Goals & Planning

Every so often I take the time to review and update my goals. Things have been somewhat up in the air for us of late and I was starting to feel rather ... well. like I didn't really know where I was going or why.

So the other day I took several hours and did a goals review and update. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes when you get clear about where you want to go and why.

You can find ideas from lots of sources, but when it comes to goals most programs will suggest taking a look at a number of life categories. Here's a list of some to consider.

• work/career/business/professional
• social/community
• marriage/family
• spiritual
• financial
• recreation/rest/fun
• environment
• health
• education/intellectual

Sometime back I boiled those down to about 4-5 that I considered essential for my life. So feel free to choose the ones that really matter to you and work with those.

Then in each of those areas think about what it is you really want. Write that down. Once you've completed that, choose the top 3-5 at most - the ones that are most important to you at this time in your life. Now go into deeper detail about what you want in those areas.

From there, turn those wants and desires into specific goals.

Eat That Frog

I recently read an interesting book by Brian Tracy called "Eat That Frog!  21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time".

Thought I would share a couple of ideas from the book that might be a help with your organizing.

One of the first steps to becoming more productive is to create Clarity.

Clarity means that you need to decide exactly what you want to achieve in each area of your life. If you are fuzzy-minded about what you want, you will struggle with procrastinating, feeling confused, and generally not being very motivated.

Something to think about - he commented that only 3% of adults have clear written goals - but yet they achieve 5-10 times as much as those who don’t. Kind of makes you rethink this goals thing, doesn't it?

Want a formula for setting and achieving goals? Here's what he suggests:

1. decide exactly what you want
2. write it down – think on paper
3. set a deadline on your goal (with sub-deadlines if needed)
4. make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal
5. organize the list into a plan
6. take action on your plan immediately
7. resolve to do something every single day that moves you toward your major goals

How to Plan Your Day

How do you plan your day?

What tools do you use?

Nowadays there is everything from daily journals of all kinds to all the latest gadgets and computer programs you could want.

The important thing is to find a tool that works for you and that you enjoy using.

I know of a multi-millionaire who uses a simple paper pad to make a daily list where he prioritizes his items and schedules in his times. SImple, but hugely effective, based on his results.

I love writing and I still love using pen and paper. So for me a daily journal works well.

I recently discovered a way to make it even more useful. I set up a lovely antique brass easel on my desk right beside my computer screen. My daily journal is one that folds open and back on itself, so I can set my journal on the easel with today's page facing me. That way I can see at a glance what is on my list to do and what I should be doing next.

It also makes it very handy to grab when I want to add any ideas or to-do items that come along as I am working.

I check off my items as I do them through the day. Any that don't get done get added to the next appropriate day, get deleted or get delegated.

How do you plan your day? Do the tools you use work well for you? Or would it perhaps help to try something different?

Start the Night Before

When do you plan your day?

Are you doing it at the best time?

When is that, you ask?

The day or the evening before.

Why is that?

When you plan your next day the day before - at the end of your day or at the end of your work day - you are fresh from having done the day's work. You know what needs to be done next and you can list it all then and there. And you can decide what is most important to get done and prioritize accordingly.

That way you can start the next day by getting right at what needs to be done.

If you try to do your planning first thing in the morning, you have to think through what you did the day before, and chances are you'll miss things or your brain will still be foggy from sleep.

Besides, if you do it the day or night before, you'll probably not take nearly as much time because you're ready to head home or get on with other things. You have more incentive to get it done and get going.

The Important Things First

Do you want to accompllish something of significance in your life and work?

See, it isn't just about getting a lot done. It's about getting the important things done that matters.

That reminds me of the old object lesson where you are given some rocks, some stones, some gravel, some sand and some water. You are told to put them into a glass jar. If you start with the small stuff first - the water, the sand and the gravel, you'll be lucky if there is much room at all for the stones, and likely none for the rocks.

However, if you put the rocks in first, tuck the stones in between them, shake the gravel down in amongst the stones and rocks, then let the sand filter down, you'll have room enough left for the water too - and it will all fit in.

The secret of course, is to put the largest items in first, then the progressively smaller items.

If we do the same with our plans for the day - put in the most important items first, then all the other stuff will fit in as well. But if we try to start with all the minor, but often easiest things to do, we usually find that we don't have time for the things that really should come first.

Next time you plan your day, take a few minutes to think about what is most important for you to do. Prioritize your list and do the most important things first if at all possible.