If You Failed To Plan, You Planned To Fail
If we really want to succeed in life, PLANNING is one essential part that you don’t want to miss. A saying says that “if you failed to plan, you planned to fail.” Indeed it is true.
Most of us when asked what is it we want to achieve in life, we all gladly say that we want to be succesful, may it be financial or relationship with families and loved ones. But once ask what is it that we are doing in order for us to obtain that goal, we will simply grin and say “bahala na” (come what may).
Not many of us, Filipinos, like to sit and plan. We’d better just do it ’cause it’s the “man” thing to JUST DO IT rather than saying or talking about it. Well… just like a house that needs a blueprint of how it should be look like after a period of construction, so are we who wants to succeed.
Planning, careful planning and re-planning are essential.
Planning is actually the very first step in achieving one’s goal. Before you even say a word, a short planning has already took place in your mind but speedily killed by your hard-headed self that have the belief that planning is just a waste of time, and not to mention CHEEZY for some. Do not be stupid, don’t just act on a thought that you never really give a thought of. Not many people succeeded by just following a second-long-thought, they laid and mapped it out then they acted on the written plans and goals.
When you have an idea, write it down so you won’t forget about it. There is no such thing as a stupid idea unless you ponder about it so do not be shy to yourself when you found your self writing down your idea. Remember that a simple and may seem small idea of today may be the biggest thing the world would ever know tomorrow. If it’s appropriate or if you are having a hard time constructing your thoughts, draw them, map them out, draw graphs and lines if needed. This will make it easier for you and to someone whom you will share your ideas with to understand and remember it.
Now think about your idea over and over until you feel that this is it that you wanted to do, to achieve. Ask your self;
- is it in line with my beliefs and principle?
- is it safe?
- will it hurt me or someone?
You know where I am going here 
Carefully consider how your skills, possessions, family members and friends, education, time etc. can help you realize your plans. This will give you confidence that you can do it and achieving it will be a lot clearer.
Consider asking other’s help but be careful in choosing whom you will share it to. Sometimes sharing a bright idea to a wrong person or group of people is the reason why an idea do not progress. Once you found that person whom you can trust in sharing your ideas, work close with them and ask their thoughts and opinions.
Be specific on what you will do, how you will do it and when you will achieve it. Being specific means that you will put numbers, exact dates, step by step actions, names of people etc. Doing this will keep you in line with your plans.
Now all these efforts will be in vain if you will not embrace the cousins of PLANNING – DEDICATION, FOCUS and DISCIPLINE.
DEDICATION – you will do nothing that will take you far away from your plans and goals.
FOCUS – time, people andcircumstances change, do not be destructed by all these things. If you want something, go get it, period.
DISCIPLINE – as humans we all have weaknesses and a lot of times we tend to give in to those weaknesses. Discipline your self not to give in to them and you will surely succeed.
Let us end this blog post with a short clip from Jack Canfield, author of the best selling book called The Success Principles. In this one minute video Jack talked about the benefit of simply planning your day. And imagine what benefits you will get if you plan your life.
