Plan

The Plan!

You gotta have a plan! As an integrative business strategist, setting and living plans is my jam. With Ten Touch, I have set out on a journey to make business plans more accessible and intuitive. Business plans, strategic plans, product launch plans, marketing plans – name a plan – that is what we do.

The difference at Ten Touch is that we include an important step in our planning: the knowing that life happens, and we build that into all we do. You can do this too! In creating a plan for your personal or professional life, the most important step is to stay focused on you – don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Stay true to who you are, what you believe, focus on what you have, and the resources you have to get this done – and you will get to your destination sooner than you thought possible.

Where to Start?

Before you can create a plan, you need to know a few things first. Start with where you are and then think about where you want to go. What is the distance between the two points? What is the expectation when you get there?

Plan development stays inside the box for all stages until the plan is complete. This means we focus on who we are, what we have to work with and how we can get it all done. You can check out what others are doing and how they do it after. A plan, to be good and strong and set for success, must – yes, must – be based on your skills, your talents, your purpose, promise, and principles (Power Words 4, 5 and 6 🙂)

Setting the GPS

Completing a plan is its own journey. Like setting up your GPS, you set your destination and look at all the possible routes to get there. You might take the one that takes a little longer, and that is OK, as long as the choice you make along the way are truly right and best for you.

Knowing your expectations helps set a clearer plan. Considering each route means looking at what is the expectation of when you arrive at that destination. What is the expected outcome of when you achieve the plan? Take this into consideration before you begin, and adjust the plan, if needed, to make sure the expectation is represented.

Then you look at what resources you have – for business, it is time, team, and tech. The same can be applied to life goals – will you need to learn something, get help from your tribe, and what will you need to get there?

Now you are ready to get going. Add in any pit stops along the way and hit the start button.

Once you get started, let your “why” drive you. As you progress, keep your why in the passenger seat. Obstacles and detours will come up, the “why” will help you navigate those moments and ensure you pick the right path.

How a Plan Detours Us From Perfection

The thing is, with any plan, they will most likely not go exactly how we thought they would when they started. That is OK, and that is where letting go of perfection comes in. If we try to control the plan and force the steps to happen as we originally set out to do, other problems can be created and/or the plan could stall all together.

While plans and processes save time and lost energy, flexibility is the ultimate driver. Having a plan doesn’t always mean you know exactly where you are going, but you pick a destination that you feel is the right and best direction, trust your gut and get going. Go into it knowing that things may or may not go as expected. Like plotting a route on your GPS, there can be many ways to get there. There can be detours, traffic, unexpected delays, construction – and don’t forget different methods of travel. Having a plan allows space for all the obstacles and imperfections.

Plans should have a destination defined and also be flexible and ready to adapt to all of the unknowns and unplanned. Keep going – with a plan at your side, a clear mind and an open heart – you can get there.

“There’s been trials and tribulations – You know I’ve had my share – But I’ve climbed a mountain, I’ve crossed a river – And I’m almost there”