Friday plan review
Every Friday I review the plan and goals and get set for a new week to come with new challenges and opportunities.
I have a reminder in the calendar that pops up with my notes. It might take 10 minutes or an hour it is just something that is automatic. But this month it's Dry July and the third week of my annual challenge. Reality bites each Friday and the plan always has a few glitches. So in the words of the immortal '80's TV show, McGyver;
"duct tape can fix anything...".
Well normally it's a single malt or few glasses of good red wine that get the job done. But this month is Dry July and Friday, like all days in July, is DRY.
The key challenge with a plan is staying on track and getting everything done that was planned. Anyone who achieves this consistently is better than I am. But it does not mean that the plan is a bad one it just needs some "duct tape".
God I love it when a plan comes together
This is when "Hannibal" and the A-Team take might over. You have to be the real world John "Hannibal" Smith in your own plans.
When you build a plan you also consider contingencies and slippages. When you are dealing with external forces you cannot always control timing or exceptions. That doesn't mean that the plan is bad.
If you are regularly reviewing and updating the plan then you have taken the first step to stay on track to meet your goals.
Keeping your plan on track
If you search online for "keeping your plan on track" you will find thousands of results. If you are searching for the answer online you are probably wasting your time. Different people plan, and manage their plans, in different ways. Recently I had a conversation with a young entrepreneur who told me she never planned. Maybe she unknowingly was using Chaos Planning, yep it's a real thing.
Chaos Planning
The basis of chaos planning is that human behaviour and some technology is unpredictable but many plans demand order and rational thinking. If you try to force a ordered plan into unpredictable situations then the plan is useless. Chaos planning is not for everyone and would drive some people, like me, crazy. Anyway more about chaos planning at another time.
Plan your own plan
What! Some of us have learned or adopted a particular method to enable us to plan and manage the plan. But because everyone is an individual (Life of Brian excluded please) then you need to organise yourself your way. Here are some tips to consider to help you use that duct tape the best possible way for your plan.
Create your goals and write them down
You need a clear understanding of what you want to achieve and what matters to you. Prioritise the goals that mean most to you. Do not get bogged down on issues that are not important or you do not understand. If they are important then delegation might be the solution.
Add calendar reminders to review the goals (i.e. weekly, monthly)
Set a regular schedule to review what has been accomplished and what happens next. Congratulate yourself (or team) when goals are met or activities finished. Yes it's OK to take a week off and away from the plan. Rest periods are rejuvenation time.
List external forces to be managed (or defeated)
Remember you cannot control external forces that are part of the plan. This is especially true right now due to COVID. Don't beat yourself up if the plane is late or a contractor doesn't finish on time.
Cross reference external forces against your goals
Where do the external forces impact your goals? If you map these then you can create contingencies if the event that issues occur. Too many external factors can highlight risk to the goal or plan.
Learn how to say NO
Tony Robbins preaches the importance of saying no. This is one of the hardest things to do for many people. The people that want you to succeed will not condemn you for saying no when a request is off track or not part of your skill set.
Take time to talk to people
People, your family, colleagues, staff, customers, contractors, suppliers and peers are all part of your eco system. What keeps the eco system in good shape is communication. You cannot transmit your personality in a memo, message or email. Time spent in conversation is time well spent. But remember real conversation is two sided.
Find a cause to follow
The saying goes, "if you want something done ask a busy person". Do stuff that makes you feel good and contribute. It is a major pressure relief valve and helps other people along the way. This can mean volunteering your time or contributing regularly to a charity. Relationships that form this way can be a great source of knowledge. But you get back what you give.
Buy plenty of Duct Tape
Or wine and find your A-Team.
My Dry July
Cancer is terrible and almost 40% of all men and women will be diagnosed with cancer. People with cancer and their families and friends need support.
Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer.
The funds you raise as part of your Dry July will provide invaluable services for cancer patients, their families and carers – whether it’s a lift to a life-saving appointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an informative voice, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment.
Please support Dry July and make a donation to My Dry July at dryjuly.com/users/john-debrincat-2. You donation is fully tax deductible.
Comentarios