I've wanted to post tips about business from a research I am still about to start, until I accidentally saw one of my favorite pocket books by John Maxwell. One of the topics in this book is about planning and I thought this is very relevant to business since the first thing that should be done to start or sustain a business is to plan, and planning ahead is a best practice. Here are John Maxwell's tips in planning ahead:
1. Predetermine a course of action. You'll never reach your goals until you discover the vehicle and direction needed to get you there. Just as road signs and mileage markers are indicators of progress made toward a geographical goal, so is the need for preplanned activity to help each person arrive successfully in all areas of life.
2. Lay out your goals.
3. Adjust your priorities. Once your goals are set, there will be some rearranging of your priorities. Well-defined goals very quickly expose activities that are hindering progress toward certain objectives. Too often people tend to major on minors and to minor on majors.
4. Notify your personnel. Any great endeavor will take energy. People will supply energy. It's very important to communicate and receive positive feedback from those who are needed to help you reach the goal. Those who are informed and have positive feedback will help carry the ball toward the goal.
5. Allow time for acceptance. Any new idea takes time before it can be fully endorsed. Proper presentation of ideas allows time for questions and considerations.
6. Head into action. After sufficient time is given to adopt new ideas, get going! Remember - nothing will ever be accomplished if you wait for everyone's approval or for the plan to be perfect.
7. Expect problems. No plan eliminates problems. Excellent planning will remove some obstacles, but not all of them.
8. Always point to the success of an endeavor. This is a great motivational tool when building for tomorrow. Sure, there will be mistakes and fumbles, but don't worry - someone will always be around.
9. Daily review your planning. The longer the projection, the greater the variation. Check daily to make sure you're still on target. If not, make the needed adjustments, and continue on toward success. A quick review is important to help us plan ahead.
After typing on this post what I thought are important details to share from John Maxwell's book, I don't feel like pursuing my research because it seems everything I need at the moment are already here. This is the second time this book, "Think On These Things" has helped me unexpectedly. The first time was even one of those events in my life I've considered miracles. Who knows, what this post can do or the outcome of my task later based on this, can be another miracle!
1. Predetermine a course of action. You'll never reach your goals until you discover the vehicle and direction needed to get you there. Just as road signs and mileage markers are indicators of progress made toward a geographical goal, so is the need for preplanned activity to help each person arrive successfully in all areas of life.
2. Lay out your goals.
3. Adjust your priorities. Once your goals are set, there will be some rearranging of your priorities. Well-defined goals very quickly expose activities that are hindering progress toward certain objectives. Too often people tend to major on minors and to minor on majors.
4. Notify your personnel. Any great endeavor will take energy. People will supply energy. It's very important to communicate and receive positive feedback from those who are needed to help you reach the goal. Those who are informed and have positive feedback will help carry the ball toward the goal.
5. Allow time for acceptance. Any new idea takes time before it can be fully endorsed. Proper presentation of ideas allows time for questions and considerations.
6. Head into action. After sufficient time is given to adopt new ideas, get going! Remember - nothing will ever be accomplished if you wait for everyone's approval or for the plan to be perfect.
7. Expect problems. No plan eliminates problems. Excellent planning will remove some obstacles, but not all of them.
8. Always point to the success of an endeavor. This is a great motivational tool when building for tomorrow. Sure, there will be mistakes and fumbles, but don't worry - someone will always be around.
9. Daily review your planning. The longer the projection, the greater the variation. Check daily to make sure you're still on target. If not, make the needed adjustments, and continue on toward success. A quick review is important to help us plan ahead.
After typing on this post what I thought are important details to share from John Maxwell's book, I don't feel like pursuing my research because it seems everything I need at the moment are already here. This is the second time this book, "Think On These Things" has helped me unexpectedly. The first time was even one of those events in my life I've considered miracles. Who knows, what this post can do or the outcome of my task later based on this, can be another miracle!
