Guidebook · 5 steps · 6 min read
Planning
A plan is the first step to making your goal visible. Five tips for building one that actually gets you there.
You have taken the first step by wanting to plan. Having a plan is great. But the real prize arrives when you set your mind, heart, and effort into the actions and start to change the habits that will get you there.
“I think goals should never be easy. They should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.”— Michael Phelps
Having a Plan
The plan is the first step to visualizing your goal.
The most important thing is to write your goals down and have the passion to keep moving forward. The best way to write a goal is to make it SMART.
Specific — make the goal very specific. Measurable — include numbers and dates you can track. Achievable — consider the resources available to you. Relevant — does this goal align with your bigger purpose? Timely — set realistic deadlines.
Select a system and stick with it. Having a plan matters more than having a perfect plan.
Try This
Write one goal right now in SMART format: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. Do not move on until it is written.
Review and Track
A plan you write once and never look at again is just a wish list.
Review the plan, visualize the plan, and track your progress. Writing things down and checking in on them forces you to stay honest about where you are.
A real plan also allows for adjustments. Not everything will be drafted out perfectly on day one. That is fine. The goal is progress, not perfection. Stick with the plan even when it feels imperfect.
Try This
Set a recurring 10-minute weekly calendar reminder to review your plan and note your progress honestly.
Plan One Step at a Time
Focusing on one habit or one step is better than not changing anything at all.
When you focus on a single priority, you build momentum. That one completed step carries energy into the next one.
Have a clear picture of what your path looks like. Break your steps into a list, assign deadlines, and then focus on the first one only. When you complete it, celebrate it, and move on.
Try This
Identify the single next step in your plan. Assign it a deadline and focus on nothing else until it is done.
Avoid Distractions
Sometimes we struggle with planning because we do not protect the time to do it.
Social media, email, text messages, and other demands all compete for your attention. If you do not deliberately guard your focus time, it will get taken from you.
Name your distractions. Then limit or eliminate them during your dedicated planning time. Set aside specific time blocks for your number one priority. Protect that time like it matters, because it does.
Try This
Block out one hour this week with no phone, no email, and no interruptions. Use it only for your top priority.
Consistency
Showing up every day is what turns a goal into an accomplishment.
When you know the one habit that will move you closest to your goal, show up for it consistently. Even when you do not feel like it. Especially then.
It takes about two months to build a positive habit. That means two months of not stopping, even on the hard days. Showing up is not about being perfect. It is about being there for yourself and for your goal, every single day.
Try This
Choose the one habit that moves you closest to your goal. Commit to doing it every single day for the next two weeks.
Put This Into Practice
The Goal Builder, Goal Planner, and Goal Grid maps are built for exactly this.