I have loved this statement over the years, dating back to the time I worked for a manager of a body shop who never planned anything. He had a plan each day of just pushing to get others to make him look good. I sometimes think of what I went through in that job for the close to two years I worked there, of the frustration of being asked to “do me one more favor today” just when it was time to go home.
We have all had managers or bosses who just frustrate us with the lack of planning; I have had my share of co-workers who I could not move to get anything done. This is what made me the super planner I am today. This is what creates micro managers who always have a hand in every part of their businesses. They watch over people who they feel they have to always follow up on to get the job done.
So, while we hate it, what are we doing to change our world to help create plans of success for ourselves? Yesterday we talked about the three types of people who are out there: one type who gets it done, one who watches, and who has no clue.
Last night Gwynne took some things we have been working on and showed me she is the make-things-happen girl. She got me straightened out on the project in a matter of minutes. See? Even I have to be pushed to make things happen from time to time.
So how do we keep a balance in our planning to become a go-getter, but not that pushy person who has not planned out enough? If you have a team of people, you need to include the team on the planning. If you are not the leader of the team and have to endure the lack of planning by the leader, you need to find a balance to get you to success.
When I was not the leader and had to meet a set of daily objectives, I had to find a way to get most of it done more quickly than I normally would have so I could have the spare time to help. Let me explain: when I worked for the boss who always came to me and was asking for “just one more favor,” I talked to the other members of the team to know what had to be done that day and then structured my day to prepare ahead of time. I went the extra mile because I wanted to do my job just a little better than the others and in this case, it meant being available to help at the end of the day when his projects came up.
So I learned to make smarter steps to get the jobs done faster. I talk about planning in my workshops and show examples of how to plan for different areas. I would work to get my tasks for the day done and leave about an hour to spare each day for what-ifs and unplanned tasks.
I learned to reduce my steps in the places where I had to work around coworkers. If I had to, say, go pick up supplies, I would group together three or four tasks along the way to get done at the same time so that I could reduce time later. Rather than walk to the supply closet three times for three separate things, I would make it in one trip.
You will probably never get to the point of not having people who just do not plan around you; you will deal with them in some way for the rest of your life. But if you learn to make the steps you take fewer, get your tasks done faster, and you will leave yourself time to pick up the slack.
Joel Osteen says in one of his books, “Sooner or later your reward will come.” Someday, you will become the manager, or boss, maybe even leave that job and start your own company or live your dream in some other way.
So what will your plans be now with all we talked about this week? How are you going to start planning to make your world better, to move from where you are to where you want to go? It is up to you to make the changes and make your plan for success. I hope you write out a plan to go from where you are to living a passion that is inside of you.
Tim Gillette is the Creator of The Rock’N’Roll Keys to Business Success, using music, motorcycles and mentorship to create Entrepreneurs who lead. To find out more about upcoming webinars sign up here . Free Online Training that Rocks
