The One Hour Plan for Growth: How a Single Sheet of Paper Can Take Your Business to The Next Level

Chapter 10. Action Plans

Putting It on the Calendar and Getting It Done

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

—Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher

He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows on that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.

—Victor Hugo, Writer and French Statesman

The immature mind hops from one thing to another, the mature mind seeks to follow through.

—Harry A. Overstreet, Psychologist

The elevator to success is out of order.

You'll have to use the stairs ... one step at a time

—Joe Girard, Author

Note

An Action Plan is a list of specific steps with due dates to achieve a priority.

An action plan is simple and powerful. If achieving a priority is like climbing a mountain, the action plan details each individual step you must take. Although action plans won't fit on a business growth plan, they will provide the necessary clarity to take action, manage your time more effectively, and make progress.

Here's how it works: Action Plans help you achieve Priorities. Priorities help you achieve Strategies, and Strategies help you achieve your Vision.

Think about it. What are the steps you need to take?

See Table 10.1 for an example.

So much time is wasted every day because people do not know what to do next. The simple solution is to define your priorities, create action plans, and accomplish ...