PLANNING vs. DOING

Many of us love planning.

We are usually thrilled by elaborate plans of the future or an event. Some call it 'positive dreaming'. Others call it 'goal-setting'.

Planning is important. A good plan serves as a map, a guide. 

But planning should be a means to an end, not the end itself.

Planning is good,doing is better.

Your plans do not count as much as what you do.

Having all the maps in the world does not guarantee your getting to any destination.

You must move.

Humanity does not judge you by your plans but by your actions.

Hitler may have had some good plans, but what we remember is his extermination of six million Jews.

Some tips that will help in 'Action-Oriented Planning' includes:

1. Plan with 5% of the time,Execute with 95%: 

Most of us spend the bulk of the allotted time planning, only to find out that we have little or no time to execute those beautiful plans.

Some spend up to 6hrs planning their day!

Spend more time doing than planning.

2. Keep your plans simple: 

Complex,complicated plans usually paralyse every muscle fibre in our body thus inhibiting action.As a rule,simplify,simplify and simplify.

3. Make your plans breakable:
Your plans should be such that you can break it up into simpler,doable pieces.

4. Always measure your progress:
A good plan enables you to measure your progress.

Vague plans like 'To be happy','To be rich' are really not good plans, but good ideas.

Be specific. And measure your progress.

5. Stick to your plan: 

Don't deviate. Don't procastinate. Just execute your plans to the letter.

To the last drop.

Christ had a very simple plan: To do the will of His father. 

He spent each day doing things: healing, teaching, doing good. 

He stuck to His plan to the very end.

He concluded with the definitive statement of a master planner and doer,'It is finished'.

Plan and execute like Him.

Good plans do not work by themselves.

You must make them work.

Plan less,do more.

And you will leave a lasting trail of achievements.

MAKING DREAMS REAL.

Most of us have beautiful dreams. Series of ideals we aspire to. Goals. Ambitions. Beautiful plans about the future. But to our chagrin and utter dismay, many of these plans don't happen. Why? Do we have a cruel fate dealing us an unwanted hand? Or do we not try hard enough? The ensuing frustration has made many lower their expectations or abandon dreaming or goal-setting entirely.

From time immemorial, great thinkers and great achievers have acknowleged the wide chasm between our various ideals or dreams and the reality. And only few persons have mastered the art of making their dreams and ideals come true. Consistently. This same art can be learnt. In some reproducible steps. But let me warn you before hand. Making your dreams come true is a continuous, non-stop process. Just as you take your bath daily to feel good, and begin to stink when you stop bathing, frustration may set in if you deviate from these simple steps.

Making your dreams come true is central to your happiness. It makes your self-esteem grow. Knowing how to do this consistently makes you the perpetual achiever and co-creator with God who has imbued you with countless abilities to make all your dreams come true. And learning this art is simpler than you think. Just follow me up these five steps.

1. HAVE UNSHAKEABLE FAITH: Faith in God, your ever-present guide and faith in yourself is the starting point of every achievement. Believe in your dreams and their relevance. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

2. BEGIN: Beginning a task is half the job. Once you have dreamt and planned, leave that stage and DO! Remember, the world remembers you by what you DID and not by what you planned to do. Start it. Do it. Or forget it.

3. GAIN GROUND EVERY MOMENT: Every masterpiece was accomplished on little step at a time. Brick by brick. Hour after hour. Your dreams, whatever they may be, is composed of parts which make up the whole. Accomplishing each of the parts leads to accomplishing the whole. Keep pushing steadily until one part is done then move to the next. Don't pause. Any break diffuses previous efforts, making the job harder the next time.

4. FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND: Once you've started working on a project, put your whole mind to it. Don't deviate from your plan. Other interesting side projects calling for your attentions are simply distractions. Focus on one thing and do it perfectly.

5. WHEN IT GETS TOUGH, STICK!: Every worthwhile goal has some element of difficulty embeded in it which we are sure to encounter sooner or later. And this is when many abandon their dreams or projects. Unknown to many, these difficulties present themselves just when success is lurking around the corner. Only those who stick to the task and bring it to completion receive the ultimate reward.

Put these steps into practice. Remember that excellence is not an act but a habit, what we do repeatedly, constantly. Keep dreaming. And then do your best to make those dreams real.