You May Have A Vision, But Do You Have A Plan?
“Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Look at YOU—Ever.
All last week I poked and prodded, asking if you truly BELIEVE that you can achieve your most important goals this year?
Are you COMMITTED enough?
Do you have enough RESOLVE?
Are your goals truly IMPORTANT to you?
Do your goals INSPIRE you to take powerful action?
Do your goals truly call out to you… each and every day?
Are the risks worth it?
Are the benefits really WANTED?
Do you have the BELIEF in the beauty of your dreams?
Does the WHY within your goals light that inner-fire within you? Do you have the VOLITION, DEDICATION and MOTIVATION to overcome the obstacles, roadblocks and bottlenecks that you will undoubtedly encounter?
Yes, These are Incredibly Important Questions.
This week we are going to assume that you have maximum confidence in your goals and will focus on the step-by-step actions needed to achieve them.
Again, take out your pen and write down your key goals. Look at them closely. How many of these goals will simply leap off the page and jump into your life?
None?
That’s right.
Good answer!
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Your PLANS to Achieve Them:
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All this week, I want you to focus on TQ Factor 5A: “I maintain a written action plan for each of my major goals.”
Understand the importance of this Factor of your performance and you are well on your way to tremendous success. Fail to heed the advice contained here, and your goals will have a very difficult time even seeing the light of day.
A Goal Without a Plan is Merely a Wish without a Hope!
Once you’ve set a specific goal, you must immediately develop a detailed plan for its accomplishment. You are most productive when you prepare ahead of time for exactly how and when you’re going to take each and every step—well before you actually take them.
Think about it.
When you eliminate wasted steps, your productivity instantly and automatically soars!
So, Do You Have a Plan?
The simple fact is, there is no way you can accomplish something if you don’t know how to proceed.
Written plans are the essential instructions for how to reach a goal.
A plan is simply a detailed map outlining the steps to accomplish your goal as quickly and easily as possible.
At a minimum, it includes a complete list of objectives and resource requirements — all organized in correct chronological order.
“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” ~ Stephen A. Brennan
Factor 5A’s CONTRIBUTION to your performance…
A high commitment to this Factor of your performance suggests you have both a goal and a plan.
You’re inspired enough to have goals — and methodical enough to develop written plans.
With a detailed plan in hand, you’re already halfway there. You’ve overcome the fear and uncertainty of not knowing what to do next, and have a clear set of directives with an excellent chance of success. With a detailed written plan in hand, you proceed confidently toward each of your major goals.
Factor 5A’s COST to your success…
A lack of commitment suggests you are someone whose goals often remain nothing but elusive wishes. You rarely make the progress you’d like. It may not be from lack of effort. You are working hard but too much time is spent on activities that prove to be of little benefit.
Lacking specific instructions, you have neither a clear direction for what to do next nor any way to chart your progress.
Sure, some goals are being achieved by trial and error — but many aren’t — and more are taking far longer to achieve than they should.
The Bottom Line?
The year is moving fast. You need to move even faster IF you are going to move your goals off this page, and put them into your life.
Today is January 17th. There are now just 14 days remaining to make January your BEST month ever. I highly recommend that you choose just ONE area of your performance and improve it. Today.
If you haven’t already, right now is the perfect time to take a baseline assessment of your GOALS and your POWER to achieve them. I urge you to take the full 100 question TQ Test to baseline where you are now… and what you will need to do differently to achieve your goals this year.
— E.R. Haas, CEO
Category: Personal Growth
