Planning Goes a Long Way

Guest Blogger- Brian Heckman

Prior planning prevents poor performance.

Businesses, football teams and militaries have a well-thought-out plan. Hours, days and weeks go into putting these plans together, and exactly how to implement them for success.

This time of year is ripe with good intentions. From hitting the gym 3 times a week to getting out of debt…..from spending time with God every day to improving our marriage, we have these fleeting hopes that these things will be accomplished this year. But, by January’s end, most people will go back to the familiar grind without discipline and commitment to make those hopes into reality.

Nine years ago I started writing down personal goals with a good friend. We met once a year and shared our written goals in these areas:

1. Faith
2. Business
3. Finances
4. Relationships
5. Health
6. Fun

Neither of us was exactly successful at regularly reviewing our goals that year. But, we made the effort. We identified (and wrote down) our life-guiding principles, which immediately gave direction to choices we faced later that year.

Since then, I’ve sought-out, and found, other guys to share goals & plans with…and now we review them together every month. Now I have the accountability to keep the commitment to my goals and plans. The book of Proverbs is full of advice on having a plan, and having advisors to help you with working that plan.

I’ve also done this exercise with my wife, which has been extremely beneficial to discuss what we each want to accomplish in the coming months.

Start somewhere. Write it down and share it with someone.