a planner or a "firefighter"? Of course you know that real firefighters plan more than most of us do - to be ready to save lives and property when the emergency occurs. Not so for those of us who just play it by ear and hope that everything will turn out okay.
If you want to be a failure, then don't bother to plan; avoid any phrase, document, or discussion with the word "plan" in it. You see, planning is only a habit of the really successful, so if you want to steer clear of that lot, no planning is the guaranteed modus operandi.
A major reason we don't plan is that we have to deal with the future, and the future forces us to ask questions about what might or could be - as opposed to what was and what is. Because the future is unclear, many believe that planning for it is little more than guessing about the unknown.
Life's greatest challenge is making a plan for what we would love to do at some time in the future. We know we need a plan. But we don't know how to get started. Here's a way you might try:
1. Plan backwards.
Start with the desired outcome or result. Take a period of time, say a year. Take a goal, and divide the year by the goal to end up with segments of the goal. So you have twelve months to achieve the goal. You break the goal down into segments of "next steps", and you break the year into months or weeks. Allocate a period of time for completion of each step, working backwards from the final step. Let's say you want to publish your book in a year (Not impossible ? some writers can finish a book in a couple of months or less). Twelve months from now, write, "First printing of (Title) delivered" You have the goal, the published book, and you have the time, twelve months. Now carve up the goal.
2. Take small steps toward big results.
What needs to happen before the book is published? Make a list. Just brainstorm with yourself or a friend on all the things you know or think have to be done. Write them down, as you think of them - in no particular order. Then put them in the order in which you believe they need to be done. For instance, proof reading will need to be completed before the final printing; getting the book copyrighted will come after editing, and so on. Find out what time it will take for each step and allocate that in the plan.
Of course the major task is writing the book and you should put a target number of words or pages to be completed each month, each week - or even each day, if you can commit to more than one day a week.
3. Ask for help
Plans change for all kinds of reasons. A resource you thought you had may not be available any more, or you have personal or business problems that you didn't expect. These things will inevitably throw you off balance, but keep your goal firmly in front of you and you will maintain focus. Ask those who have been there on the same journey or project for help. Get on the Internet for tips on writing, planning, goal achieving, etc. There are so many resources out there available to us that there is no excuse today to not have a plan to reach your goal and fulfill your dream.
John Madden is an international speaker, trainer, and author of "Leap, Don't Sleep" (How to get different results by doing something different). He helps businesses and individuals become more profitable through customer service training, changing present results, networking for profit, coaching skills for managers, stress management through humor, time management, and interpersonal skills. You can reach him at 1-800-301-2924, email john@leapdontsleep.com; web site: john@leapdontsleep.com
detailed home cleaning Park Ridge ..Clutter in any area of your home is a sign... Read More
Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More
Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More
So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More
Obviously, productivity involves producing. Producing widgets, events, reports, sales. The... Read More
Parenting is always a challenge, but particularly so if your... Read More
How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More
EVERY HOME NEEDS AN OFFICEYes, it is true that every... Read More
Here's a little lesson I experienced while packing boxes for... Read More
We previously noted that papers must be sorted before they... Read More
Have you ever heard that having a cluttered home can... Read More
The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I... Read More
Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More
The true definition of an organization is one that is... Read More
Digging out from under stacks of paper might seem like... Read More
Individuals who are organized in their personal lives most generally... Read More
There are 3 kinds of clutter: Inner (between our ears);... Read More
Finish each day and be done with it. You have... Read More
Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More
Clutter is a big problem for many people. At a... Read More
The National Association of Professional Organizers has dedicated January to... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More
In your quest to get 'up and running' so to... Read More
Getting Things Done (GTD), is a productivity methodology designed by... Read More
express cleaning service Des Plaines ..Take a look around you right now. Look away from... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Your closet is often the first thing you see in... Read More
Clutter costs you time, money, space, and peace of mind.... Read More
? Are you embarrassed when you walk into your home... Read More
Getting organized is hard. If it weren't, we wouldn't put... Read More
Have you ever heard that having a cluttered home can... Read More
"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More
Last year I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More
"Organize" is a familiar word heard on many of today's... Read More
The summer is flying by for Cindy and her family.... Read More
How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More
I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More
1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More
You arrived on earth without clutter. Your parents and doting... Read More
How many of us have enough time to do everything... Read More
"I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More
1. Teach your children to use an alarm clock or... Read More
Clothes. Check. School supplies. Check. No doubt you've got to... Read More
The true definition of an organization is one that is... Read More
1. Divide big jobs into smaller jobs. Make a list... Read More
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know... Read More
Staying organized can be a constant battle. The following organizing... Read More
Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux)... Read More
What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |