Work the Plan

As 2016 comes to a close and the dawn of the new year is upon us, it’s time to get serious about our collective vision for 2017.  What kind of year do you plan to have?  Will it be productive?  Exciting?  Exhausting?  Enthralling?  How do you plan to leave your mark?  Of course, whatever your response to these and similar questions, the operative must be “plan.”

The ages old phrase (and derivations thereof), “plan your work, then work your plan,” has been ascribed to many different sources over the years and, yet, it has never been more apt than it is right now.  I urge you to utter it yourself and to live by it!

In addition to my work as a Networking speaker, facilitator and coach, I also work with clients on their strategic planning.  Yet, just like the cobbler’s children who have no shoes of their own, it’s been many years since I dove in to do strategic planning for my own business.  So, I decided to change things up over the past week and went off on a planning retreat of my own to really think about the kind of year I expect 2017 to be for my business, my family and myself. With my laptop, a flipchart, markers and a bevy of ideas, I set out to organize myself for the coming year.  It was invigorating!

Putting myself through the paces I would subject a willing client to, I documented and, in some cases, reaffirmed the following:

• Purpose.  Think of this as mission and/or vision.  Mine is, “To Connect, Inspire and Empower Community.”
• Strategic Imperatives. 3-5 high level goals for the next year or so (may hold true over multiple years).
• Objectives.  What I plan to accomplish.
• Metrics.  Ways I will measure my progress and success.
• Tactics.  How I plan to accomplish my objectives.

I’m ready to get started WORKING MY PLAN.  In fact, I’ve already teed up several messages that will go out after the break, scheduled a few meetings and established action items to ensure I hit the ground running once everyone is back to work following the holidays.

Can I help you and your organization get ready for the next year?  Contact me!  I’d love to work with you on some strategic planning of your own – let’s plan your work so you can work your plan.  Happy New Year!