There’s something to the process of planning before implementation. I truly do believe that. If you’ve read past posts about my new product journey, then I’m sure you’ve bumped into my discussions on creating frameworks (blueprints) for how to proceed with any endeavor you’re pursuing. (As a matter of fact, you can check out the framework, or plan, for creating my reading and writing products by reviewing my posts under the “New Product Development” category of this blog.)
And while I wholeheartedly believe that having some type of plan laid out is a smart way to start any new journey (because it gives you a sense of direction for your travels), I also believe that there are crossroads moments in life when you need to JUST START making moves at carrying out that thing you’ve been planning.
So often, I think the passing of time (with no “real” action) has extinguished the fire (passion) burning from within the individual who had a mission in mind. And, I’m not saying that there was no action at all (because planning is action in and of itself). I’m just saying that no “measurable” moves toward the goal were achieved.
While planning is a must-do in my opinion, I’ve known people who cyclically remained in a mode of constantly planning out what they want to accomplish but never entering into the active implementation of all their planning efforts. Eventually, a person has to step out and get going on all those wonderful ideas and plans he or she has written down on paper, recorded in electronic devices, or stored in the old memory bank.
Eventually, the plan needs to take flight or it will forever remain on the ground. And, I would know this to be true, because I do the planning stage very well. Incredibly well, if I do say so myself. It’s the JUST START (or certain parts of the implementation phase) of the process that tends to hold me up.
And let me just say that carrying out the action steps of the plan are so much more difficult than the formulation of the plan. I don’t think many people would argue with this statement. But acknowledging this realization doesn’t negate the fact that you have to act in order to accomplish goals in life. You have to find a time when you can temporarily stop the planning in order to actually GET THINGS DONE.
At least that’s what I’m learning as I travel on this new product journey and all of the other content creation journeys I continue to move along.
I’ve learned to look at the two parts of this life puzzle as partners that work hand-in-hand with each other, instead of working mutually exclusive of one another.
And, here’s what I mean.
The two pieces of the puzzle to my life’s works-in-progress are 1) the planning stage and 2) the implementation phase. Personally, I need both consistently working together throughout my journeys.
I’ve noticed that I tend to start with a tentative plan before getting any notable work done with an endeavor I’m pursuing, because I need some type of structure to work off of — some direction. Then, I can start. And, I never consider the plan to be an exact depiction of how events are going to unfold.
In fact, I’ve never had a tentative plan that didn’t change in some way during the course of the implementation phase. Plans change and have to be adapted to unforeseen and unplanned events, circumstances, and situations that arise in your life. It’s just inevitable. For someone to think that the original plan will always work in all cases is to ignore the fact that human life is full of life changes.
Case in point: this world is constantly changing. And if COVID-19 has taught you anything, then one of the main lessons you’ve learned is that we’re at the mercy of change and that there are some things we just can’t control. So, we work with the variables we’re given and we learn to control what we can control. Right?
For this very reason, I’m reiterating the fact that planning and moving are not mutually exclusive from one another.
I’ve had many situations where I created my overall plan, started moving on the plan, tweaked the plan, moved on the plan some more, tweaked the plan some more, moved on the plan once again, and so on. I think you see the pattern here. I didn’t have a fool proof plan in place, but I took some action anyway. So, my admonition to you is to . . . JUST START. JUST MOVE. DO SOMETHING.
If you don’t, then you’ll undoubtedly ALWAYS remain in the planning stage, because time stands still for no one. Change happens and we all just have to eat that. But while we’re eating that, make some moves toward your goal, your pursuit, your destination.
At times, our constantly-changing environment might make you feel like you’re going one step forward and taking two steps back, but at least you’re moving toward something. If you never move, then you NEVER get anywhere. And that’s the reality of a plan with no application.
Here’s my suggestion for change management in planning: in your initial planning stage, try to account for as many of the unknowns (as possible) that can arise, knowing all along that you can’t plan for everything. Having a plan B, C, and D is great, but then move along and start putting your plans into place. And simply know that some turn of events WILL come up and change these best laid plans of yours. Life just works that way. So, try to have contingency plans to account for change and keep it moving.
Change changes a lot of things, but it will never change the fact that a hungry mouth don’t get fed without work. Or, you might have heard: you don’t work, you don’t eat. For us adults, we should know this all too well. There isn’t much in life that’s free. And with the times we’re living in, there are so many people in need of freebies, hand-outs, help, and support.
It’s overwhelming to think how we’ll ever get to a point of normalcy (or at least back to the way things were pre-COVID-19) in today’s worldwide climate. Personally, I don’t believe we ever will. To me, COVID-19 changed the course of life for the ages, but I’m not speaking a message of despair here.
In fact, I want to encourage you. Let’s just say that you might be in a position where you need a little inspiration on planning and moving on that plan. Well, I’ve got a suggestion that might get you started. Actually, it’s somewhat of a call-to-action of hopeful possibilities. Because we live in a world where so many are in need, here’s what I propose . . .
Use your talents, knowledge, skills, abilities, and gifts and figure out what type of journey you can plan for and start on — an endeavor that will help a fellow human being. And, you don’t even have to look at it from the overwhelming standpoint of a worldwide view. Start with what you can do in your household, for your family and friends, in your neighborhood and community. Then, if you need more of a challenge, think of what journey you can take to benefit your city, your state, your country, your world.
I bet you can come up with a nice-sized list of possibilities. Great ideas, even. And you know what? Every promising plan starts with a great idea. And guess what else? Every great process, product, service, and movement was created with a flexible plan that was implemented.
So, what are you waiting for?
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