The less “time” you have for planning,
the greater the need to set aside at least 15 minutes each day for planning.
It needs to be at the same time and place each day and involve these elements:
- A place free from
distractions – Most people find first thing each morning or the
last thing each day best. But you must have solitude for thought. Perhaps
that is at home after breakfast over coffee. Perhaps you need to shut the
door and hold the calls at the end of the day. Just do it!
- Begin with review
of long-term goals – To gain perspective, you have to remind yourself
of the long view.
- Make sure there
is enough time – Many planning programs fail by trying to do too
much. Have your full calendar (no gaps) in front of you as you plan. Know
how much time you have.
- Set specific daily
goals – Be as specific as you can be. Ask yourself: How will I
know whether I have done this or not? If you cannot answer that question,
rework the goal.
- Anticipate obstacles
– Ask yourself: What may happen today to keep me from accomplishing
this goal? Then plan to overcome the obstacles.
- Prioritize your
goals – Force yourself to rank your goals. If you end up with
many goals of equal rank then force yourself to rank them with one as top
and the lowest number as the bottom. No two goals should be ranked equally.
If all items are equal, there are no priorities.
