Perfect your plans.

Color Commentary for Tuesday, April 4, 2017
By E. R. Haas

"A man/woman who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door." ~ Confucius

All last week I focused on the Power of Positivity.

As I said repeatedly, we all face unique challenges... some easy... some difficult... some seemingly impossible.

However, there is one truth that you must remember: A Positive ATTITUDE always takes you further than the Negative.

Always!

This week, I plan on helping you turn your dreams and goals into rock-solid plans!

Every goal—regardless of how complex or difficult—is nothing more than a series of steps that must be completed along a path, from one objective to another.

A written plan includes all of the critical objectives that must be met to be successful.

It also provides the step-by-step instructions for the actions that must be taken, and the resources that must be available, to reach each objective.

With a clear set of instructions, you can go anywhere and achieve anything you want—one "do-able" step at a time.

No question, the first step towards achieving your goals is to develop the plans necessary for their successful achievement.

Yes, this is an obvious, circular and simplistic statement.

But if this important function is so obvious, why does it remain a problem for more than 88% of the population?

The first three months of this year are just about HISTORY. What lies ahead is the FUTURE.

Are you prepared? Do you have a plan?

Is proper PLANNING sabotaging your FUTURE?

If you have clear goals, the question becomes, do you have the plans necessary to reach them?

Do your plans leave you with more questions than answers? Why not take 2 minutes to do a reality check on your ability to make rock-solid PLANS? If you cannot say YES absolutely to 7 of these 10 Factor Actions for your Make Plans Color, you are simply throwing away your future.

(Have you completed your Make Plans Personal Workshop? If not, you may want to get with the program!)

Look at what you have accomplished so far this year. Are you on track for achieving your top 5 goals this year?

Even if you are, this is the PERFECT time of the year to revisit your plans. Maybe you can tweak them so your goals are realized SOONER... so you can ENJOY them SOONER... rather than later... or maybe never.

If you are NOT on track, this is the week to seriously consider your alternatives.

The Power of TQ Factor 5a...

The first quarter of this year is history.

You spent the TIME.

What did you get in return?

What have you accomplished?

Big things, done well?

Little things that have made a difference?

You can do better. Perfect your plans.

A GOAL without a PLAN is merely a WISH without a HOPE.

There is no way you can accomplish something if you don't know how to proceed.

Written plans are the essential instructions for how to reach a goal.

A plan is simply a detailed map outlining the steps to accomplish your goal as quickly and easily as possible.

At a minimum, it includes a complete list of objectives and resource requirements -- all organized in correct chronological order.

"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success." ~ Stephen A. Brennan

Factor 5A's CONTRIBUTION to your performance...

A high commitment to this Factor of your performance suggests you have both a goal and a plan.

You're inspired enough to have goals—and methodical enough to develop written plans.

With a detailed plan in hand, you're already halfway there.

You've overcome the fear and uncertainty of not knowing what to do next, and have a clear set of directives with an excellent chance of success.

With a detailed written plan in hand, you proceed confidently toward each of your major goals.

Factor 5A's COST to your success...

A lack of commitment to this area of your performance suggests you are someone whose goals often remain nothing but illusive wishes.

You rarely make the progress you'd like.

It may not be from lack of effort. You are working hard but too much time is spent on activities that prove to be of little benefit.

Lacking specific instructions, you have neither a clear direction for what to do next, nor any way to chart your progress.

Sure, some goals are being achieved by trial and error -- but many aren't -- and more are taking far longer to achieve than they should.

The BENEFIT of doing Factor 5A...

You have more power...

You have realistic goals, because you have real plans. You accumulate performance positives like "Well-Planned, Well-Prepared and Informed" -- immediately moving you towards the results you expect.

What happens when you FAIL to consistently do Factor 5A?

You have less power...

Many of your most cherished goals are begging for better results. Negatives like "Haphazard, Shortsighted and Unprepared" start to take their toll on your performance -- quickly moving you away from the success you want.

The Bottom Line...

You CAN do better. You CAN achieve more. You CAN attain your highest goals.

How?

Discover what's holding you back... and ELIMINATE it.

Don't put up with PROBLEMS. Solve them.

Don't permit one more minute of your precious life to be frittered away.

Take a STAND. Take ACTION.

Make A Plan!

If you haven't already, right now is the perfect time to test your TQ... to see where you are strong and where you are weak.

I urge you to take the full 100 question TQ Test to baseline where you are now... and what you will need to do differently to achieve your goals THIS YEAR... not Someday down the line.

Believe it. You CAN succeed at whatever you do, as long as you simply take the right ACTIONS. -- E.R. Haas, CEO