The Vision Principle of Planning “Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning.”  Thomas Alva Edison

Planning  is the process of setting goals and then outlining the strategies, tasks, schedules and resources necessary to accomplish the goals.  We will either have a plan for our lives or become a part of someone else’s plan.  Planning never stops.  If we want to achieve success, we must be in a continual state of preparation.  We should live our lives as though we may die tomorrow - making every moment count - but plan them as if we were going to live to be a hundred.  Very few visions are ever achieved without a focused plan of how to bring them into existence.  An old proverb says, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.”  Without a plan, we are constantly reacting to situations rather than setting a course of action.

Many people overlook or set aside planning and allow the demands of the day to guide them.  They allow their focus to be shifted to the immediate needs, problems or circumstances of their environment rather than focusing on the priorities of the plan.  Things get done but rarely do these things produce significant change or growth.  They may feel like they do not have time to plan or they give up because their plans are always changed by outside influences.  While there are things that need to be attended to daily, the focus of activities should be connected to the plan rather than being a distraction from the plan.

A plan is not a recap of what was accomplished in the past week.  A plan has a big picture vision as the aim with specific activities scheduled to achieve that vision.  Taking the time to plan gives us the opportunity to think with clarity about the vision, anticipate obstacles, and find the most efficient ways to use our time and resources.  Wise planning helps us to prioritize our commitments (keep first things first), eliminate time wasters and unnecessary tasks, and anticipate problems.  Planning reduces the amount of frustration we encounter because it keeps us focused on our vision and provides a way to measure our progress.

If you practice the principle of planning, you will experience the following benefits:

• You will experience achievement.  You will be more productive and efficient which will enable you to accomplish goals more quickly.  

• You will reduce the number of opportunities to be frustrated.  Frustration is a symptom of blocked goals and hinders progress.  

• You will build momentum and morale.  Great planning causes you to consider the situation from all angles so that you see the pit-falls or delays that could occur.  By anticipating problems and having ready solutions or contingency plans, you can keep the plan in motion and continue to build on success.

• The important things will get done.  By forming a plan and prioritizing needs, you ensure that your focus is on the things that will bring the desired results.   

• You increase your value and open yourself up to new possibilities such as being promoted to higher levels or being given more important projects because you will have proven that you know how to accomplish both as an individual and as part of a team.

• You will build confidence in yourself because you will have a means to measure your success.  You will  also earn the confidence and trust of others.

A wise planner possesses the following characteristics:

1. They have an aim in mind - a well-defined goal or vision they passionately desire to achieve.

2. They set aside time for planning on a regular basis.

3. They have clearly defined short and long term goals with reasonable time frames in which to accomplish them.

4. They make a list of resources needed to accomplish the vision including people, budgets and materials.

5. When the plan involves a team, they take the time to communicate the vision, update others on the  evolvement of the plan and ask people to contribute to the plan in their areas of strength.  They encourage their team members, give credit and show appreciation for each person’s contribution.

6. They consistently take time to reflect and, when necessary, change the plan.

1. Plan to plan.  Carve out time for planning every week.  Just because you aren’t moving does not mean you aren’t working.  Taking the time to plan is work AND it makes work time more productive.
2. Determine and define the goal you want to reach.  Vision is the foundation of planning.  If you plan without vision, you are creating a to-do list.  
3. Look at the situation from many angles when planning.  Ask for input from people you trust.  Consider how the plan will affect you now and also in the future.
4. Set specific goals and list them in order of importance rather than in the order of easiest things to do first.  This will keep you focused and moving forward.
5. Many plans need to include other people.  If this is the case, communicate the vision and plan thoroughly.  Clarify the steps that need to be taken and, whenever  possible, get their input.  If you involve others in your plan, they will take ownership in it and more will be accomplished.  Do not expect people to read your mind.  Set them up for success by providing good guidelines and realistic time frames.
6. Be aware of time wasters and try to either eliminate or group these into blocks of time in your day to keep interruptions at a minimum.  This would include things like surfing the internet, running errands, watching television, email, filing, and unscheduled meetings.
7. Evaluate your plan and make adjustments regularly.  

Plans are like the landing gear of an airplane- without them, dreams have to remain in the air. 

1. Do you have a clear vision or dream you want to achieve?
2. Are your daily and weekly goals connected to your plan?
3. What barriers do you run into when trying to create and execute a plan?

Evaluate yourself from 1 to 10	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Why did you give yourself this rating?
What benefits will you obtain by raising your rating?
What specific action can you put into practice to test the benefits of this principle?