What needs doing, how long will it take, when does it need to be done by and where do I start??? Sometimes a big goal can seem scary and you don’t know where to start or what might be involved. Often the best way to start small is with a plan. Below is a planning process that you can use when your big goal involves a whole lot of little goals / steps to be completed in order to achieve it. This is especially handy for people who are visual learners. The alternative is to just enter your goals and steps straight into your SSAB goal setting tool.
The first step in tackling your big goal or project is to use a mind mapping / brainstorming technique. Grab a piece of paper and write your goal in the middle of the page and put a circle around it. From the circle draw arrows out of the goal and from each arrow write things that you need to do to achieve the goal in the centre of your page. Don’t worry about the timing of steps at this stage just focus on getting the things that need doing down on the page. Mind mapping allows you to think of ideas in a non-linear way which encourages a brainstorming approach to planning and organising. Below is an example where the goal is to organise a birthday party and around the page are the different steps required.
The second step is to bring some order to your brainstormed steps. To do this, sequence all the steps / mini goals using the following numbering pattern – 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 etc. This will allow you to easily slot in steps that you think of later. See below for the birthday party example.
Lastly, transfer all of the steps from your mind map into your SSAB goal setting tool. Make sure you estimate how long each step will take when selecting a due date. Estimating the time will help you in checking if your plan is realistic and achievable. Your SSAB goal setting tool will list your steps in sequence based on the due date you have provided.
You now know where to start and then after that what needs doing and in what order. You have prioritised your steps! We will help you along the way by reminding you of your upcoming steps in your Start Small weekly update email.
You can use this process for planning just about anything! You can use it for big goals or projects or even in preparing for a speech. I use it a lot in preparing for work presentations and for writing documents and have used the tool to help a good friend get started with her wedding plans. Beware…a wedding plan using this tool requires a big piece of paper…A4 just won’t cut it! This process allows you to incorporate mind mapping, allowing you to think creatively and then provides structure to apply logic and sequencing.
Ever used a process like this? Think it might come in handy? Share your thoughts on our Discussion Board on our Facebook Page!