Recently I’ve done a bit of a sweep of my home office and I’ve established that I have a pile of planners. I adore pretty stationery and I’m a sucker for picking up a new notepad or organiser whenever I’m in paperchase!
And that’s not counting the electronic versions I have too, like Asana which also keeps me organised on the go.
Planning is good. It helps you work out where you want to go, and how to get there. But, and this is a big BUT. Planning is the easier option than doing because it’s safe.
If you’re spending all your time planning and not actually putting into action, then it’s not a plan. It’s a dream.
And sorry for the reality check, but dreams don’t usually come true until you start taking action to make them happen. And that’s scary because you have to put yourself out there. You have to talk to people and show what you can do and try when you feel like you might fail.
Planning is great, but it won’t get you where you want to be unless you put those plans into action. Maybe that’s where the term “plan of action” comes in!
The best way to turn your dreams into reality is to take action towards them. All the planning in the world won’t help unless you do.
The best way to put your plans into action is to plan short term, execute, and then plan for your next steps. I’m sure we’ve all created detailed and pretty plans which look great but are out of date in about thirty seconds. Trust me, it’s a waste of energy.
if you’re not where you want to be, plan for the next day or week, not for the next year. Take a deep breath, and put those plans into action. That will help you build momentum and carry you forward.
Plans are safe. Action can be really scary! But that’s because action is moving you towards your dreams. Plans are just the roadmap. You need to be en route to get to your destination. Think of it like this. Trying and failing will get you closer to your dreams than never trying. It’s okay to fail. It means you’re taking action.
So next time you plan, keep it short and sweet. And next time you fail, celebrate your progress because it means you’ve taken action and you’re on your way to where you want to be.