Success Strategy: Develop an Action Plan

Creating goals is not enough. It is also necessary to create action plans. Action plans are like road maps. They get us from where we are to where we want to be. In addition, they get us there in the best possible way.

Developing action plans often requires going backward almost as much as forward! For example, in developing an action plan for going to Ireland, I knew we had to save money. To determine how much money, I needed to know what we wanted to do and how much things like airfare, lodging, and meals cost. I decided rather than doing all the research myself (as I usually do) I would enlist the help of a travel agent. That meant that I had to add researching travel agents to the action plan! Once I had a travel agent, then it was researching where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do, and what options we had for flights, lodging, etc.

Another part of the action plan was arranging vacation time. That piece had to be completed before we could finalize flights or lodging.

Eventually, it all came together. We had a wonderful vacation. Largely it was because of the detailed action plan.

There are a couple things to remember about action plans. They do not have to be either great works of art or fantastic scientific studies! Use whatever works for you! I like lists. I scribble down what I need to do, cross off what I accomplish, and add as needed. If I cannot read it anymore, I rewrite it. (Sometimes I use the computer, but I still generally like pen and paper the best.) I have a friend who likes to use index cards. Whatever works for you is the right system for you!

The other thing to remember about action plans is that they are always works in progress! As you move along, you will find that you want to change things. Maybe your goal is to lose two pounds per week and part of your action plan is to exercise five times per week. If you find that is not possible, change it! Maybe you exercise three times per week and eliminate after dinner snacking. It is the same goal, just a different plan to accomplish it.

If goals achieved themselves, we would all have everything we want! They do not. We have to develop a plan to make them happen.

We also have to implement the plan! That is for next time!