The fifth Secret to an Excellent Life: Planning to Succeed



In previous articles, we’ve looked at the attributes of people with Excellent Lives, and we began with personal integrity. From there we moved on to the excitement that comes from having a crystal clear vision coupled with the power of self-discipline and unstoppable optimism.



In this article, we turn to the more practical nuts-and-bolts of creating an excellent life.

People who accomplish great things, believe in the power of blueprints. Like many of the basic tools on which great victories are won, blueprints are not very sexy, they do not make headlines, and they rarely attract attention. But to construct the home of your dreams, they are essential!



In sport, teams call it the "game plan". Builders and architects refer to "site plans". Businesses talk about "business plans" or "mission statements ". Whatever term is used, the principle is the same: Great projects depend on great planning!



And yet, most people have no strategic plan for their lives!



If you take the time to watch, you’ll people spending many hours with a list of names, a menu, family members, and a calendar to plan a wedding, or a birthday party. Some will spend month and considerable amounts of money planning a holiday. However, ask those same people how much time they spend planning their goals for the year, or for a lifetime, and you get a blank look.



As the old saying goes, “those who refuse to plan, are planning to fail! Now that may be unfair or overly harsh, it contains a nugget of truth however. In the major issues of life, you either take charge, and develop your own road map for an excellent life, or you settle for whatever destination the winds and currents of life take you to.



Successful people know where they are going. They revise their plans as needed, but they always know their next step. They have a plan, and they expect to succeed! They are smart, quick, determined and in a hurry!

Specifically, people with excellent lives:



1. clarify their vision – their desired destination. They define what they want in detail, they put dates and numbers, dollar figures and any other specific details on paper. Ask them what they want in life, and they can tell you!



2. have a strategy. Successful people learn from others from their successes and importantly, their failures. They learn to play "follow the leader" very well, and they choose their mentors and role-models carefully. They seek out the best teachers they can find and become intensely practical, knowing that the price of an excellent life is always a bargain compared to the price of failure and mediocrity.



3. have a written plan. They have the courage to make written commitments to double their income this year, to quit smoking today, to write a book or to fly a balloon around the world. They make themselves accountable by telling people about their plans, doing that also allows others to encourage and support them.



4. They take action! To paraphrase the poet, "The best laid plans of mice and men…" are worthless without action! To many people get stuck right here. They develop elegant wonderful plans, but never make a start. Don’t make that mistake! Take action. Learn from the results you get, modify your plan as you need to, and then take more action. Success doesn’t come from dreams, but from focused, determined, and relentless ACTION!



There is another old saying that goes something like, "No wind blows in favour of a ship without a destination." Define your destination, develop strategies and plans to get you there, and then follow your plan. If circumstances change, or you decide on another destination, adjust the plan – and then your actions – accordingly. In the meantime, like a ship’s captain, set your course, let the wind in sails take you wherever you have decided to go!