Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true."

Lester R. Bittel (b.1918), American writer

I was thinking recently that life revolves around making plans, whether we are conscious of it or not. As a family, the Harpers are full of excitement, as we have booked a family holiday (very rare) to Orlando in the autumn. We are full of plans about where we will stay, what we will do while were there, and even what kind of food wed like to eat (I love Mexican food!). It has given us something to look forward to and it helps to brighten our mood in the rather miserable weather weve been having.

Have you considered, however, that often were not conscious of how much planning goes into every day? We automatically plan what we will eat and drink throughout the day (even if its by following our taste buds rather than our bodys requirements!), we plan what to wear (even if it doesnt always look like it!), we plan how to get from one place to another and sometimes we are planning whole conversations in our heads! We make plans for today, tomorrow and some of us even plan for the future. Without plans what would we do? What would we be?

How do you think the most successful people plan? Haphazardly? Or do you think they are clear about where they want to go and make well thought-out plans about how they are going to get there. Have you thought beyond today, or tomorrow? Where do you want to be in five years, ten years, even twenty years time? Have you really thought about it? Have you planned how you will get to that point or are you going to bumble along hoping youll reach your goal? Isnt it time you sat down and carefully considered your future and started to make some plans?

What are your goals? Do you know? Have you really tried to look to your future? Imagine yourself on your death-bed. Look back over your life. What would you have liked to have achieved? What do you want to be known for? Write it down. Now is the time to make plans to achieve those things. What can you do today to move you towards that goal? What can you do this week? Next week and beyond? Make plans and carry them through.

Maybe you had got as far as making some plans, but somehow they dont get carried out. What do you think is the reason? Could it be that you are afraid? What if you do what you planned and things went wrong? Well, there are no guarantees that everything will go according to plan, but if you dont try you wont ever know, will you? And if something goes wrong, what can you take away from the experience? A lesson in how NOT to do it next time, perhaps?

Planning is all about you and your future. It may have to fit into the long-term aims of another unit (family, company etc), but the plans you make should sit well with you. They could be generated from that unit, by more than one person, but all the people involved should be in agreement with what is being proposed otherwise the commitment level of the unit will be uncertain. Make sure that you are at ease with group plans which involve you.

Many plans have been made because we think we ought to do something, rather than because we are convinced it is the right thing for us. Often we just go with the flow. This is your life, so take control of it. Do you want to do this thing? Yes? Then be 100% certain about it. If not, ask yourself why. What needs to change for you to be won over? It may be a non-starter for you, or maybe something just needs to be tweaked.

What one new thing can you do each day that will move you forward? It could be a call or note to someone you have heard of, but never met. It could be enrolling in a new course of study to help you build up your skills and qualifications. What do you need to learn to assist you in achieving your long-term plans?

Plans without action will never lead to anything. Take your first step along the path to achieving what you want. Planning doesnt have to be dull and boring. Get creative! The more excited you are by the process, as well as the follow-through, the more likely you are to carry out those plans. Be inventive! Be inspired! Be ground-breaking, if necessary!

What is the cost? Planning will cost you time and brain-power. To make those plans become reality the outlay is likely to be time, effort and action. If that leads to you realizing your goals then surely the expenditure is worth it? Happy Planning!