Plan your work for today and everyday, then work your plan – Margaret Thatcher

This segment is all about action planning. In my job it is crucial that I get this part perfect or my whole professional world would collapse. This does not just apply to me and my work however, it applies to all who want to succeed.

The importance of a good action plan transcends mere diarising as it is all about the bigger picture; Your life in its entirety. Looking at point A,B and C, and all the steps of how to get from one to the other.

So first we need to work out goals, a short term and a long term. I normally break this down as Where do you see yourself in a week, 3 months and 6 months. Of course you could use any time frame and as many pointers as you desire but this is my example.

Now the specifics at this stage are not completely necessary, we need an overview and outlook of the future. I always write these down or type up on the computer so that I can refer to them and modify them easily as time goes on.

I’ll just add at this point that this may all seem like simple stuff, planning is something we do everyday but what I am asking you to do is more than just thinking about your future, I want to to envision it, detail the how’s and when’s and make a success of your life.

Now back to the task, so once you have your date markers write the outline. This could be a money making outline: 1 week-£10, 3 months-£100, 6 months-£500. Or it could be a self worth exercise 1 week-loose 2lb, 3 months-be attending the gym weekly, 6 months-buy a new dress a size smaller than what I am today. Anyway you get the picture just basic guidelines of what you want to achieve, and be realistic youre never gonna make a million in 6 months (unless you have something brilliant up your sleeve) or loose half you body weight (without getting incredibly ill) this is about planning for a successful future, not a quick fix.

Once you have your frames the details come next. How are you going to get to point A. Some good things to bear in mind with this part are:

What items will you need?
Who can help you?
What skills do you currently have and how can you improve upon them?
Where will you be carrying out the work?
What money is involved?
Why is it important to you?

Once you have answered these questions move onto the other time time frames and do the same for each.

The purpose of this exercise, as previously mentioned, is to undertnad where you are heading, how you are going to get there, who is going to help, what you plan to achieve. This plan is not set in stone it can be altered and modified as you see fit but at least you have an idea. An idea of where you heading is better than running headless into the abyss. An idea of what you want to achieve on paper can guide you to greatness. Put effort and honesty into this it will lead you to greatness and allow you to visualise your ability to succeed. If nothing else you will be able to identify what will and will not work in your favour and imagine your ability to become your dream.

Good luck.

Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated – Lou Holtz

Slight side step here to discuss motivation in general, I completely understand that your sofa is very comfy and that the sunlight hurts your eyes and that people in general are difficult, however we shan’t get anywhere with that amount of negativity.

Think past the fact that you may have to use public bathrooms, or inconvenience yourself with wearing more than your underwear and look towards the future.

What is it you want? Money? Nice things? Attractive partner? No, what do you really want?
Stability?
Comfort?
Security?
Company?

That is what is going to drive you to success, real wants and needs.

It’s only human to require these things, money and luxuries are all well and good but we do not need those things to survive. We are basic creatures, food, and shelter, warmth, done. Any more than that is a bonus. Being able to have and provide for a family is a luxury but one I think far too many of us take for granted.

By being honest to yourself and realising your needs you are already half way there. You know what you want all you need now is the how? And that is where the rest of this blog steps in to offer a guiding hand.

One piece of advice I enjoy sharing is the people around you make more of a difference to your life than you may realise, and not always in a good way. If you are surrounded by people who are not motivated, who do not see a future, people who are happy with merely surviving, this will influence you, though you might not see it.

For example if you took a day off work ill, knowing full well you we’re perfectly healthy and all day you were constantly explaining to people “I have a headache” or “my head is so sore” chances are by the end of that day you will have a killer headache, this is because of the power of your brain and its ability to make thoughts, actions and discussion a reality. So with this is mind if you surround yourself with folk who constantly lay around, do the most minimal effort possible, say things like “I can’t be bothered” or “I am not good enough” or “I don’t care” those actions and discussion process through your receiving brain and begin to form part of you. You will begin to mimic their actions and their feelings.

So again with this in mind imagine what you could achieve if you were surrounded by thrill seekers, risk takers, people with ideas and imaginations, people who do not take no for an answer, push the boundaries, people who take self-improvement seriously, travel and communicate with people of the same persuasion. People who say things like “I can do this” or “I have made this happen” and “I have achieved greatness” this again will reflect on you, influence you, expand your mind and take you to places both internally and externally you would never have ventured without their input. The possibilities are endless.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later – Og Mandino

As Linus Pauling once said “The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas” that is our starting point, brainstorm. First consider what are your strengths and weaknesses, literally write down what you are good at (don’t write down the negatives) from this you should be able to get a picture of, at the very least, what field you would profit from best.

For example if you notice a lot of caring, helpful, friendly type words you would think you would be best suited to a care giving role. Whereas if you have words such as organised, computer skills, routine you may be more suited in IT.

I have created a short test (link below) for you to use to identify which area your skills may suit the best. Please do not take the results as gospel but more a helpful hint in a direction.

http://tinyurl.com/ptrpvpx

 

Once you have your idea and you are facing toward your future the next step is research. Find out everything you can about your desired field. Consider the past, present and future, what lies ahead and is that a ship you wish to board. You need to know who is in charge and why they are, what the main purpose of the outfit is and why and consider how you fit in. What can you offer to this field, where is the nearest place that offer this type of work, will it meet your physical needs, questions questions, questions, but all very important and in need of answers before venturing further.

This also applies to entrepreneurial plans, do all of the above the same; Find out what field your skills would best be suited to, research and find out everything about that field including what is currently missing.

For example if you found your skills met and then decided you wanted to pursue a career in teaching, consider: what does your community currently have available? Schools yes, colleges likely, university maybe? What about the students? What do they choose to study? What is the most popular course? What are the pass rates of these establishments? Where do the students fall short of the mark? Maths? English? Maybe they could use extra help? Maybe they would pay to be privately tutored? Maybe you could talk to the schools about running after class workshops in the subject?

This is only an example but as you can see by asking the right questions and finding out the information before hand it will lead you down a path where you can discover what is required, then all you need to do is create a solution and be the solution.

The internet is a powerful tool, use it. You can find out almost any piece of information you require. You can find data, learn, communicate; anything is possible if used correctly. This I personally believe should be your first port of call but not the only one, visit places, ask questions, ring companies, ask them, you can learn so much by talking and asking and as long as you explain why you’re calling most companies would be happy to help you in your research (or at least give you contact details of someone who can help).

That concludes the second step. Next up is action plan.