Success Typically Comes to Focused Planners

The most successful people I know are those who can see ahead, and then plan for what’s to come. Businessman, Paul J. Meyer said, “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” Planning not only only makes us more productive, but it helps with innovation, preparation, and can help us with predictions for the future and sales forecasting. Yes, success typically comes to those who plan and are focused on the road ahead.

Productivity is never an accident. - Paul Meyer Click To Tweet

So, if you’re not one who likes to plan, here are three reasons to become more mindful with planning your future:

1. Planning gives you the chance to be quiet. 

You already know the importance that I place on silence. I’ve become very good at being quiet, because I have to force myself to be. Silence is the only way that I can fully think. Some people thrive off of chaos and drama, but I’m the complete opposite. I will admit that my schedule is jam-packed, and some would even say that my schedule is chaotic. But a full schedule ensures that I am impacting the most people, and it guarantees that I am making the most out of each day.

I am quiet at times throughout my day because I’m always planning my next move, and I’m always thinking about what’s happening later today, tomorrow, next week, and next month. It’s difficult to shut my brain off at times, and that’s why I’ve had to implement structured silence into my life, but I’m wired to work.

Maybe you are like me, and the only fix I have found to this is planning. I have to get everything out of my head, and into Evernote, or I will drive myself crazy. (Growing up, my older sister always had lists taped up around the house, and I thought that was crazy, but now I get it.) All of this to say, you can take the permission to be still and quiet, and plan everything out. I promise that doing so will save some sanity for another day.

2. Planning gives you a chance to dream big about your future.

The future is exciting, not only for those of us whose number one strength is ‘futuristic,’ but for everyone. The reason for this is that everything you’ve worked on in the past and are working on right now will pay back dividends at some point. This is because the universal law tells us that every action has a reaction, or a consequence, both good and bad. What you do right now will give you back something — I can promise that. That’s why it is a law. But this truth isn’t only for what we do, but also for the things we dream.

Every action has a reaction or consequence. Click To Tweet

Take a minute and dream big with me. Now, think about that dream for another minute. What feelings does it stir up in you? Passion, motivation, strength, fear? There’s an internal reaction to every dream. Dream big and then use those feelings to fuel your planning. What ignites that fire in your belly? Plan that first, give that item a deadline, and give it everything you’ve got. The fire — that’s the difference maker between dreaming and making those dreams a reality. No, not everything will go as planned along the way, but it’s still important to plan, because it will get you moving forward. And sometimes, that’s all the motivation you need.  

3. Planning actually saves you time.

Brian Tracy said, “Every minute spent in planning saves 10 minutes in execution.” Think about that for a minute. Most people don’t want to plan because they feel that it wastes precious time, so instead of planning, they go into situations unprepared. But, thinking that taking action equals productivty just isn’t true. It is proper planning paired with action that produces productivity.

Every minute spent in planning saves 10 minutes in execution. - Brian Tracy Click To Tweet

You can use every night before you go to bed to plan for the day ahead, just as designer Vera Wang, President Barack Obama, and Buffer CEO Joel Gascoigne all do ritually. You can also make planning for the week ahead a weekly ritual, which will save you even more time. When you make these small tweaks to your life, you will see just how much time you can save with planning.

In the end, plans are nothing without taking action. But to be more efficient with your time, you should always have a plan for the road ahead.