Life with Sergeant Major Clock
The plan? Conclude our series with an outline of the essential steps in planning. As someone has said, “If we fail to plan, we plan to fail.”
First, let me highlight the essence of the last article. 1) We trade time for the things we value most. There are three time filters that help us separate the diamonds from the rhinestones: the goodness filter, the responsibility filter, and the truth filter. 2) We need to allow past performance and achievement to bring perspective into the present. The past roots us in reality and helps shape the prospects of the future.
The biggest problem people have with planning is that they don’t do it. “administrivia” creeps into your work and the trap of activity relegates planning to the trash. We need to be convinced that planning is to our success what sharpening the ax was to the woodsman.
Step One: Analyse the present — Where am I now? This requires an honest evaluation of my worldview. Those who study the brain tell us that pessimism and negativity reduce creativity, hinder sequential thinking, and distort our logic. As one man said, “The pessimist may be right, but the optimist has more fun on the journey.”
The following four areas have a significant impact on our steps of action in planning.
- Lack of purpose. What is it that you want written on your tombstone? You were a billionaire? You established a world record in the ultra-marathon? You made it into the “who’s who” of Canada? Life without purpose is like a ship without a rudder. Without purpose, planning can be an exercise in futility.
- The desire to escape. This is often tied to “I deserve a break!” We need periods of rest and recreation. However, those need to be part of our planning process not just random events.
- Self as the primary benefactor. When self is at the center of the universe, we evaluate life on the basis of how it will benefit me. This puts us in competition with others, not a place of complementation where shared resource brings benefit to all.
- Envy and jealousy. These have been described as the jaundiced eye of the soul. We believe we have the right to what others have without the investment of time and resource to obtain it.
Something I have found helpful in the analysis of the present is learning how to turn problems into projects. You write out your goal and then put down the major hindrance to that goal. Now, what step of action can be taken to overcome the new hindrance? W hat new hindrance would block the new goal? Again, what step of action could be taken to overcome that hindrance? You work through the exercise until all the possible hindrances have been countered with a step of action. Now you start with the last step of action you wrote down and work your way through the process until you have achieved your original goal.
Step Two: develop relevant assumptions— What conditions exist that will affect the plan?
A few years ago I wrote a book. In the editing process I was asked the question, “Duane, who are you targeting?” In other words, “Don’t expect a ‘best seller’ if your material only has appeal to a limited readership.” A great product must be directed to the right market at the right time.
Developing relevant assumptions involves consultation, collaboration and constructive criticism. Involve others in the planning process knowing that in a multitude of counselors there is wisdom.
Step Three: look at alternatives — Be willing to think outside the box. Don’t throw away ideas just because you think they won’t work. In 1914 Paul Getty purchased land in Oklahoma that he knew was on a large reservoir of oil. The problem—he only had a four foot right of way leading into the property. Adjacent property owners were not willing to negotiate a deal. He met with some trusted friends for a brainstorming session. The result: a miniature railway that would transport the necessary downsized equipment to the site. The plan worked and launched him into a very successful career.
Step Four: Allow past performance and achievement to bring perspective into the present — The past roots us in reality and gives us a basis for realistic expectation in the future. That sounds good but what do I do with my failure? You don’t allow it to define you, but it can become the teacher you need to succeed. Furthermore, each of us have many areas of success — exams we have passed, projects successfully completed, friendships that have stood the test of time, people who have benefited from our contribution, and the list goes on. I don’t know of anyone who has never succeeded in anything. Learn from your failure, honour those whose investment in your life has enabled your success, and remember Wayne Gretzky’s famous saying, “You’ll never score a goal with the shot you don’t take.”
Step Five: establish a start date that has the finish line in site — Our son challenged me to run a marathon. I had been running for years but had never considered anything beyond my few miles a day. Reluctantly, I said yes. We chose our marathon and then planned out a training schedule. Everything was being geared for the finish line of the marathon. Careful planning helped maximize training in spite of a heavy travel schedule. Crossing the finish line with my wife, Lowell, and his wife waiting to greet me was a great joy.
That marathon was a life parable. I embrace the rigors of a disciplined lifestyle, set my goals, invest in the betterment of people, desire to bring excellence to my sphere of responsibility, and remain faithful to my wife and family because I look forward to crossing the finish line and hearing, “Well done good and faithful servant.” And as for my tombstone, I’d like it to read, “He died climbing!”
