It is magnificent to be thankful for the plans we have and to take action now to accomplish them. There are many people all over the world who are running around taking action and not succeeding because they have not done the crucial and most important step – planing the action they are going to take. Before we can step up and move on our plans, we need to make the plans. Now, it is not easy to come up with plans. Our plans need to be SMART:
* Specific
* Measurable
* Attainable
* Realistic
* Time Bound
It takes time to create these types of plans, but it is well worth the effort. If you have gone through the work of creating a smart plan, take a moment to be thankful. It is a great accomplishment ad something you should be happy about.
We have all heard of the circle of life: things are born, they live, then they die. Action has a life cycle also. Here is a sample action cycle:
* Idea
* Plan
* Action
* Reflection
Idea – Everything starts with a idea, a dream or a casual thought. The idea matters little on its own without something more.
Plan – The something more that is needed once you have the idea is the plan. The plan is the steps that will be taken in order to go from idea to completion. Again, this is the hard part. The part that needs a great deal of time and attention because everything that will come next depends on how good you have made the plan.
Action – Action is the things that are done to take the idea from a pretty thing in the cloud to a real thing that can be touched and felt. Action is the car on the road, the train on the tracks or the airplane in the sky. Action is what takes us from dream to success.
Reflection – After you have come up with the idea, created a great plan and finished all the action needed to accomplish your plan, it is time to sit back and evaluate how things went.
As this shows, everything begins with your SMART plan. Even though the planning is hard and time consuming, it is worth the time and effort. While you are working your plan, you will be thankful you did the work to make smart plan. It means when you take action now, your action will be targeted and meaningful.
In conclusion, it is magnificent to be thankful for the plans we have and to take action now. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, how are you going to use the gratitude you have for your plans to move forward?
Work on being happier for what I have now and use that gratitude to help me to go out and support others.
This is something that I have been working.
That is one thing that I always try to tell myself. I take action on something every single day no matter how small it is.
I am definitely a person that likes to make plans.
I definitely need to start writing down more of my big picture ideas so I can then break it down into steps on paper.
Yikes! I have so much creative juice flowing, constantly – between creating dance classes, music compilations, yoga classes, workshops, and writing, my creative cup overfloweth. With three little ones, finding the time to bring it all to fruition it definitely a test, but it is happening. They come first, then I work either before they wake, or once they are asleep. Then I need to remember to get my own self to sleep, too 😉
I try to plan and follow through, unfortunately I have a hard time following through. I am working on that though!
Love the SMART plan. I a someone who has to have plans and a list of everything! I find it the only way to get things done. Great post.
Love this, as always another great inspiring post! I love planning for big things, it helps keep spirits up too!
I always have lots of plans don’t take as much action as I should. Great advice.
Great advice, I used to be a huge planner but I am learning to relax more and enjoy the here and now.
Great tips and advice– I am such a planner!
I truly believe that to be successful you must plan. A great vacation is planned – even if you plan to wing it!
I’m trying to work on my procrastination! A vision, without a plan, is just a hallucination
Great information for all of us! It is best to begin taking action now!
I am thankful that I have my right mind to even focus on my business. I will use that time progressing & using my gifts to enhance the lives of those that I touch.
I’m thankful for the business class I enrolled in two month ago (The Referral Institute). It’s really lit a fire under me to work on updating my mission statement, branding, website, and be proactively managing my leads and referrals. I have a To-Do I make up daily to keep me on track!
I am a huge plan maker and follower, unfortunately my husband’s family is more fly-by-night, HA!
I have finally planned a trip to New Zealand. I have save miles in my airline program for years to take this trip and finally got the ticket. Can’t wait to visit friends who live who I haven’t seen in more than 10 years.
We’re working on reducing our debt and controlling our spending – no easy feat during the holiday season. A SMART plan is exactly what we need.
We have planned out how we are going to pay off some larger bills and are now putting our plan into action. Without the plan, it would have been too overwhelming for us to know where to start!
I love this quote it is very motivational.
What an interesting take on having gratitude for our plans. I am definitely going to have to work that in to my thoughts for this month.
I’m awesome at making plans but then I procrastinate before I put it into action.
I guess I need to start making some plans! I tend to be a jump right in kinda gal!