Without a Plan, Staying on Course Can Be Hard To Do
Robert M. Brown III, Ph.D., contributing editor
I am amazed at how quickly time passes. I remember when I was a kid spending the days of summer riding my bike, skateboarding, collecting caterpillars, going swimming or hanging out with friends. Then, time moved at a snail’s pace. Now, it seems that time passes just a little faster each year. I think this is what happens when you get older... Just a few weeks ago (or so it seems), I was looking out the window to a snowy landscape that had all the features of a Christmas postcard. It was actually January (five months ago) but it doesn’t seem that long. As I look back on the first half of 2011, I am reminded of the things that I said aloud and wrote down that I wanted to accomplish this year. Overall, I am doing a decent job but there is still room for improvement. I know that improvement is necessary because I developed a plan with tasks to complete, deadlines to meet and deliverables to submit.
The last sentence of the previous paragraph could imply that I am talking about the work assignments for a job that are due to a supervisor who is watching closely. Well, I am the supervisor. I have developed plans to reach milestones for work over the years and I decided that I also need to do this to achieve personal goals in my life. When I think about people who are very task-oriented in their personal lives, a plan seems to be a hallmark of these endeavors no matter how long reaching the goal may take. I am reminded of the achievement of Jason Kidd, a professional basketball player with the Dallas Mavericks. He has played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for seventeen years which is a feat in itself. On June 12, 2011, his dream to become an NBA champion was realized. His story is as much about perseverance as it is planning but chances are that he probably would not have become a champion without a plan. I also think of George Dawson who learned to read at 98. Mr. Dawson’s story is captured in the book “Life is So Good.” What determination and patience he must have possessed to work his plan and reach his goal.
A plan helps to transform something that may be abstract to tangible and achievable. Having a plan also increases effectiveness (achieving objectives and goals) and efficiency (maximizing available resources). I think about the times that I drove to an address using MapQuest versus relying on the belief that I could “find” the location based on some vague knowledge of the area. Without exception, using the electronic map (i.e., the plan) got me to my destination faster and with less aggravation. Using a plan is just one of the components necessary for bringing a desired outcome into existence but it is significant. As demands for people’s time continue to increase, there is growing interest by many to learn how to work smarter rather than working harder unnecessarily. People who work smarter usually do so because they have a plan. So, plan and plan often.
