Painless Planning

What’s the plan?

Well, if you tend to get stuck acting like an Ad Libber, there isn’t one. That’s because, more often than not, things work out for you on the fly. You rely on luck, a quick mind, and the fearlessness to wing it. With minimal effort the world usually works in your favor.

Until it doesn’t. Until that luck you count on stops meaning off-the-cuff charmer and starts requiring a fully prepared person.

Yes, planning is hard. There’s a whole bunch of career disciplines devoted to it, for Pete’s sake. But, on occasion, even the most brilliant of us need to chart out a course before diving in.

Fortunately, not all planning requires spreadsheets and Roman numerals and gobs of research. When your back is against the wall, start by identifying your planning kryptonite from the three options below — what is it that makes you so adverse to it?

1. When you act like a Roundabout Libber
You usually take the long way home — which makes yours such a great journey. You find insight and inspiration along the way that straightforward thinkers often miss. But when it comes to creating a plan of action, it feels like you have too much information. So you keep circling in a maze of ideas without a map to make them work.
You need a system that helps you act on your creativity. Call on your powers of invention to conjure a new form of planning, one that works like your mind does, not someone else’s. Instead of a beginning, middle, and end, consider multiple starting points for more flexibility. Each direction you try will push toward the center, where the solution is often found.

2. When you act like a Free-Spirit Libber
Your easygoing nature keeps you open to life’s foibles. You take things as they come, and people love you for it. A strict timeline, however, hems you in. Gone is the surprise and spontaneity that makes life interesting. That’s when your congenial nature turns contrary as you try to find a way to avoid it.
You need to get comfortable with accountability so you feel less restricted. Believe it or not, there is joy to be found in planning. It provides a sense of purpose and an expectation for success. Planning lets you put both feet in so you try harder (and that builds trust). In the end, you’re free to enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

3. When you act like a Last-Minute Libber
You’re in good company — and lots of it. Without a plan in place, you can put off the inevitable until the pressure builds, which you rely on to get going. The nasty irony of procrastination is the inner nagging, which spoils the carefree time you’re longing for.
You need to discover the luxuries that come with starting earlier. Truth: When you cram things into not enough time, you usually encounter an unforeseen obstacle, putting you even further behind the eight ball. The best part about ample time is that you have more than one chance to get it right. You also get a good night’s sleep.

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PDF worksheet (1 page)