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Think of your plan as a map. It is one that will guide you to your future. As the architect, I.M. Pei, once said, "You must simplify. You must make the complex simple and make it work."
Writing it down is key. Once something is written down, it is anchored into a commitment. It's easy enough to thing something and see it in detail and think that it is enough for now, but when you see your plan written out it takes on a new quality. One benefit is that it is an act of commitment. Another benefit is that you can revise your plan more easily when you learn new ways to fulfill your goal.
This one page plan will set your subconscious mind in motion.
Your plan should cover three topics: your general purpose, your specific goal, and your strategy.
Business planning may call for a more elaborate outline.
If it is a business plan, you can follow the structure outlined by Jim Horan, in his book, The One Page Business Plan.
Here are his terms and descriptions:
VISION: How do you visualize your company in the future? Where are you going with it? What will it look like in five years? Describe your idea in a manner that captures the passion of the idea.
MISSION: Why are you in this business? What's your passion? Why will customers buy this product or service?
OBJECTIVES: What are the goals? What accomplishments must you achieve to be successful? List your goals in specific terms, with targets and time frames.
STRATEGIES: What has made your business successful to date? What will make it successful over time?
PLANS: What specific projects and actions will be taken this year to achieve this objective.
A solid plan that is simple, too, will make it much easier to start achieving goals.
Remember the words of Goethe as you set your goals and develop your plans:
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." | 