Tweet

For every minute spent in planning

Guest post by: Bill Truax

Article Overview: For every minute you spend in planning, you save 4 minutes in execution. We all learned that in time management training years ago. However, how many of us actually take advantage of it? Here is how to do it so you can set and achieve your goals.

For every minute spent in planning

We received a lot of requests for our GPS worksheet. So a lot of you have begun the real goal setting process. That is writing out your Goals, Plans and Steps - GPS.

I am sure that many of you are in the same boat as me. It is a lot harder than it looks.

Sure, we know what our goals are. But can we express them clearly? It is like looking through a telescopic lens on a rifle. If the target is blurry we won’t hit it. Once we adjust the scope and make it perfectly clear, we are then able to hit that target.

It is exactly the same with goal setting. We must make that goal perfectly clear which is why writing it out is so important. If you won’t write out your goals then don’t say you have them!

The next step clearly shows the importance of writing out the goal. That step is the Plans step. Here we develop the plan we will follow that will allow us to achieve our goal

Now I run into some challenges here since some times my Plans are really goals. Or I realize that my goal has a lot of details which need to be addressed.

So, should we just give up since this is getting confusing and sometimes frustrating?

Absolutely not, this makes the GPS process even more important. Giving up would make us achieve even less. That is why so many people achieve so little in life.

The true value of this process is in the details. When you have all the details, then goal achievement is much simpler.

If I give you a task that you have never done before, that will be a real challenge for you.

If, however, along with that task I give you instructions with 17 detailed steps you should follow and will take you from where you are now to the goal, then that would be a lot easier. You would have a direction in which to go and the things you had to do. Almost seems too simple.

That is what the process is all about.

So, sit down, write out your goal or goals. Write out the plans you will follow in order to achieve your goal/goals. If during this process the details of your goals need to change, change them. If you need to add a goal or two, add them.

Go back to the planning phase and action steps. In this process, make adjustments as needed. I find that for major goals, I need to write out the goals and plans, then put the paper down for a few hours or even days, let the ideas ferment in my mind, then come back and work on them some more. Maybe I will go through that process a couple of times before my action steps are ready to start. But then I am off and running.

Remember what we all learned years ago in time management training. “For every minute spent in planning you save 4 minutes in execution.” For goal achievement purposes, planning is a lot more important than that.

Filling out your GPS worksheet is that planning phase so you will save a ton of time and not waste any energy in achieving your goals.

Regular systematic Prospecting is one goal we should all have; we can help in that regard.

Sell Well and Often,

Bill Truax

© Copyright 2007 WJ Truax

Bill Truax is a sales consultant and speaker from Cleveland, OH. He has 3 books, 2 CD’s, Seminars and Workshops on Prospecting and Making Cold Calls. He also speaks to sales teams regarding ways to make their careers more rewarding. Visit www.BlitzCall.com for product, program, and contact information.

Related Articles
  Why Is It OK To Plan A Vacation But Not Your Business?
  Just A Minute
  Small Business and Home Based Business Owners - Why Should You Plan Daily and That Too on Paper?
  Joyous Journeys
  How much Planning is enough - Use Lean and Standardize

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Re: How long can you stay away from your Computer? - Hi GT, Thanks for the comments, but I wouldn't call it "planning ability" so much as "last minute, ad hoc survival tactics"!!
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: 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.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Four Secrets to Earning Income as an Author

E Mail Marketing Campaigns

10 Steps to a Great Support Team

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.