In our business or personal lives, there are times to spring ahead and make great progress, and then there are times to stop, contemplate, and plan. Mark Twain said, “If you will take first things first, it will turn the most complex human problems into manageable proportion.”
No matter how fast we are running through our day, there are many times when we can make faster progress and achieve better results by pausing, planning, and preparing. In order to follow Mr. Twain’s advice and do first things first, we’ve got to know where we are starting and where we would like to finish. Most people today don’t fail to work their plan or achieve their goal. They have no goal or plan at all.
Set goals. It is impossible to hit a target you don’t have or reach a goal you haven’t set. Once you have set a lofty, worthwhile, and sometimes terrifying goal, you must make a plan and take the first step. This is the point when we can often fall into analysis paralysis. We get paralyzed by the height of the goal and the distance of the journey, so we do nothing at all. We’ve all heard it said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. It really doesn’t matter how far the journey is if we don’t take that first step.
Take the first step. My friend, mentor, and colleague, Dr. Robert Schuller, often says, “Starting is halfway there.” Dr. Schuller knows as well as you or I that if you are traveling a thousand miles, the first step won’t take you 500 miles. What Dr. Schuller wants us to understand is that once you take that first step, you have passed the majority of people who are never going to get started, and you are well on your way to reaching your goal. In fact, more than any other activity, taking that first step multiplies the likelihood you will reach your goal and experience your dreams coming true.
Adjust your plan when necessary. Never cut short the planning phase of any project, but don’t get stuck in the rut of perfection planning. A plan can never be perfect and, quite often, has to be adjusted while you are underway. General George Patton said, “A good plan violently executed today is better than a perfect plan next week.” As you travel along your journey toward your goal, you will gain new perspective from the distance you have already traveled that will help you to adjust your plan and make it even better.
Planning is never perfect, but it is the best thing we have to get us from where we are to where we want to be.
As you go through your day today, plan your work and work your plan.
Today’s the day!
Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082, or by e-mail at Jim@JimStovall.com.
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