6. Make a plan.

Knowing what you want is just the start. When you have a clear vision of what you want to be and to have and to do in your life, your next challenge will be to figure out how you can make your vision a reality. In short – and here’s clue number six - you need a plan.

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It’s become something of a cliché to say that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, but nevertheless it’s true. Your plan gives you the details of every step you need to take: what, when, where, why, how, and who.

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By the time you reach this stage of your personal development journey you’ll have become accustomed to asking yourself some very deep questions and to being ruthlessly honest with yourself in answering them. Achieving your greatest life vision will require you to do real things in the real world. There can be no woo-woo, new-age bullshit about that! You will set yourself SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-framed. Every goal will have associated actions that you, or someone on your behalf, must complete.

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SMART goals and actions? That sounds awfully business-oriented, doesn’t it? Well, yes. It is exactly the same technique that we use for all kinds of planning, including business planning. There’s nothing woo-woo about it! It’s practical, and it sets you up for success.

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You might find the prospect of developing your plan somewhat daunting, but your Coach is experienced in doing this and will guide you. Once again, though, remember that your Coach won’t write your plan for you, otherwise it wouldn’t be your plan. You must own it, lock, stock and barrel.

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I’d be wealthy if I had a dollar for every plan I’ve seen that was prepared in the most minute detail, no stone unturned, complete with goals and actions and timelines and budgets and who knows what else, but then got put on a shelf. Perhaps the responsible person got a pat on the back for producing such a wonderful plan. However, even the most beautiful of plans is no use at all unless it’s implemented.

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When you have your plan, you must action it. Remember that your first step on your quest for personal development was to fully commit to change? Now you have to carry through with that commitment. Now you have to deliver the goods. You alone are responsible.