You Have A Plan, Now What?
Its the start of a wonderful new year, and we are already 4 days in. 361 days left to go. So many resolutions being made, so many plans being created, so many habits a lot of people would be seeking to give up or build. So many things to do. But it seems as if as the year moves on, we kind of lose steam of who we are, give up and just go with life as it happens everyday. When people ask, you simply reply, let’s face reality.
But instead of saying let’s face reality and you achieve less than you set out to achieve, I say to you today, let us face reality and do much more. Understand that the impact an achieved plan has in your life is unlimited. Well achieved goals and plans makes us different from the person we used to be, and if you do need to become that better version, you need to be able to follow up with your plan.
Understand that simply having a plan does not solve all your problems, in fact having a plan kind of makes it more difficult, but what is reward if not rest after difficulty. Do not expect that the result would come if you did not put in the needed work. No, success would only come after you have persevered and have put in the work you need. Remember, it is not easy and you would need to always remember this. And it is okay if it is not easy.
Has a friend ever met you and said, you know I should be rewarded for waking up everyday? You would look at them and simply assume that are not in their right senses. Who expects reward for doing what everyone does? Same as your current position, do not expect reward if it was easy to achieve and accomplish. This is why you need to understand that your goals might not be as easy as you expect them to be, and that is okay.
To be able to follow up with your goals, one of the most important things I say is to always write it down. In writing it down, you are able to visualize yourself doing that thing you are hoping for. So start by writing it out and it is okay to even write it out on a piece of paper as that would take more time to complete and would give you the ability to fully assimilate what it is that you are writing. Beyond writing it down and having it all ready, next is to break it down into weekly achievements, followed by daily achievements.
When you start your day, imagine yourself at the end of the day and what it would look like. Imagine some part of your goal you want to achieve. Slow and steady they say wins the race. So at the end of the week, you are able to look at yourself and see that you are moving forward. Reward yourself at the end of the week and really enjoy the success you have achieved. If you stay too long, you might essentially forget where you started from.
So at the end of the month, you have assessed yourself 4 times and the goal of the month is not where it was at the beginning. Reward yourself yet again for coming this far at the end of the month. And what is a year if not a repitition of the month 12 times. All you need to follow up with your goal for a year is to have your monthly follow up just 12 times. Just 12 times and you have completed the year’s plan.
Most common excuse people give is I do not have time. And to that I say, would engineers on a project continue to go to work everyday without looking at what they achieved yesterday and what they plan to do today? Or would they tell themselves that they already understand the task and just move to the site. Obviously, NO. So as you seem to give yourself the opportunity to say you have no time, you indeed have time. Understand that what is important must never be at the mercy of what is least important. So which is more important, your life’s plan or what you are doing today?
Beyond having a plan and following up with it, one other way to follow up is to seek a friend who you believe can help you follow up on your goals. This friend also has to be a friend who is working on his/her goals so you both can watch out for one another. If you have a friend who you have to meet up with to discuss your plans for the month, it makes it more interesting since you have to report back.
Understand this, even if you still give yourself the excuse that you do not have time, know that the day would end, the month would end, the year would end, and even our lives would also end. So how do you want to look back at your life and see it as? As time spent without following a plan or as someone who seeked to improved day by day.
So the plan is now easier. Write it out, follow it daily, weekly, and monthly. Have a friend you converse with at the end of the month about it. If the circle could be more than 2 friends, it would be more interesting. So start now. If you are seeking for a friend or partner to start with, I am willing to get started with you. So do let me know so we can get started.
A plan is not something that we write that cannot change, it changes as circumstances change. But we must be willing to mindfully follow up with them everyday. Wishing us all the very best with our plans for the year. Thanks and God Bless.
