Planning for Success: A Guide to Achieving Goals

In this article series, we’re giving you all our best advice to make your plans a success. Because we know everybody is unique in their approach to goals & planning, we’ve asked each of our team members to share what works (& what doesn’t) for them. We open this series with insights from our Founder & CEO, Kathrine Farris.

Read this article to gain insight on:

The #’s behind all those goals
Why your goals aren’t being met
The power of planning effectively
Our #1 planning tool is…
Plus, Get your FREE 90-Day Planning Guide!

Is goal-setting important to you?
If you’re like most folks, the answer is a resounding YES!

Statistics tell us that goals matter to the majority of people. For instance, Gallup reports:
7 in 10 Americans were likely to set goals at the start of the new year

Regardless of what age group you’re in, goal setting is pretty widespread:

79% of people aged 18 to 34
72% aged 35 to 54
62% aged 55 and older

In case you wondered… while there seems to be no difference by gender when it comes to goal setting, the practice is more common in high-income earners and college graduates.

Why Your Goals Aren’t Being Met

Be honest: How many times have you personally set a goal, only to have it fizzle out?

Goals are something most of us value, but there seems to be a big disconnect.

Why aren’t we actually achieving the goals we set?

It’s simple. Consider that infamous saying:

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

That’s why I love a good plan! When a plan is well done, it saves time, energy, and money. Planning is part of my DNA – for better or worse, I plan everything. Without a plan, I lack motivation and end up frustrated with the results. Maybe you can relate!

The Power of Effective Planning

Because planning is the backbone to executing your goal, it makes sense that you need to create a plan that has the greatest chance of success. The best plans are:

Well-documented and repeatable
Easy to follow, bringing clarity to both each step of a project, and each role within it

This means it’s well worth putting in the time at the beginning of a project to ensure it’s done right the first time.

In marketing (and life!), planning should:

Be a realistic balance of structure and flexibility
Have goals and expectations, timelines and estimates

However, to avoid disappointment, there also needs to be room built in for variations, creative bursts, brainstorming sessions, and unexpected pivots.

How is Effective Planning Accomplished?

That’s fairly simple…with the right people in place and the right tools for the job.

If you have the right team and advisors in place, you can save countless headaches and often speed up the process. It’s important to build a team that complements each other and brings expert awareness to each area of a project. Follow up by actively soliciting feedback and incorporating everyone throughout the process.

It’s equally valuable to invest in the right planning tools. Planning tools can help streamline processes, reduce operational oversight, and free up your team for more creative and profitable endeavors.

Teamwork, Our #1 Planning Tool

We often get asked what our favorite planning tool is. The answer is Teamwork, both figuratively and literally 😊

Teamwork is our online project management system. This program allows everyone to see the big picture milestones as well as all the small task details in a single, organized place. We take notes on each step and communicate in real-time. Also, the use of assignments, deadlines, automated reminders, and time estimates leaves nothing to chance.

Then there’s the real “teamwork” – that is, having the support of a team where each person brings their unique best self to the mix. That’s when the magic happens. Your team can inspire new ideas, foster continual innovation, encourage accountability and back you up in challenging times.

Your Turn: Conquer More in the Next 90 Days!

When it comes to goals, many people often reference their 1-year or 5-year plan. But experts believe that is too far off. In truth, so many things can happen to derail you when the targeted achievement date is way out in the future.

That’s why I’m a big believer in setting a 90-day plan. What makes 90 days the magic number? When your goal is far off, it’s common to experience lagging motivation.

What happens next is all too familiar: you lose the sense of urgency and start putting things off. Before you know it, that once so-important goal has fallen by the wayside. Cue the frustration and overwhelm…

The bottom line is that the longer it takes to get your goal completed, the higher the chance that it won’t happen…been there?

Plan your goals like a pro with our free 90 Day Planning Guide! We’re pleased to offer this to help you conquer more in the next 90 days than ever before.

The best part? You don’t have to wait until a new year to begin. Start planning attainable goals for the next 90 days – right now. Access your complimentary Guide here.

Ready for more planning insights?
Stay tuned for more on what our team members have to say: