photo by Stefanie ReneeGuest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Cass Mullane

Now that you’ve had time to think about what it is that you’d like to accomplish this year, and you’ve had time to consider some great strategies to employ to get there, it’s time to think about exactly what steps you need to take to get moving. Whether you call them tactics or to do’s, action needs to happen in order to make your goals come to life.

So how do you identify action steps? Let’s do it with Lights, Camera… Action!

Lights
First you have to shine your lights on a great goal. I live in Colorado where it snows on occasion, so I’m going to use this very simple goal as an example:

“Remove the snow from the sidewalk in front of my store before we open at 10:00 am.”

It’s a “S.M.A.R.T.” goal in that it’s specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time sensitive. And it’s certainly a necessity or customers cannot come into the store and make purchases.

Camera
So, what are some ways I can get the snow removed? Let’s set up four different cameras to take a look at four strategies for getting the snow removed.

1.Hire someone
2.Delegate it to someone
3.Do it myself
4.Wait for the sun to come out and melt the snow

I think I can rule out camera #4 since waiting for the sun could be a long wait. So let’s choose camera #1 and follow that angle.

Action!
In order to hire someone to remove the snow, the action steps I need to take are:

1.Send out bids to local snow removal companies
2.Review the bids and make a selection
3.Enter into a contract to have the snow removed by 8:00 am

Great! Now I have an action plan that will take me toward the goal of removing the snow before 10:00 am.

I could stop there, but what happens if the snow removal company does not have the snow removed by 8:00 am? No problem! I have Contingency Plans:

Plan A: Buy a snow shovel and have my store manager remove the snow by 8:45 am

Plan B: Buy a snow shovel, bundle up and go shovel the snow myself by 9:00 am

So, all the planning is done. Only one more thing to do: Implement the plan! It’s time to go out and do the action steps in the plan and get moving toward success!

Remember the 80/20 Rule: 80% of your success is dependent on your successful follow up and follow through. 20% is dependent on your planning for success. So spend a few hours planning and then spend the rest of your time following the plan and reaping the benefits.

For more info on Goals, Strategies and Action Steps, check out The Right-Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee.

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Cass Mullane’s calm, comfortable approach consistently yields positive results for clients. Her business and personal coaching practice, www.ProsperCreatively.com, specializes in delivering solid left brain business skills to right brainers and creatives in a fun, visual way. Cass is is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.”