The first business plan for my coaching practice was written on the back of a placemat while waiting for a lobster in an out-of-the-way shack in Maine. It was 2004, and I was on my way to visit some friends for a little R&R. I started thinking about my business and made a few notes:
- How much money I wanted to make in the next year
- How I would price my services to meet my income goals
- How many clients that meant I needed
- What kind of programs that meant I needed to offer
- What kind of additional training I would need
- How I would talk about my services
While I deconstructed a delicious lobster, I noodled on my plan. And when I removed the very attractive bib from around my neck and paid my check, I had a strong, workable direction for my business.
And I put that one-year plan in my purse and didn’t look at it again for six months.
Surprisingly, though, in that six months, I had done everything on my plan. Ahead of plan.
That’s right – I didn’t obsess, or over-think. I just executed.
Because the mere process of creating the plan – just putting my to-dos top of mind – catalyzed my action.
Now, there are those who detest plans. Maybe because they think plans are too rigid, don’t allow for creativity, aren’t that spontaneous, won’t accommodate serendipity.
[These people tend to - in Myers-Briggs talk - have a strong preference for "Perceiving", the dear darlings. They value flexibility above all and will do anything in their power to preserve their ability to go with the flow. And I completely get it. That's why I started this post of with the lobster story - just to show all those P people that planning can be easy. And tasty.]
A great plan, though, is not judged on how many tabs, tables and cross-references it includes.
A great plan is judged on how well it works.
With a plan, you know where to put your energy.
With a plan, you have a direction.
With a plan, you know what to say a whole-hearted “Yes!” to, and what to put in the “When There’s Time” file.
And planning can be easy. Easy-peasy.
Want to do one yourself? OK, take out a placemat-sized piece of paper. [lobster bib always optional.]
Answer these prompts:
- What do you want right now, more than anything?
- What’s your life going to be like when you get what you want? What’s it going to look like?
- Who are you when you’re at your best? What elements are in place? Which of these things already support getting what you want?
- What’s the first thing you need to do?
- Whose help do you need to do it?
- When can you start?
Focus, and put your best effort into these questions. When you’re done, you’ll realize that you have a plan, sugar.
Then fold it up and put it in your pocket.
And I’ll bet you, in six months, you’ve accomplished everything that needs doing.
Bet you a lobster dinner.
***
If you need a little help getting your plan together, there are still a few slots available for this Friday’s Get Yourself A Plan Retreat in Arlington, VA. If you live outside the DC-area, you can sign up for the Virtual version of the Retreat. Registration closes for the live event on Monday, February 27th, and on Wednesday, February 29th for the Virtual Retreat.
Michele Woodward is a Career Strategist, Master Certified Coach, author, speaker and teacher, who helps people get clear about who they are and what they want to do – and develop a workable action plan to get where they want to go. She is the author of Lose eight, Find Love, De-Clutter & Save Money: Essays on Happier Living and is the founder of Career Invention Coach Training.
