Seriously, Though, What's the Plan?

If you don't have a destination, how do you know when you get there?

Let's be honest here. Planning, especially in your life, can feel like a massive undertaking. It's the kind of thing that's easy to start with the best intentions, but then you find yourself stuck in the weeds, tangled up in a million different questions and considerations. Before you know it, that initial burst of excitement and motivation has fizzled out, and you're staring at a blank page.

But here's the thing: if you don't have a plan, you're like a ship without a rudder, drifting aimlessly through life's choppy waters. Sure, you might end up somewhere, but it's probably not the destination you had in mind. That's why having a clear, structured plan is crucial, especially for folks trying to rebuild their lives and careers after serious setbacks.

I know what you might think: "Plans are great, but I'm not sure I even know how to make one. And what if I put in all that effort and things still don't work out?" I get it. The idea of planning can be intimidating, especially if you've never done much of it before. So, I’ll break it down.

First, let's talk about why a plan is so important. A good plan is like a roadmap. It shows you where you're starting from, where you want to go, and the route you need to take to get there. Without that map, it's too easy to get lost, take wrong turns, and end up at dead ends. But with a clear plan, you have a sense of direction and purpose. You know what steps you need to take and when you need to take them.

But a plan isn't just about the destination. It's also about the journey. When you've got a structured plan to follow, it helps you stay focused and motivated. You can track your progress, celebrate your wins, and course-correct when things are unexpected. And trust me; things will inevitably go sideways at some point. That's just life. But with a solid plan, you can handle those curveballs and keep moving forward.

So, what does a good plan look like? Well, that will vary depending on your specific situation and goals. But here are a few key elements that every solid plan should have:

1. A clear, specific end goal. This is your destination, the thing you're ultimately working towards. It might be landing your dream job, starting your own business, or achieving specific financial stability. Whatever it is, it needs to be something concrete and achievable. A five-year timeframe works well for this big goal.

2. A timeline, where you break down your big goal into smaller, manageable chunks. What do you need to accomplish next year? The next six months? The following 30 days? Having these interim milestones will help keep you on track and motivated.

3. Action steps. You must perform these specific tasks and activities to reach your milestones and, ultimately, your end goal—where the rubber meets the road, where you translate your plan into actual, tangible work.

4. Contingencies. Remember those curveballs I mentioned? A good plan anticipates potential obstacles and setbacks and includes strategies for dealing with them. For example, having a backup job search strategy, a financial safety net, or a support system to lean on when things get tough.

Now, I know this might still seem a bit overwhelming. But the key is to start small and build from there. You don't have to have every detail mapped out from the get-go. Begin with the big picture—your ultimate, five-year end goal—and then break it into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Think of your plan not as something concrete but as a living, breathing document that evolves as you do. As you start taking action and making progress, you'll learn things about yourself and your situation that you didn't know before. Use that knowledge to refine and adjust your plan as needed.

The most important thing is just to get started. Don't let perfectionism or fear of failure hold you back. An imperfect plan that you follow through on is infinitely better than a "perfect" plan that never leaves the drawing board.

So grab a pen and paper (or fire up that laptop) and start mapping out your future. It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it. With a clear plan as your guide, you'll be amazed at how far you can go, no matter where you start.

PS—Pen, paper, laptop? What about my phone? Well, yes, our phones…hmmm. Try creating your plan offline or via an actual keyboard. Use your phone to augment the plan but not be the plan. Allow yourself to be creative without using a phone app. If it could, your plan would thank you.

Onward!