Step #3a - Build your timeline

You've got your plan ... FANTASTIC! Now, what is your timeline?  "Huh, timeline?"  Yes, you need a timeline and yes it needs to be part of your plan ... that's why I'm calling this step #3a.

What are your drop dead dates for key milestones and what is your ultimate deadline -- when do you launch/reach your dream-goal?

I mentioned in Step #2 the importance of having someone hold you accountable.  But what is accountability without a timeline?  Answer, annoying!  I can hear your accountability partner right now saying "Are you done yet?" ... "Are you done yet?" ... "Are you done yet?"

Accountability without a timeline is unacceptable.  There might be some dream-goals that wouldn't require a timeline, such as being a good person, a good parent, etc.  Those should be never ending dream-goals. But most dream-goals (personal development, building wealth/reducing debt, launching a business) should have a timeline with milestones and drop-dead dates.  You have to keep yourself focused and there is almost nothing better for focus than a deadline or a drop-dead date!  Plus wouldn't you rather hear your accountability partner say "How is it going on Step 9ii?  Will you be done by March 29th?  Or do you need to adjust your timeline?  How can we get you back on track to meet your deadline?"

Hopefully you see the benefit of milestones with drop-dead dates.  They really will help you throughout your development stage all the way to launch day.  But during the planning and development stages of your dream-goal your timeline might be more guesswork than reality.  You need to press yourself when it comes to your timeline, but you still need to be grounded in reality.  There may be legs of your journey where you are dependent on others (suppliers) for completion and until you have contracted the supplier your timeline may not be realistic.

Of course your goal when sourcing a supplier will be to find one that can meet your timeline - they work for you right?  But let's say you've met with four candidates and three of the four tell you that there is no way for them to meet your deadline, even if you were their only customer.  But the fourth supplier says "no problem" I would heavily scrutinize this candidate and their references, as well as make sure that you have penalties in your contract if they miss the agreed upon deadline.

Once you've contracted your suppliers adjust your timeline accordingly and hold yourself accountable!

Have a blessed day!

Step #3 - Make your plan

Its obvious to most that you need to make a plan in order to achieve your dream-goal, right? We're use to making plans for many things in life.

You want to go to the beach?  Make a plan!  A plan can be simple:

• Pack snacks
• Leave at 7 am
• Head to "famous" beach
• Have fun
• Head home

The above is a simple plan ... it's lacking a lot of detail and I'd say it is more of an outline of a plan than an actual plan.  Especially if the famous beach you want to go to is Waikiki Beach and you don't live on Oahu.  Let's say you live in Seattle ... about 2,700 miles away ... by plane or boat!

Your plan needs to have:

• Starting point - where are you now?
• A timeline with detailed steps and a DEADLINE
• Ending Point - what does success look like?
• Contingencies - what if step "C" gets messed up?
• Two budgets - One for time and one for money! 

So the plan to go to a famous beach needs to take more things into consideration:

• That you are starting in Seattle
• That you want to leave on a certain date (and return on another date)
• That your destination is Waikiki (you'll probably need a place to stay)
• What if there is no place to stay at Waikiki - where else might you stay?  What if you can't afford the cost or the time in going to Oahu - where else could you go?
• What is your money budget?  You've got to be able to get there and back, right?
• What is your time budget?  What are you going to do in Waikiki and when are you going to do it?  

The bigger your dream-goal is the better/more detailed your plan needs to have in it!

Have a blessed day!

Step #2: Be Held Accountable!

Eventually you will see and understand that all of the steps to achievement/success are a must ... but this one is probably the most over-looked and under appreciated step.

You absolutely must be held accountable for your dream-goal!  And for most of us, dare I say all of us, you will need an accountability partner (AP) or mentor.  Could you do it yourself?  Maybe, but probably not.  This is especially important if you have super-sized your dream-goal!  Your dream-goal is too important to not subject it to criticism (so that you get it right) and support (from people who care enough to want you to succeed).

Photo by Joshua Earle - Zermatt, Switzerland

It is YOUR VISION, YOUR DREAM, YOUR GOAL!  Having an outsider is extremely helpful for the days when you lose focus, hit a wall or lose confidence.  This person(s) needs to be allowed to be critical and supportive.  You need to make sure that this person(s) knows what your goal is, why you want to achieve it and when you want to achieve your goal.  This person(s) needs to know these things because they will need to remind you of what you are trying to achieve, why you what to achieve it and what your deadline is.  This person(s) needs to care enough about you and your goal that they can also be candid with you.

What be better would be to have more than one AP.  And even better than that would be to have multiple APs with experience in helping others achieve their goals.  They will bring experience, criticism, contacts and directions.  For many people helping others achieve their dream-goals is more fulfilling than achieving their own.  The APs are out there, build yourself a team of them and let them help you achieve your dream-goals!