Do You Plan For Success?

Do you plan for success or just hope success comes to you?

Planning for success in what ever you want takes time, a little knowledge and commitment. It won’t happen overnight. It’s like putting one step in front of another.

After a while it comes automatically and you begin to walk or run to your success.

Every one has to start at the beginning. Even top entertainers struggled at one time. But through it all they had one goal in mind and that goal was success.

I’m reminded of a very famous entertainer I met in Chicago who begin by singing at bars, hotels, nightclubs and state fairs. Today he’s in Las Vegas. He began by developing his talent, gaining knowledge and not giving up.

You can do the same. Start at the beginning and end at the end.

However true success never ends. It is a series of calculated steps again one step in front of another. After a while it will come naturally. And when it does, move forward to other adventures expanding your knowledge.

Again, do you plan for success or just hope it happens? Do you wake up every day and say “I hope I will have success today”?

Planning for success is not an easy thing to do. But on the other hand, planning for success can be exciting, challenging and a whole lot of fun.

So is planning the same as “Goal Setting”? Not at all. Most people don’t know how to set goals and many others simply don’t accomplish the goals they set.

Let’s take a quick look at both Goal Setting and Planning For Success.

The problem with a goal is that most experts will want you to set a date, and income goal.

There are more than a date and income goal.

Plus the fact most home business beginners don’t know how to set effective goals.

Problem…if you don’t make that date or income you can become discouraged and quit.

A plan is so much easier, however, a plan can take a week, a month a year or more. No pressure just a step-by-step course of actions to your destination.  And you establish the STEPS and the DESTINATION.

Goal Setting

Many, books have been written about setting goals. You can take countless coursed on Goal Setting. How do I know—I have taken many courses on:

• Effective Goal Setting.
• Setting goals to get What You Want
• Goal Setting 101.
• Goal Setting worksheet
• Smart Goal Setting
• Many Many More…

Everyone of these is similar to the others with minor variations.

If you have ever tried to set a goal is goes something like this:

“I will loose 45 lbs. this year. I will cut back on fast foods. I will eat healthy. I will exercise daily.”

Or

“I will start a new business to make money. By the end of the year I will have made $100,000.”

Now what is wrong with these goals?

Well first neither one has a start date and end date. Neither one has any plans on how to accomplish this. And neither has a review date (a date to review if they are on track ie: 6 months)

Finally, If your 250 lbs. and have been 250 lbs. for years, loosing 45 lbs. maybe too much. Break it down to 20 lbs. in 3 months and 25 lbs. in another 3 months.

If you’re starting a new business, and expecting to earn $100,000 the first year, that is unrealistic. It’s better to set a goal that is reachable ie: $45,000.

Failing to meet a goal can be devastating. Some people get very depressed when a goal is not met.

Setting a goal is an “Art.”

Think about the goal. Write it down, re-read the goal and re-write until it make sense and attainable.

Google Goal Setting and see for yourself how many titles come up.  Or go to YouTube and see page after pages about the science of goal setting.

Here is an example of one the books I read.

“Too many of us treat goal setting the same way. We dream about where we want to go, but we don’t have a map to get there.

What is a map?

In essence, the written direction to get from where you are to where you want to go.

What is the difference between a dream and a goal? Once again, the written direction.

But we need to do more than simply scribble down some ideas on a piece of paper. Our goals need to be complete and focused, much like a road map, and that is the purpose
behind this Plan For Success article.

If you follow the steps I’ve outlined below you will be well on your way to becoming an expert in building the Road Maps to your goals.

1. Make sure the goal you are working for is something you really want, not just something that sounds good.  
2. A goal can not contradict any of your other goals.
3. Write your goal in the positive instead of the negative. You can’t buy a $750,000 house if your income goal is only $50,000 per year.
4. Write your goal out in complete detail.
5. This is the most important, write down your goals”

Sounds great but many people just simply can’t write a goal even given the above guides. Even more, once written many just simply don’t follow or lose focus and go back to every day events of “hoping it happens”.

So what is a Plan For Success and how does it differ from goal setting?

Well is a nut-shell, Planning For Success is a systemic approach to reach a certain result. The result is what ever you want it to be.

I like making a MAP with a GOAL as the result.

Let’s look at a Map:

• An airline pilot makes a plan to fly from Chicago to Los Angles. He checks his equipment to make sure every thing is proper working order.
• He makes sure he has all the tools needed.
• He checks to see if his “team” is ready.
• He checks to see if there are any conditions that will make the trip unattainable. He has a start date and an end date.
• If all is okay, the pilot and co-pilot go through a check list. Are the switches up or down, flaps, gauges, fuel and a whole series of checks and rechecks.
• When all is set, he puts the plan in motion.
• Step 1. He starts the engines and takes off
• Step 2. He fly’s west toward Des Moines, IA. Then slightly SW toward Topeka, KS. Then west across Nevada and lands in Los Angles.
• Step 3. Along the way he may run into bad weather. So he changes course to Dallas, TX west to Phoenix, AZ and lands in Los Angles.

The pilot had a beginning and an ending. He made sure he had the tools. He had points showing his progress. When something interfered with his route he made alterations and continued. He never stopped, looked back or changed his destination or the goal…Los Angles.

Unlike a goal, which is a series of paragraphs, a plan is a series of steps…a MAP.

When a step is completed move to the next step.

If something interferes, change that step only and move to the next step.

It’s simple, easy, direct, you design the plan and anyone can do it.

Here is an exercise to show how to develop a MAP.

Get a Road Map Atlas. If you don’t have an Atlas, open your computer and Google, maps. When it opens plan a trip. In this case I want you to design a map from Chicago to Los Angles.

In the Atlas, highlight your trip. Where will you be stopping along the way? What roads will you be taking? How long will it take to get to Los Angles?

On the computer, get a step-by-step directions.

All of a sudden something changes and you have alter your road trip to Dallas. Redo your map on your computer.

See how easy it was to go from Chicago to Los Angles when you have a Map. Now of course your Goal was Los Angles.

Plan For Success example:

• Goal Statement: I WANT $20,000 PER YEAR AFTER TAXES WITH MY OWN BUSINESS
• Today, I make $45,000 per year working at a job (describe your job and company, I want $20,000 per year after taxes with my own business (realistic).
• I have a computer, the necessary software, support material (tools)
• I have my business opportunity or identified business (MLM, Network Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Direct Selling, My own Product).
• I have an account with Facebook or YouTube or Twitter or…. (I’m using Facebook in this example to make money).
• My team is ready (if you don’t have a team, add this as a goal).
• I have experts to ask for directions and support (control tower)
• I have my Start Date and my End Date for this goal.
• Is there anything that will stop me? (if yes identify and take care of it).
• $20,000 by xx,xx,xxxx (date)
• Map out your steps. Alter your steps if necessary. Review your accomplishments every day. Every 90 days, take a day to see where you are and what is need for the next 90 days. Hit your goal.

I will plan for success knowing that failure is not an option.  As the airline pilot, I plan each and every step, have my tools, make changes if necessary, and have a well defined goal.

BEGIN.

NOTE:  I actually draw a map with identified events.  Much like a Atlas Road Map showing the road and cities.

Start Date |——| —— | —— | —— | —– | …… | ….. | Goal

If you notice, it’s just a series of steps and corrections. Use your coach and support team to help with the difficult stuffs.

Even with a MAP, many people will get stuck. This is where a good coach or support team comes in to help identify where you’re stuck and offer help and advice.

One of the most valuable assets you have is that support team.

I have a support team that has helped me become a better Internet Marketer.

I can’t recommend this team any harder. If your looking for real success in your Affiliate Marketing Business, this is the team and marketing system you have been looking for.

Here is the best program available anywhere.

A Closer Look At A Plan

Planning For Success is no accident. It takes careful planning and thought.

You lay out your plan, you identify your goal and you make corrections along the way.

Like the pilot you are constantly monitoring your progress.

As mentioned, I like to start by drawing a line across the paper. On the line I mark various actions. One action leads to the next and so forth. Keep it simple for now, this is just a rough start to begin the thinking process.

Define the end of the line, very important.

Is it monetary? Maybe travel to some far-a-way place? College for the kids? Leave your current job? Buy a home?

Define the end, and then chart the step to get to the end. Again, keep it simple for now. I like to have at least 10 points on the line. Later we will break each of the 10 points into finer actions.

Here is an example: —-Type of Business —-Business Structure —-Location—-etc. Later, break it down. Example:—-Type of Business (Define your business)—-Structure (Corporation, Sole, Partnership)—-Location—-etc.

Have fun with it. Work on the various points. Take your time and think it out. Remember you can always change the points or redefine the sub points (remember the flight plan).

I normally take a week to finish this part, put it up for a day or two then re-look to see if I need to make adjustments. Once completed begin to implement your first point.

Finally

Do I write out a goal?

Yes, however the goal is a subset of the PLAN.  My plan is a series of lines and marks.  Each day I look to see where I am on the plan or lines.  I actually took an Atlas Road Map and copied the lines from Chicago to LA.  Instead of cities, I injected my sub-goal for that step.  Once accomplished, I followed the map to the next sub-goal.  If I met a road block, I identified the road block and what I need to do to go around the blockage (Study FaceBook).  Each step toward reaching my ultimate goal LA ($20,000).

Here are some additional articles:

How To Solve Your Home Business With A Calendar

4 Powerful Tups On Setting Goals