Action Plan
This past week I was bombarded with the task of creating an Action Plan, by the end of the week all I wanted to do was get as far away from the task masters as possible. Once I was back home, laundry done and in my comfortable clothes I began to go over the activities of the past week in my head. While I was happy to see people I hadn't seen in months, enjoyed going to my first professional Baseball game and going to a state I'd yet visit I couldn't get past being annoyed with being told over and over and over to "create an Action Plan." So, as with anything that annoys or is a source of stress to me I told myself "let it go" but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't let the annoyance go. I decided since I couldn't let it go to ask God "what was I supposed to get from the experience" THEN let it go. A couple of hours later while catching up on my DVR I had my Oprah "Aha" moment and it hit me like a ton of bricks "you were there because you need to create a action plan for yourself and your life."
It wasn't the action plan that annoyed me, it was being bombarded with the silent message that action plans are the path to nirvana. I later realized that almost every major event that I've initiated in my life were the by products of Action Plans; any job, weight loss or big goal were seen to fruition because I created a plan.
I wont go into some elongated motivational rant about how to create an action plan because I like things as simple as possible but I will offer a few basic tips:
1. Start from the end, see the task completed
2. Ask yourself whats the simplest way from beginning to end
3. REMOVE EVERY OBSTACLE IN YOUR MIND
4. Write, not type, your goal out in long hand, every detail
Those steps aren't carved in stone but they've always worked for me, specifically starting at the end and writing the plan out in long hand. Theres something about writing, not typing, that's more revealing. Lastly dont focus on what you DONT want; dont talk, text, Facebook, Twitter, email about what you dont want or dont like about your current situation. When you're focused on what you DONT want you cant put energy into what you want. Use your resources, let people know what you want and I dont mean beg or annoy anyone who'll listen but carefully pick and choose who you share your goals with because not everyone will be supportive, pick your support group carefully.
Action Plans work, whether it's losing weight, getting a new job or starting a new life it all starts with a plan, start yours because I've started mine! Act II is going to kick ass!!
It wasn't the action plan that annoyed me, it was being bombarded with the silent message that action plans are the path to nirvana. I later realized that almost every major event that I've initiated in my life were the by products of Action Plans; any job, weight loss or big goal were seen to fruition because I created a plan.
I wont go into some elongated motivational rant about how to create an action plan because I like things as simple as possible but I will offer a few basic tips:
1. Start from the end, see the task completed
2. Ask yourself whats the simplest way from beginning to end
3. REMOVE EVERY OBSTACLE IN YOUR MIND
4. Write, not type, your goal out in long hand, every detail
Those steps aren't carved in stone but they've always worked for me, specifically starting at the end and writing the plan out in long hand. Theres something about writing, not typing, that's more revealing. Lastly dont focus on what you DONT want; dont talk, text, Facebook, Twitter, email about what you dont want or dont like about your current situation. When you're focused on what you DONT want you cant put energy into what you want. Use your resources, let people know what you want and I dont mean beg or annoy anyone who'll listen but carefully pick and choose who you share your goals with because not everyone will be supportive, pick your support group carefully.
Action Plans work, whether it's losing weight, getting a new job or starting a new life it all starts with a plan, start yours because I've started mine! Act II is going to kick ass!!
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