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From possibilities to planning circles

Written by: Jacki Arnold

Article Overview: Getting your ideas down and planning for every eventualality giving you focus and clarity.

From possibilities to planning circles

From possibilities to planning circles

How often have you got everything in your head about what you need to do but there is just no time to get it all down? When I present at a conference or create voice workshops I have a wealth of ideas in my head but getting it down in a list seems so much like a chore. Enter the "planning circles" Many of my clients have now adopted this technique to help them to get focus and clarity.

Ideas are the life blood of any business. They allow you to imagine the possibilities and explore the opportunities available. They are also where many people stumble and fall. Why is this? In many cases the ideas fill your head so that in actual fact nothing gets done at all. You are inspired, you feel great but those vital steps to get you started just never happen. "This idea is good but so is this one...what if I created both that would be amazing. I could ....."and so on.

I saw a great presentation once that ended in someone lighting a candle and then asking the audience "So I'd like you to close your eyes and imagine blowing out this candle" Everone closed their eyes. "Now, keeping your eyes shut really believe you can blow out the candle" Then when the audience opened their eyes they saw that the candle was still burning brightly. "Well," said the presenter "You can think and believe things will happen but it's only when you take action that things will really change - phuff!" (He blew out the clandle)

Creating a design with each section divided into small chunks can be very liberating. All those ideas suddenly become focused into a plan of action. You begin to see clearly which steps you need to take first, which ideas link into others and then you're head becomes less cluttered. You have a real plan that works for you and keeps you focused.

Think about what kind of design would work for you to create your ideas on. I choose circles but several of my clients chose blocks, clouds, petals etc. Then place them one on top of the other leaving spaces in between and joining them with arrows asending. Leave enough space in each circle (your design) so that you can write about 5-6 bullet points. I divide mine into months using about 4-5 bullet points for each week.

I am looking at my asending circles as I write this. It is pinned to my corkboard in front of me. I have written goals for each month so that I keep to my schedule. Some ideas are colour coded as this helps me to link my ideas and see the progression.

Ideas, possibilities and projects need not be a chore. You can achange your designs to suit your mood or a particular project. One of my associates liked the simplicity of planning circles and now uses them to help his staff focus their ideas and plan projects. The applications are enless. Give it a try - turn your possibilities and good ideas into a planning design of your choice.

Jackie Arnold - www.coach4executives.com

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Article Tags: audience, chunks, circles, clarity, clouds, everone, life blood, petals, possibilities, vital steps, voice workshops



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Re: Is A Business Plan A Waste Of Time? - I feel that you don't really need one. I didn't write one down when I first started, but I have made various planning and decision-making spreadsheets along the way. I also think that a business plan is a HUGE waste of time IF you never take action. The step that most people fail on is failure to get started. Sitting around and planning won't ever get you anywhere. I would say implementation is more important than planning.
What Kind Of Internet Biz Do You Want To Have? - Hello and welcome to the forum! The advice we give really depends on what you are planning to do as well as your level of experience... Are you planning to take orders for products that you will stock, pack and ship yourself? If so, signing up with Paypal would be a good start. Or are you planning an affiliate site, where you take a commission on sales you generate without having to handle the goods yourself? Or a mixture of both? Are you planning to design your website yourself? Are you working within a fixed budget? (The good news is that some of the best methods of marketing a website are quite cheap or even free - if you are prepared to do the work required!) Good luck! David H.
Re: Is A Business Plan A Waste Of Time? - Business Plan or generally work plan (to do list) improves the quality of my work at least 4 times. I have seen the positive results of planning and focus in my online business. And I know from my past experience how uneficient your business can be when you are not doing planning. So I agree that there is a relationship between entrepreneur success and planning.
Re: How Do You Check Google Ranking? - [quote="GT Bulmer":2otxc9ls]p.s. I have a personal issue with Google+. There are so many circles, sections, segments and different groups, accompanied by so many switches, tabs, whatever, that when I turn something on or off in one section I just don't know how it affects all of the other sections. What I mean is, if I click to let certain groups see certain things, I don't know how far and wide that same info will get distributed and I don't like not understanding that level of control (that's one reason why I'm not on Facebook).[/quote:2otxc9ls] If you post something to just one circle of friends they can still re-share it to their circles. But it gives a little warning that says something about how you originally only posted it for their circle so they should take that into consideration when sharing. I can't remember what it actually says but it's along those lines.
Re: Google Calendar - GT, My laptop is about 16 or 17 months old too, and it is OLD, I ma already planning on buying a new one. But I keep the planning in my head. My husband computer is 6 years old. I think we will replace it first.


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