You’re making your plan because you are thinking what you want and what you need to do to get it and you want real clarity in your head before you get started. Maybe it’s personal, like dropping some excess weight so you consider what changes you need to make in terms of your food intake and your exercise regime, or perhaps it’s professional, you want to grow your business and take on your first employee.
Whatever it is you need to think about your next step, before you take it.
When things need to change, that in itself can bring apprehension, uncertainty and fear. So, simply the fact you have reached the stage of making a plan, means that you’re already way ahead of your peers, competitors and friends.
Seriously, you are.
Because statistics still show that only about 4% of us actually take the time to set goals and setting goals is one of the first stages towards change, transition and growth.
Want to know why I think it’s so low?
Because making that plan, taking that decision to get going is one of the toughest choices for many and something that is always easier to put off for another day.
But when you actually get going, you overcome the procrastination that befalls so many. But you can’t stop there. Procrastination has a good friend in perseverance, the quality that helps you keep going after you start.
And then something happens. Up pops a new hurdle, something to side-track you, to tempt you from your discipline, to distract you from your end goal and the little steps that taken daily will get you there.
Sometimes though, a distraction is actually a signal that a change in direction is required. The trick is knowing when a distraction is simply that, something you should ignore and refocus on your goal and when is it actually a sign that a diversion is necessary and that you should actually change course.
This is where you need to stop and evaluate the options, and you need to think about this:
Is this new thing a better option to get me to my wanted end result?
Or is this something that pulls me away from where I am trying to get to and adds nothing to my experience?
Is this a better option?
As you progress, you become more experienced and with that experience,you can better evaluate outcomes so your decision making improves. And when you shift from thinking about doing it to actually doing it, you’ll make leaps of thought that will inspire you to do things differently, so it’s good to stay flexible and alter your plan when presented with better options.
Is this something that will pull me away?
Life has a wonderful way of wakening us up, giving us lots of options to consider all the time especially when we start something new. Creating a plan can easily be derailed right at the start, as once you start out other ideas come up as well as the normal stuff that can take up our time and energy. Beware of the new shiny interesting ideas that present themselves along the way, as well as the old habits that kept you stuck in that old way of thinking; they are like gremlins looking to knock you off course. This is the time when you need to stay strong, stay focussed and stay on track. Don’t be tempted, the distraction really isn’t worth it and you’ll hate yourself if you give in to it.
The best way to use your plan is as a guide,a schedule and a useful resource to refer back to and refocus. However the bottom line is your destination and that needs singular, unwavering focus. In the words of Noramay Cadena,
‘Be stubborn on your vision and flexible on your journey.’
What Do You DO When It Doesn’t Go According To Plan?
You’re making your plan because you are thinking what you want and what you need to do to get it and you want real clarity in your head before you get started. Maybe it’s personal, like dropping some excess weight so you consider what changes you need to make in terms of your food intake and your exercise regime, or perhaps it’s professional, you want to grow your business and take on your first employee.
Whatever it is you need to think about your next step, before you take it.
When things need to change, that in itself can bring apprehension, uncertainty and fear. So, simply the fact you have reached the stage of making a plan, means that you’re already way ahead of your peers, competitors and friends.
Seriously, you are.
Because statistics still show that only about 4% of us actually take the time to set goals and setting goals is one of the first stages towards change, transition and growth.
Want to know why I think it’s so low?
Because making that plan, taking that decision to get going is one of the toughest choices for many and something that is always easier to put off for another day.
But when you actually get going, you overcome the procrastination that befalls so many. But you can’t stop there. Procrastination has a good friend in perseverance, the quality that helps you keep going after you start.
And then something happens. Up pops a new hurdle, something to side-track you, to tempt you from your discipline, to distract you from your end goal and the little steps that taken daily will get you there.
Sometimes though, a distraction is actually a signal that a change in direction is required. The trick is knowing when a distraction is simply that, something you should ignore and refocus on your goal and when is it actually a sign that a diversion is necessary and that you should actually change course.
This is where you need to stop and evaluate the options, and you need to think about this:
Is this a better option?
As you progress, you become more experienced and with that experience,you can better evaluate outcomes so your decision making improves. And when you shift from thinking about doing it to actually doing it, you’ll make leaps of thought that will inspire you to do things differently, so it’s good to stay flexible and alter your plan when presented with better options.
Is this something that will pull me away?
Life has a wonderful way of wakening us up, giving us lots of options to consider all the time especially when we start something new. Creating a plan can easily be derailed right at the start, as once you start out other ideas come up as well as the normal stuff that can take up our time and energy. Beware of the new shiny interesting ideas that present themselves along the way, as well as the old habits that kept you stuck in that old way of thinking; they are like gremlins looking to knock you off course. This is the time when you need to stay strong, stay focussed and stay on track. Don’t be tempted, the distraction really isn’t worth it and you’ll hate yourself if you give in to it.
The best way to use your plan is as a guide,a schedule and a useful resource to refer back to and refocus. However the bottom line is your destination and that needs singular, unwavering focus. In the words of Noramay Cadena,
‘Be stubborn on your vision and flexible on your journey.’
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