Failing to Plan

We have previously talked about the importance of planning, having a plan to follow for everything we do.  “Nobody plans to fail, but many fail to plan.”  Remember these quotes?

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to FAIL” – Benjamin Franklin

“He who fails to plan is planning to FAIL” – Winston Churchill

Whether in professional or personal life, planning is important for achieving the desired result.  Planning is developing a “map,” a path to follow, actions to take, and knowing the final destination.  If you do not know where you are going, how will you know when you get there, if you get there?   Successful leaders know the value of planning, and that is why they are successful.  They also provide adequate training and reinforcement to their teams for appropriate planning in the operation of a business.  

In selling, if you do not have a plan, nothing will be sold. 

It is the same in our personal lives.   To no surprise, the planning in our personal lives follows the same protocol as that in our professional lives.  The process is identical. 

1.     Identify clearly your goal so that you know if it is achieved or not

2.     Decide why you want to achieve this (is it success if it is achieved?)

3.     What actions will you take each step of the way

4.     How will you execute the actions

5.     When is it best to act

6.     Where will you act

7.     What does achievement and success look like (that way you will know when you get there)

Here is an example.  Every night, I prepare a “To Do” List of all the tasks that I wish to accomplish for the next day.  On the side margin of each task is my “plan” to complete the task and achieve my desired result.   For example, a task might be to pay a bill, so I plan for that.

1.     Review the current invoice

2.     Reconcile the charges and amount due

3.     Check the applicable due date

4.     Decide on the mode of payment, either by check or electronically

5.     Execute the payment by writing a check or via the website of the vendor

6.     Obtain a receipt for proof of payment and file

7.     If it is a check, seal the envelope, affix a stamp, and take it to a mailbox

The planning provides a guide to accomplish the task.   When all the steps are completed, the task is done, and the desired result is achieved.   Planning is everything.   It may be a trivial task, but apply this thinking and planning to everything you do, no matter how trivial or complex.  You will have much better success with your results.

If you do not have a plan, you will wander through the day and accomplish nothing.