Many things are made by combining some of this, some of that. In our work with you, for example, we combine some information about your life now with a vision to get us ready for the future. Here as another new year begins, our thoughts have turned to plans and planning—and the nuances therein.
A typical New Year’s resolution is a sweeping, major goal: write a book, finish a 5k race, lose this many pounds. They tend to skip a few steps. It’s about the accomplishment, not the accomplishing.
But it could be more effective to plan a tiny step, something to execute now.
Write a page.
Walk around the block.
Eat a nutritious meal.
And if we focus on accomplishing a tiny step, then another, then another, those steps may compound into major accomplishments.
You might recognize the idea at the heart of this formula: habits are the practical foundation in shaping the person we want to become. Writing one page, then another, then another. If it becomes a daily habit, you may end up authoring a book.
Likewise, it’s easier to save something every payday than it is to worry for years about the fortune you will require for retirement. We can invest by automatic monthly deposits, for example, instead of having to think about it every time.
When we can make our habits automatic, they become a lot easier to maintain. (We don’t stop and question whether and how and when to brush our teeth each day, right?)
The planning moves you closer to the plan; the doing gets things done. Wisdom? Nonsense? You decide.
When you are ready to work on your plans and planning, we’ll be happy to talk with you about the steps that may help you get there. Email us or call.
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