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5 Steps to Building a Roadmap
So you have your goals and mantra for 2021…..what’s next? This is where most people fall flat and fall short of their goals before even getting started.
Most goals or resolutions that people set are BIG. And that’s great! But the problem comes when they try to start taking action.
They feel lost or overwhelmed. They don’t know where to start. Or how to get started.
What small step or action can you take today to get you a tiny bit closer to your goals?
So here’s an outline for building your roadmap for 2021:
- Uncover your BIG motivating goals
- Prioritize
- Develop a plan
- Execute and track against the plan
- Review and revise the plan
Sounds simple right? Then why do less than 8% of people hit their resolutions each year?
Because they fail to take action. They fail to build out their personal roadmap.
Road Maps and plans allow us to make things tangible. Specific. Foolproof.
Let’s break each of these down a bit more.
1) Uncover your BIG motivating goals
At the end of this year, what needs to happen for you to feel satisfied and fulfilled? What would you love to achieve and celebrate?
What goal will allow you to wake up every single morning with excitement to tackle the day?!
Write that down. And go a bit deeper...
What about that goal makes you so excited? What will it allow you to do? Who will you impact? What in your life will shift?
Get to the heart of why it’s so exciting and write that down.
2) Prioritize
Of your big motivating goals, which one is most important? And which one will make the rest of your goals easier to achieve?
Are there goals that we need to achieve first? Do these goals provide us with new skills that will make other goals so much easier?
Do you have a financial goal that will allow you to buy your first home and you have a deadline? Make this your main priority.
Or you have goals around starting a family and this is the top priority today.
Get clear on what is most important to you, your loved ones and your community this year. Then prioritize your goals based on your life goals.
3) Develop a Plan
This is the step where most people drop the ball. For some reason people find planning either tedious or overwhelming.
Regardless of how you feel, there’s no way you can hit your goals without some sort of plan.
Without a plan, you are driving blind.
Without a plan, you won’t know when you are off track.
Without a plan, you won’t know when you have achieved success because you won’t know what success is.
Without a plan, you won’t know how or when to pivot.
Your plan is your roadmap and compass for the year.
It doesn’t mean that we always stick to the plan.
Life is full of change and uncertainty. Be prepared to pivot from the plan. To have backup options when there’s a fork in the road.
Having a plan and roadmap will allow you to navigate the challenges and obstacles of life with ease. You will know when you are off course. You will be open to new opportunities because you will see their value.
4) Execute and Track Against the Plan
A big part of why people fail to hit their goals is because they will fail to take action. Some people will plan out their roadmap and still fail.
They are either afraid to take action or they allow life to get in the way. They lose track of the plan. They forget the plan and their goals.
Do NOT make this mistake. Post and print and share your goals and action plan with loved ones, as a screensaver and in your office. Look at your goals and plan every single day.
It’s important to see how we are tracking against the plan. Are we progressing as expected? Hitting milestones as early as we planned?
Or are we behind? Off track? Is it not working? Is something off with the plan?
Life is always changing creating moving targets. We must track against the plan. Otherwise, we won’t know when the plan is failing.
5) Review and Revise the Plan
Insanity is when we do the same things over and over again and yet expect a different outcome. Don’t let this be you.
When things aren’t going according to plan, change it.
Be open to revising your plan often. A plan is NEVER 100% accurate. Last year, I had to pivot at least 50 times in my business plan. That’a lot.
Be open and flexible to changing things up. As you track your progress, if it’s not going well, consider a pivot.
Reach out to your mentor, coach or team for ideas. And update the plan.
When pivoting, be sure to focus on one new effort at a time and give it a solid 3-6 months. Then review how you are tracking against the plan.
Pivoting too much makes it impossible to discover what’s working and what’s not. And testing too many changes at once, has the same challenges.
Be patient and commit to the new plan. Track against it. Then if need be, revise it.
How’s it Going?
I would love to hear what your BIG goals are this year. Comment below.
Have you built out your roadmap? How’s it going?
Need Support?
Are you struggling with these steps?
I’m here to help. Schedule a coaching call so we can get you unstuck and build out a plan to help you move forward.
