Forever Planning and Never Getting to the Goaling

Granted . . . goaling DOES require some planning before the execution phase comes about. That discussion was had in the previous blog posts, entitled Planned Goal-Mindedness, The Steps Leading to the Goal, and Too Many High-Level Goals? I go into some depth in these three discussions about the importance of planning to provide some direction toward achieving your goal(s).

And, don’t get me wrong — planning, itself, is an actionable item within the whole Goal-Achievement Process.

However . . .

Planning is more of a passive type of activity that will get you nowhere (close to the goalpost) if you don’t put some implementation into the plans you set.

As a matter of fact, planning is that cushy/comfy phase of the Goal-Achievement Process that gives you a semblance of feeling like you’re actively moving forward toward your goal, while actually keeping you stuck in “PARK,” making no forward movement at all.

You’re just planning. And in essence, you’re still at ground level, the starting line, zero on the measuring stick.

So, don’t get stuck there. Okay?

Planning is a great place to start in your goaling efforts. It’s the springboard for everything that comes after it in your dream-turned-reality pursuit. But, it won’t propel you forward in your movement toward your goal.

You’re the one who jumps off the springboard, moves past the starting line, takes the elevator up to the first floor, then the second . . . then the third.

You are the catalyst to make the goal happen.

YOU!

So, don’t get it twisted. Planning is a necessary step toward achieving your goals, but it doesn’t get the goal got.

I mean . . . I’m sure you’ve heard always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Well, let me use that same sentiment here: always a student, never a graduate.

GRADUATE ALREADY!

Get your degree from the University of Planning (you know you’ve been there long enough to earn it and then some) and get to the “real” work.

Now, you might be saying . . . “Hold up a minute. Why so harsh with the rhetoric?”

Well, I’m talking to myself mainly (as well as you). But, mostly to ME.

I find these kinds of open pep talks lead to some actionable steps because the public self-rebuke helps keep me accountable. Accountable to whom? Well, to you, of course.

I give you permission to check me on my forward-moving ways. You have an open invitation to follow up with me on whether or not I’m actually practicing what I blog.

Because you probably know, from experience, that people are good about handing out advice, but not always so quick to take themselves up on it. Right?

Right.

No, I don’t want to be that do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do person. And, I know of what I bloggingly preach. I’m speaking straight talk from that other university I’ve attended from time to time — the University of the Painful Truth. And, it pains me to say that a lot of people (myself included) can get stuck in the rut of endlessly planning for weeks, months, and years at a time.

Having plan upon plan stacking up with nothing to show for any of that effort spent in the planning phase. A bunch of plans and no forward-moving action.

What a waste of time and mental energy!

And, we don’t want to waste time or mental energy. We need as much of it as we can get to successfully navigate in this life. Therefore, we really CAN’T afford to waste any of it.

So, let’s make an agreement today — an agreement to work on making sure we actually execute our best-laid-out plans. I mean . . . at least, try to give it a good run instead of petering out before we even get started. That way, we can say that we DID try. We got the action part of our plan rolling, even if we ended up failing to carry it out to the end.

The START to your goal is important, and you’re the only one who can do it. I mean the “real” start. Planning for the goaling is a START but the “real” START begins with the implementation of that plan.

STOP PLANNING and START ROLLING!