When Is Planning a Waste of Time?

As they say in carpentry, "Measure twice. Cut once." We've all experienced what happens when we didn't plan [measure] correctly, and there wasn't an easy fix. Hopefully the frustration or embarrassment was enough to learn the lesson that adequate planning for success is important.  In addition, most of you reading this will be familiar with the concept of "Q2" or "Important, but not Urgent" activities like planning & strategizing, and specifically how these typically need to be a higher priority for most people in business to be more successful.  HOWEVER it is hypercritical to realize that TOO much planning is akin to paralysis by analysis.
Think of a goal of yours where you have been guilty of too much talking and not enough doing... I see it all the time and refer to this as a "delaying tactic" to success. Sometimes we are stalling due to perfectionism, fear of failure, fear of success, feelings of unworthiness, or other reasons --and may not even realize it.  Be cautious about too much planning and not enough doing! There seems to be a mysterious paradox here. So how much planning and strategizing is appropriate?

Do you feel like you spend more time planning for success than creating it? If so, it's time to apply the 80/20 rule.  Perfection isn't the goal.  Better results are.
Use it now: identify your next opportunity for less planning and more doing.  Set a timer for an appropriate amount of planning time, and stick to it.  Then get up and complete 1-2 actions that get results.  Relish the feeling of accomplishment!

Are you at least somewhat consistently looking for a better way to do things?  This is a good trait, as long as you notice opportunities and limit time spent on exploring the opportunities and don't feel like you are consistently losing focus on distractions that don't move you forward.
Use it now: notice and record for the next 30 days how often you get distracted checking into other ways of doing things. The goal is never to be fully satisfied nor miss regular improvements, but to fully leverage what is currently working well and get consistent results.  You might consider keeping a list of things to check out quarterly or annually while you stick to the plan until then. 

Are you always looking for the next bigger, better, faster trick to get you ahead & realizing it doesn't work?  Easy Tiger, consistent small actions over time win the race. Remember that the tortoise won because the hare was darting off in this direction and that without real progress.
Use it now: Set aside about 2 hours to pick a realistic goal and get a plan in place, and challenge yourself to stick with it for the next 90 days.  Use a coach, mentor, or accountability partner weekly or biweekly to help you stay on course. Review and repeat.

Find your sweet spot.  Use what works for you.  Seriously reflect on what has worked well for you to date that you can implement today and maintain for a period of time.  If you need some direction, you may consider something similar to the following simple model:

• Plan annually around Oct/Nov for a year starting in January. or do it now for the rest of the year.
• Select around 3 main goals in line with your mission and vision (not sure? download here)
• Review progress and plan for success monthly (1-2 hours)
• Plan weekly for success, including a review of your past and future weeks in an appointment calendar (30-90 min). Ensure follow-up on last week's items and plan for this and coming week's events.
• Plan nightly for tomorrow's success (5-10 minutes)
• Engage daily, or at least weekly, with inspirational, motivational, "Get Good"materials that are in line with your vision and who you'd like to become.
• Take care of your body and mind to be at your best, inspire others, and attract positive relationships for personal and business endeavors.
• Remember that perfection isn't the goal. Strive to get better consistently over time.
• ENJOY the process and the results! 

Here's to your success, 
Heather A Legge
EnvisionSuccessInc.com Coaching in Business for Results

Here's to your success,
Heather A Legge
EnvisionSuccessInc.com Coaching in Business for Results - See more at: http://envisionsuccessinc.blogspot.com/2013/07/are-you-productive-or-effective.html#more