7 Principles to Guide Your Planning Process and Help you Achieve Your Dreams
It's hard to achieve anything consequential without a written plan. However, putting a plan on paper isn't enough. Regardless of how thorough, concrete, or ingenious a plan may be, it won't happen unless additional ingredients are injected into the planning process. In my experience, I've observed seven principles that are absolutely critical to successful planning.
1) The Principle of Passion
When we're passionless, we procrastinate on the plan or burnout trying to execute it. With passion, we approach our plans with excitement and a sense of urgency. Passion gives planning energy.
Passion also gives planning focus. As Tim Redmond says, "There are many things that will catch my eye, but there are only a few things that will catch my heart. It is those I consider to pursue." Passion narrows our vision so that the plan dominates our attention and distractions fade into the background.
2) The Principle of Creativity
Of the seven planning principles, we violate the principle of creativity the most. By gravitating to concreteness, we sacrifice creativity. We settle for what's easy to wrap our minds around, and we neglect to wrestle with harder, more difficult dilemmas.
I'm convinced that leaders are too busy doing to think and provide ideas. Even the rare leaders who think creatively often neglect to encourage the people around them to do the same. Consequently, a majority of teams rely on one person for creative thought and end up starved for good ideas.
3) The Principle of Influence
When you prepare your plans, ask yourself the question, "Am I able to influence the resources needed to fulfill my planning and mission?" To accomplish your plan, you'll need influence over people, finances, and your schedule.
The support of people, especially other influencers, can make or break your plan. Make a priority to build relationships with them. In particular, find the key to their lives by learning what matters most to them. If you continually add value to the influencers around you in meaningful ways, then you'll be more likely to receive their assistance when you need it.
4) The Principle of Priorities
I'm amazed by the amount of people who begin to plan their careers before taking the time to prioritize their lives. You have no right, nor any reason, to start planning your life until you know what you're living for and what you're willing to die for. It's important to find your purpose so that you run, not on the fast track, but on your track.
The key to a prioritized life is concentration followed by elimination. As Peter Drucker observed, "Concentration is the key to economic results. No other principle of effectiveness is violated as constantly today as the basic principal of concentration. Our motto seems to be, let's do a little bit of everything." We must cease to dabble in everything before we can become excellent at anything.
5) The Principle of Flexibility
In leadership, be mentally prepared that not everything will go according to your plans. Then, when plans unfold unexpectedly, you'll be prepared to see new opportunities. Some of the best things I've received in life have been surprises that I could never have planned in advance.
When plans go awry, don't just stand there. By staying in motion, you create movement. Be resourceful enough to improvise when circumstances push you off course.
6) The Principle of Timing
I credit Robert Schuller for teaching me a lesson about timing-the peak-to-peak principle. Most of the time, our decisions are based on our emotional environment rather than reality. When we're in the valleys of life, we don't see clearly. Our perspective is limited, and all we see are the problems around us. In the valleys we make decisions, not to better ourselves, but to escape our problems.
Never make a major decision in the valleys. Wait until you get to the peak where you can see clearer and farther. By reserving big choices for the peaks, you'll avoid making rash decisions that you'll regret later.
7) The Principle of Teamwork
A worthwhile plan ought to be bigger than your abilities. You shouldn't be able to accomplish it alone. Each of us has areas of weakness, blind spots, and shortcomings. Unless we rely on a team to help us, our plans succumb to our personal limitations.
A sign in Coach Bill Parcells' office stated his philosophy plainly, "Individuals play the game but teams win championships." What we can do alone pales in comparison to the potential we have when we work together.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Atomic Bomb
King Josiah led himself and his people for 31 years focusing on God. His own spiritual hunger for transformation began to change the entire public. He is a perfect example of someone who started inside on these changes first and then created a large impact. You and I are meant to do the same. Starting with us as individuals then to our households, work, ministry, community, and throughout the world.What did King Josiah do in his time? After 10 years on the throne when he was a teenager he sent several men to the high priest to get the process going for repairing the temple. While they were working the high priest found "the book of the law". After finding this the bible says this in 2 Kings 22:8-13:8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord's Temple!" Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.9 Shaphan went to the king and reported, "Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple." 10 Shaphan also told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll." So Shaphan read it to the king.11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king's personal adviser: 13 "Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord's great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do."His heart and love for God created a nation dedicated to grow towards HIM.
Leaders make a big impact just like an atomic bomb, they implode before they explode.
What about you and I? Are we ready to implode and take God into our hearts so we can let HIS love explode through us and transform not only our lives but the lives of others?
Leaders make a big impact just like an atomic bomb, they implode before they explode.
What about you and I? Are we ready to implode and take God into our hearts so we can let HIS love explode through us and transform not only our lives but the lives of others?
4 D's Desire
I really look forward to blogging about Leadership Principles, but more importantly about the one who created them all. Prior to falling in love with Christ I was growing up to be a business man. I wanted to grow, develop, and help others do the same. After years of chasing success, God gifted me with a mentor who actually starting using the Bible to teach success principles. Time after time I was amazed at how the scripture was so clearly stating some success concept that I had learned. After awhile I realized that all of it was from HIM. This posed another question for me,"Who was HE?!!" Who was the man behind all of this revelation and guidance that could help with health, marriages, finances, and every other thing worthwhile? That was when I started to commit my life to Jesus Christ and live my life for HIM as He did for me and all of us.
My bent will be to share these worldy concepts and show how they tie into scripture or truthfully more how scripture ties into the world. The first will be a lesson I love called the 4 D's. We will cover one at a time.
1. DESIRE!! All of our dreams start as a desire that has been gifted to us from God. These desires are meant to carry us from the baggage of our past and bring us into a situation in which God is glorified by our lives.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you-rise to a new life! Shine be radiant with the glory of the Lord, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
How great is that! Our light has come! The glory of the Lord has risen upon us! That sounds like someone who has been given the opportunity to dream. To take that initial spark of a desire and rise up into the new day into the new season. To get rid of all the past depression and things that have held us back!
Also..
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Notice it says "ALL THINGS". Now if Jesus says no to something, then I think we can all agree to shut that door and look for where He would prefer for us to be. But have you ever shut your own desire down? Have you ever shut your own door? We need to fan those flames and glorify HIM through our actions to the call. Jesus Christ can allow us to have a desire to be able to dream again. Now is the time!
My bent will be to share these worldy concepts and show how they tie into scripture or truthfully more how scripture ties into the world. The first will be a lesson I love called the 4 D's. We will cover one at a time.
1. DESIRE!! All of our dreams start as a desire that has been gifted to us from God. These desires are meant to carry us from the baggage of our past and bring us into a situation in which God is glorified by our lives.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you-rise to a new life! Shine be radiant with the glory of the Lord, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
How great is that! Our light has come! The glory of the Lord has risen upon us! That sounds like someone who has been given the opportunity to dream. To take that initial spark of a desire and rise up into the new day into the new season. To get rid of all the past depression and things that have held us back!
Also..
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Notice it says "ALL THINGS". Now if Jesus says no to something, then I think we can all agree to shut that door and look for where He would prefer for us to be. But have you ever shut your own desire down? Have you ever shut your own door? We need to fan those flames and glorify HIM through our actions to the call. Jesus Christ can allow us to have a desire to be able to dream again. Now is the time!
2nd D Decision
We are covering a lesson I love called the 4 D's. The first one written on the previous post was DESIRE! Time for the Second D! DECISION
Rev. 3:15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
Just like the bible says to be successful in anything, we need to make a decision. Many of us have wishes, sometimes needs, but that really doesn't matter. The world needs more than just wishes and needs. The world needs people ready to get something done and glorify Christ through our actions. In order to make things happen, we need to make a decision.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your plans to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Of course we are assuming this decision is what God has in store for your life. Once you have that confirmed, then make it clear and commit. Even John Wayne said, "True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done."
These decisions won't always be easy and could end in failure according to man's standards, but to the Glory of God we must take a stand on what He wants for our lives. In Esther 14:16 we see her strength and commitment through her decision.
Esther 14:16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
Every decision you make is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. And Whose You Are! When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes and you begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what God brought you here to do.
God has given you a purpose in this life to glorify HIM and to allow others to know HIM through you. It's time to take those desires that He has given you and make a decision to make them come true.
Rev. 3:15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
Just like the bible says to be successful in anything, we need to make a decision. Many of us have wishes, sometimes needs, but that really doesn't matter. The world needs more than just wishes and needs. The world needs people ready to get something done and glorify Christ through our actions. In order to make things happen, we need to make a decision.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your plans to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Of course we are assuming this decision is what God has in store for your life. Once you have that confirmed, then make it clear and commit. Even John Wayne said, "True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done."
These decisions won't always be easy and could end in failure according to man's standards, but to the Glory of God we must take a stand on what He wants for our lives. In Esther 14:16 we see her strength and commitment through her decision.
Esther 14:16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
Every decision you make is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. And Whose You Are! When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes and you begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what God brought you here to do.
God has given you a purpose in this life to glorify HIM and to allow others to know HIM through you. It's time to take those desires that He has given you and make a decision to make them come true.
3rd D Determination
Determination-
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Dreams are conceived long before they are acheived. The period of time between the birth of a dream and its realization is always a process. This period is filled with doubts, adversity, changes and surprises. During the process, you will experience good days and bad days. And frequently you will be faced with a dilemmea: Do you give up or go on? Without hesitation, I can give you the answer: Don't give up on your dream.
You were built for accomplishing things and allowing the glory of God to shine through you, to be a living testimony. However, this glory is not always going to come easy. Grace Hopper, American Computer Scientist said, "A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."
How many things never happen because people quit. All of the successful people have had to persist far longer than they wanted to. How would you get away without it? You will see tough times, but haven’t you already. Have you noticed that life has been filled with tough challenges since you were born and they will continue.
Most people over-estimate where they will be in one year but far under-estimate where they will be in 10. This is why people fail so often. They expect a "get rich" quick mentality. The media glorifies situations that happen so fast that we think that is how success was attained by all. We often feel like failures if success takes awhile and we have to go through some things.
James 1:2-4 said,"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
People have a lack of focus, and play the vitual lottery instead of fighting through with determination. This creates a mentality of being a jack of all trades and master of none. We will have to pay the price in full and up front for these goals to be accomplished. These goals will call for action and we need to be able to work towards higher levels of action as part of our process. Some of these goals and dreams you have set forth will take time. Did you take time to get to this point in your life?
"I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed; and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying." Tom Hopkins
You've got this! Fight through with determination and allow God to shine through you like He did with our heros of the past.
Therefore, when you pass through those waters of difficulty, and the flames of distress, know that God is always there with you. For, The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. ( Nahum 1:7 )
So my friends, always remember that you are walking hand in hand with your Heavenly Father when those difficult times arrive as they will, and that He loves you very much because you are one of His beloved children!
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Dreams are conceived long before they are acheived. The period of time between the birth of a dream and its realization is always a process. This period is filled with doubts, adversity, changes and surprises. During the process, you will experience good days and bad days. And frequently you will be faced with a dilemmea: Do you give up or go on? Without hesitation, I can give you the answer: Don't give up on your dream.
You were built for accomplishing things and allowing the glory of God to shine through you, to be a living testimony. However, this glory is not always going to come easy. Grace Hopper, American Computer Scientist said, "A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."
How many things never happen because people quit. All of the successful people have had to persist far longer than they wanted to. How would you get away without it? You will see tough times, but haven’t you already. Have you noticed that life has been filled with tough challenges since you were born and they will continue.
Most people over-estimate where they will be in one year but far under-estimate where they will be in 10. This is why people fail so often. They expect a "get rich" quick mentality. The media glorifies situations that happen so fast that we think that is how success was attained by all. We often feel like failures if success takes awhile and we have to go through some things.
James 1:2-4 said,"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
People have a lack of focus, and play the vitual lottery instead of fighting through with determination. This creates a mentality of being a jack of all trades and master of none. We will have to pay the price in full and up front for these goals to be accomplished. These goals will call for action and we need to be able to work towards higher levels of action as part of our process. Some of these goals and dreams you have set forth will take time. Did you take time to get to this point in your life?
"I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed; and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying." Tom Hopkins
You've got this! Fight through with determination and allow God to shine through you like He did with our heros of the past.
Therefore, when you pass through those waters of difficulty, and the flames of distress, know that God is always there with you. For, The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. ( Nahum 1:7 )
So my friends, always remember that you are walking hand in hand with your Heavenly Father when those difficult times arrive as they will, and that He loves you very much because you are one of His beloved children!
4th D Discipline
Proverbs 12:1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid!
We don't want to be stupid!
At the end of the day what are all the disciplines boiled down too? It all has to do with Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
How about you? How is your self-discipline? Plato said, " The first and best victory is to conquer self." If you want to be self-disciplined follow these points:1. Challenge your excuses.Get rid of the tendency to make excuses. If you come up with reasons why you aren't self-disciplined, realize these are barriers to your success that must be removed. We all have reasons why it's not convenient but the leader gets rid of those reasons in their mind so they can go on to the next level.2. Develop and maintain your priorities.Everyone is busy, but successful people have a plan. Figure out what is necessary for your goal and let the other stuff go. This will make it much easier to focus.3. Stay focused on results.Most of us want to focus on the difficulty of the work that must be put in, instead of focusing on the results. We have to stay away from doing what feels good and convenient and make sure we focus and pay the price that is necessary in full and up front. Keep in the front of your mind the benefits from accomplishing your goals and dive in. We need to track and examine ourselves. In 1 Corinthians 11:31 "But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way." We can't coach and help others if we won't look in the mirror.4. Make a disciplined lifestyle your goal. Self-discipline can't be a one-time event. It has to be an overall life philosophy. Develop systems and routines in all areas but specifically to the areas that are important to your main prioirities. Once you have them, put them into play every day.5. Rewards come at the end.If you lack self-discipline, it could be you are in the habit of eating dessert before you've eaten your vegetables. Success will always separate between the shirkers and the workers, because if it didn't we'd all be lazy.
At the end of the day...Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men. Since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
We don't want to be stupid!
At the end of the day what are all the disciplines boiled down too? It all has to do with Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
How about you? How is your self-discipline? Plato said, " The first and best victory is to conquer self." If you want to be self-disciplined follow these points:1. Challenge your excuses.Get rid of the tendency to make excuses. If you come up with reasons why you aren't self-disciplined, realize these are barriers to your success that must be removed. We all have reasons why it's not convenient but the leader gets rid of those reasons in their mind so they can go on to the next level.2. Develop and maintain your priorities.Everyone is busy, but successful people have a plan. Figure out what is necessary for your goal and let the other stuff go. This will make it much easier to focus.3. Stay focused on results.Most of us want to focus on the difficulty of the work that must be put in, instead of focusing on the results. We have to stay away from doing what feels good and convenient and make sure we focus and pay the price that is necessary in full and up front. Keep in the front of your mind the benefits from accomplishing your goals and dive in. We need to track and examine ourselves. In 1 Corinthians 11:31 "But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way." We can't coach and help others if we won't look in the mirror.4. Make a disciplined lifestyle your goal. Self-discipline can't be a one-time event. It has to be an overall life philosophy. Develop systems and routines in all areas but specifically to the areas that are important to your main prioirities. Once you have them, put them into play every day.5. Rewards come at the end.If you lack self-discipline, it could be you are in the habit of eating dessert before you've eaten your vegetables. Success will always separate between the shirkers and the workers, because if it didn't we'd all be lazy.
At the end of the day...Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men. Since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
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