By Zeluleko Zet Moyo
WE find ourselves in an uncertain era, where everyone wonders in uncertainty of what the future holds. Many have given up on the culture and principle of planning which is a fundamental culture of success. Hence why many have been questioning me as to how do we plan in turbulent times like these? Many assert that, because of the nature of the era we live in, planning is of no effect at all. John
C. Maxwell says, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”.
Failing is no one’s conscious plan. Success on the other hand is the default desire engraved in everyone’s life. Therefore, failing to plan is an automatic unconscious trigger of planned failure. Consistent strategic planning precedes great success that everyone desires. We all need to comprehend that there is no greater tragic in this life than a dream that dies within a man whilst they are still alive. We all have dreams and goals and even in an uncertain era like this one we still can achieve them only if we strategically plan on them. In as much as complex times require complex thinkers so does perilous time require strategic planners. Below is a planning concept that will help you achieve your goals and dreams in this era.
Have an action plan
Many companies and organizations have great ideas but that only is not enough there is a need to schedule and plan strategically on them. Jonah once said, “Vision without venture is void”. Thus implying we can dream all we can and as long as our dreams and plans are not backed up with systematic planning that births action, we can never achieve them. Systematic planning requires a detailed action plan. An action plan consists of a goal, action to be employed, expected results to be achieved, period set for achieving them, required cost to make it happen, key person responsible for the set goal, and the date for it to be reviewed. An action plan is the foundation from which anyone who dreams of success should build upon. As you create an action plan around your goals make sure these concepts are considered.
Clarity
As a leader or businessman being clear with what you want to achieve is of great necessity. There is nothing quite as intense as the moment of clarity, when you suddenly see what’s really possible for you. Clarity is a priceless feeling. It is that moment we see as leaders without opening our eyes yet more real than imagination. You should be able to clearly visualize your goal as a leader. As a leader adapt the skill of using common words to say uncommon things. That is to say, clearly define your complex goal in the simplest way possible such that the last person on the organogram can clearly understand it. Ask yourself questions like, what exactly is to be done? Why is it to be done? These two master questions will help you define clarity around your goal.
Cost
For every goal there is an equivalent cost. When one sits to plan individually and corporately, always think about how much it will cost to make the dream a reality. In our current Covid-19 era one has to think deep and thoroughly about the projected costs for the attainment of the goal. Many fail not because of the lack of ideas, goals, and vision but for the lack of resolve and resolve is born out of counting the cost. As an organization make it a culture to involve everyone within your organization in coming up with the possible ways of paying the cost as that creates ownership and improves productivity. When you are considering the cost you looking into the monetary resources (how much is needed to make it work) and human resources (who is needed to make it work). Those key questions will help you establish the cost required for the attainment of the goal.
Constraints
The era we are living in already has scheduled constraints like lockdown, curfew amongst others. As a leader you should comprehend that constraints drive innovation and force focus. Instead of trying to eliminate constraints every time they appear try and use them to your advantage. Let the lockdown be an opportunity for your company to reach out to everyone via social media at the comfort of their homes. As you define and master your constraints in planning your goals, you need to develop the designing skill which grants you the ability to turn your constraints into merits.
Clearly analyze all possibly constraints that can be encountered in the pursuit of the idea. Consider both internal and external factors. As an individual what are your internal and external limitations? What internal adjustments (attitudes, mindsets, beliefs, EQ) do you need to make as an individual to make possible for you to achieve your goal? Corporately what are your internal (human resources, monetary resources) and external limitations (competition, Covid-19)? Analyze if the constraints are not more than the probability of achieving the goal. If so then there is need to either redesign the goal or find new ways of achieving it through elimination or manipulation of limitations.
What not to do when one has a plan Never Procrastinate
What marks a difference between successful people and ordinary people is in the courage to act on plans instantly. Procrastination is the easiest way of failing because you never try. There will never be a right time to do what you want to do. Start with what you have and grow from there. The more you procrastinate in this era we live in someone would have already acted on your idea and technology and you will regret for the rest of your life. It’s easy for a company to postpone their goals to next year 2022, assuming things will be normal but then it’s definitely not the best thing to do as there is no assurance of things changing. You just need to calculate the cost of making it work within the Covid-19 era we living in.
Never Quit
The late Oral Roberts once said, “Winners do not quit and quitters don’t win”. Challenges and limitations are part of the success journey. Many at times we quit because of challenges or limitations that appear too big for us to handle. We don’t always have the courtesy of choosing the challenges life delivers to us but we reserve the right to choose how we respond to them. Have courage to not only go through
challenges but also grow through them. Courage is resistance to failure. Have courage and never quit till you win. As I always say knowledge is not power but only actioned knowledge is power. What you have just read here is of no effect till you apply it in your life. Apply what you have learnt and understood today and tomorrow will definitely fall in line.
Zeluleko Zet Moyo is a transformational speaker, leadership developer, and author. Contact him on: +263776089376, Azmoyo@gmail.com
