Do you want to know a little secret to success? You want to know how to focus and prioritize your work? You want to know how to get yourself or your organization out of a funk, and increase success many fold over? Start planning. Planning isn’t sexy, it is often grueling, tiring, and frustrating, which is why many people and organizations, fail to create proper plans to make themselves or their business more successful. There are plans of many types. Strategic Plans, Annual Plans, Quarterly Plans, Monthly Plans, Sales Plans, Marketing Plans, Life Plans, Success Plans, Execution Plans, and the list goes on and on… In the next week of posts, more or less, I’m going to dive into this topic of planning. I’ll be sharing the elements of a good plan, how planning can save a bad strategy, the lies and myths of planning, and different types of plans, as well as what needs to be in them. Before we dive into that, one must have a desire to take themselves or their organization to a new level, they have to not just plan for success, but plan well. If you have any doubt on the importance of planning, take a gander at these 25 stellar benefits.

25 Stellar Reasons to Start Planning Now!

1. A plan helps you stay focused
2. A plan helps you assess our progress
3. A plan helps to avoid unnecessary risks so they can be overcome or avoided
4. A plan helps drive creative and strategic thinking
5. A plan provides clarity on activities, terminology, and methods
6. A plan reinforces your proposed budget and gives it teeth
7. A plan helps to overcome shortcomings
8. A plan helps to avoid over commitment
9. A plan helps you to be proactive, instead of reactive
10. A plan helps you say no
11. A plan helps you prioritize activity
12. A plan puts you in control
13. A plan provides motivation
14. A plan provides understanding
15. A plan provides accountability
16. A plan solidifies what you want to accomplish
17. A plan provides a road-map
18. A plan helps you understand your ideal client
19. A plan helps you understand your market
20. A plan helps to identify gaps
21. A plan saves money and time in the end
22. A plan increases execution
23. A plan separates the kids from the adults (figuratively speaking)
24. A plan gives you freedom
25. A plan sets you up for success

If you still have doubts about planning, stay tuned for the rest of the week. Lots of good stuff to come.

Please let me know if you have any other great reasons why planning is important, and also let me know any questions you have on planning, or anything about planning that frustrates you in the comment section.