Review: INTRO, GETTING READY & Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

The difference between a dream or fantasy and a goal you will achieve is: 1) writing it down (what we have already done) and, 2) outlining a specific plan to achieve the goal (what we will do in this installment). Now it is time to formulate your strategic plan of action.

I explained early on in this series how goals work (you can review here). When you know what you are looking for, it gives your mind a ‘new set of eyes’ to see the world around you. You begin to notice the people, resources and even ideas needed for achieving your goal. But if your goal is defined only by an audacious and distant destination, your mind may be thrown off by elusiveness and ambiguity. It doesn’t know what to look for to help you get there.

The mind operates best with precise instructions. A three-digit lock has 18,333 potential combinations. When you have the specific three numbers in the right sequence, opening the lock is easy. If you don’t have the combination—or precise instructions—opening the lock is almost impossible. Making a specific and strategic plan of action provides the mind with the instructions it needs to get you to your desired destination.

Making a plan to accomplish your goals can be compared to planning a cross-country road trip. If you were going to travel across the country, say, from my hometown in San Diego to Manhattan, you would consider the following:

1. Calculating your timeline—How much time do you you need to get there? (This should have already been established in Part 5: The GRAND Design.)

2. Mapping your route—Just like the combination of the lock above, there are thousands of ways to get there. What course will you take? What will be your intermediate destinations? Those are your milestones. Where are the milestones, how do you get to those locations, and when do you need to arrive at each to stay on track?

3. Who else is going? Who will be impacted (benefit or detriment) by the journey or accomplishment of your goal? Your spouse, your children, your partners, your team, etc.? Those are the ones you need to be sure are on-board with your plans.

4. Who do you need? Who do you need to help you on your long trip? Do you need someone else to do some of the driving? Do you need an expert tour guide once you get to the Grand Canyon (or some intermediate destination on the way toward your goal)? Do you need someone to review your map to be sure you didn’t make any mistakes? Figure out who you need assistance from to accomplish your goal.

5. What research is needed? Do you need to pull some research on Yosemite or Mount Rushmore? Do you need to research operational aspects of your car before starting? In order to complete your plan and make it to your goal, what additional information do you need to research and collect?

6. What resources are needed? Car, food, gas, camera, appropriate clothes, money; list everything you are going to need from the time you head out your driveway and arrive in the Big Apple. Figure out all the resources you will need between today and the accomplishment of your B.H.A.G.

7. What training do you need? Do you need to brush up on your driving safety skills? Training on how to operate your GPS? Training on how to use your laptop’s wireless connection in hot spots? What self-development training do you or those going along with you need in order for you to accomplish your goals?

In the Strategic Plan worksheets I will help you think through and chart a course toward achieving your top three 10-year and 2010 goals. You can apply this same strategic planning process to the achievement of any goal you desire from this point forward.

Download and complete the STRATEGIC PLAN Worksheets. (Download #8) (NOTE: We’ve made the worksheets accessible in one online archive. Only those subscribed to DarrenHardy.SUCCESS.com will receive a link and password to the archive via the e-mail feed. If you are just registering now, the link and password will go out again with the next feed. E-mail feeds typically go out the same evening following the published post.)

Any new realizations, insights or ‘ah-ha’s’ experienced going through this step of the journey? Share them in the comments below.

In the next installment we will take this a step further by putting your plan into an Achievement Management System to be sure you are transferring plans into execution—yes, this is the action part of the equation.

People who read this also read...

1. Part 5 — The GRAND DESIGN! Review: INTRO, GETTING READY & PARTS 1, 2, 3,...
2. Part 9: Your Achievement Management System Review:INTRO, GETTING READY & Parts 1, 2, 3, 4,...
3. Part 10: Remain F-L-E-X-I-B-L-E Review:INTRO, GETTING READY & Parts 1, 2, 3, 4,...
4. Part 7: GIVE what you WANT Review:INTRO, GETTING READY & PARTS 1, 2, 3, 4,...
5. Part 16: ACTION! Review: INTRO, GETTING READY & Parts 1, 2, 3, 4,...

Leave a Reply