Feb. 1 is right around the corner and as I begin month two down my entrepreneurial path, I am reminded that personal growth and development doesn’t have to take place in an executive office, cubicle or board room. It can take place in the bedroom of a 6th grader. These past few months home with my children have been an amazing learning experience for me and I can’t help but smile when I see that my coaching is rubbing off on them. I couldn’t be more proud of the strong, confident young adults they are becoming and, as my oldest daughter pointed out to me this week, the love and support of her family has made all of that possible.
I walked into my 11-year-old daughter’s room last week and found this “morning routine” on her desk. The first thought that crossed my mind was, she gets it! My 6th grader understands the importance of having a plan. And equally important, she has followed that plan every day since.
As much as it pains this Chicago Bears’ fan to quote a Green Bay Packer, I have to agree with Vince Lombardi when he said: “Plan your work and work your plan.” Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame had a similar quote, “He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.” Both of these quotes have manifested themselves in my new daily routine as I work to get my business up and running. I have always been a firm believer in leading by example, so how could I possibly look a potential client or business owner in the eye and reinforce the importance of setting goals and developing a strategic plan without having done so myself?
It’s almost February, how many of you have stuck to your New Years resolutions? Having a plan is NOT good enough, you need to follow it and have the discipline to stay true to your vision, values and commitments. For without that, chaos will surely reign and with chaos comes powerless leaders, poor performance and low productivity. Employees, much like my 6th grade daughter, actually thrive on a routine. It’s amazing what a team can accomplish when working towards a common mission. I witnessed it first hand over and over again in my career. On the contrary… lack of clearly defined goals, constant changing of priorities and a strategic plan that never gets implemented will ultimately lead to the failure of any team or worse yet, company.
No more excuses! Whether it is a plan for your business, physical well-being, financial security, or any other aspect of your life, PLANNING WORKS when you do it. Just ask my 6th grader.
