Creating An Action Plan
Posted on May 27, 2015 by Jennifer Bentley, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Same Old thinking = Same Old Results.
Every journey begins with the first step, so why is it that many people create goals for themselves, only to never see them materialize? Are they lacking focus, commitment or are they just plain lazy? Personally, I don’t think it is any of these. Starting, does not equal finishing. I believe they have been misinformed. We have been led to believe that information is power. Information is not power, information is potential power. The power part only kicks in when we couple information with action. Just wanting something is not enough. In fact, wanting actually works against you, it keeps you stuck in the “state” of wanting. To achieve anything in this life you need to take action, massive action! And the very best way to do that, is to start with an Action Plan.
Getting Started:
Step 1) Time to create the magic! In order to do this you will need to grab a paper and pen and plant yourself in a quiet place, free of distractions. Now that you’re comfortable, take a moment and think about an area of your life where you would like to see some changes. I am going to suggest that you start small and build. This helps create the confidence that you will use it to make larger changes down the road. Once you’ve determined your goal and stated it, in the present tense it’s time to start creating your personal Action Plan. So let’s say your goal is to lose 20 pounds. A great opening line for your Action Plan would be ” I am healthy and fit” As a side note, in the future, you may want to do this for every goal that you are setting.
Step 2) Make a detailed list of the things you will need to do to bring this goal to fruition. If you’re not sure what it will take because this is uncharted territory for you, that’s okay! Get online and start doing your research. gather as much information as possible. Talk to people who are living the life you want to be living. Pick up a book, take a course, seek counsel. Do whatever it takes to gather as much information as possible. Remember, information is your potential for power.
Step 3) Decide on a completion date for your Action Plan. Your completion date is the day by which you will have accomplished your goal. Having a Best Before date is crucial, because yes, there is an expiry date on dreams. It is also important to be realistic when setting your time line. Make certain to factor in any time needed to continue your education, acquire a new skill, or gain the fitness necessary to accomplish your goal. This is about setting yourself up for success!
Step 4) Okay we have a vision, a list of what we need to do it breath life in to it and we have an end date.We are almost there! The next step is to break down all the actions required to reach your goal into the weeks and months leading up to your completion date. It is important, as well as helpful to have a visual weekly & monthly list of actions as you work towards your goal. This holds you accountable, keeps you on your timeline and is how you will measure your progress. Once you have listed all the steps needed to move forward, it’s time to flip the script and now think about as many obstacles as possible that may pop up. By doing this we prepare ourselves for life’s inevitable little surprises. If you need to adjust some steps or the timeline to account for these possible hiccups, don’t be afraid to do so.
Step 5.) Refer to your Action Plan daily during the time you are working towards your goal. Review what steps you need to take each day to ensure you turn your goal into a reality. Re-evaluate your course of action once a week or monthly. Are there some areas that may need tweaking? Has something come up that may require you to seek additional information? These steps helps guarantee that you will reach your desired goal by the completion date you set.
