How do you get from point A to point B? Do you use a map? Try this!
Traditional hard copy maps are a thing of the past, but maps in general never go out of style! Today we use electronic maps much more than paper maps and that normally works really well…. except when we have no internet or cell connection – Ooops!
If that hasn’t happened to you yet, you are missing out on some of the greatest scenery that the U.S. has to offer and I imagine the same holds true for many other regions of our incredible planet.
So what happens when the electronic, spur-of-the-moment needed map or GPS is not available? Could you become lost?
At 220 Cornerstone we use a methodology that we have named M.A.P. for planning –both for us and for our clients. The acronym M.A.P. represents the words Measurable, Attainable and Profitable. Simply put, if the goal does not meet all three criteria it never becomes a goal.
Our planning and goal setting from long-term to daily planning employs this methodology.
For example, when we do weekly goal setting, we first understand our longer-term plan and goals and develop our weekly plan to line up with and contribute to the success of the longer-term plan. If it doesn’t, we don’t include it! Why? We don’t include it because it isn’t important enough to be included.
Our goals are all intended to be only “A” or top priority goals that help promote the attainment of our long-term goals that are measurable, attainable and profitable. If they don’t, we consider them a distraction. Distractions, though sometimes fun to endeavor in and sometimes easy to accomplish, are still distractions. When accomplishing distractions we are not accomplishing our primary purpose(s).
It may seem trivial that I make such a declaration, but if you think of how the “little things” can add up to “big things” think of how the “little” distractions can add up to “big” distractions. Eventually those “big” distractions derail focus on the plan and the success of the organization or individual as well. It is really a simple, but not an easy concept. It requires discipline and it requires being very intentional.
Early in my professional career, I adopted a “continuous improvement” philosophy. One of the areas that I worked really hard on to improve was time management. Planning is really not much more than that. Really, you may be thinking? Yes, and the reason is simple: most people can develop a good plan, but few can make that plan become a reality.
Have you ever made, and broken New Year’s resolutions? Be truthful! So therein lies the key to successful planning. Make plans, not resolutions. Have you ever created “to do” lists? What happens to those lists? Many things happen and some of them cost time and additional effort. But the most prevalent occurrence and the most damaging is that the list keeps growing. The list essentially takes on a life of it’s own.
I studied multiple Time Management methodologies. Each one included creating 1, 2 and 3 level priorities within A, B, and C priority categories. And most also included what we often refer to as “parking lot” tasks, which means simply that they hadn’t yet been categorized. It makes me tired and frustrated just thinking of the enormity and complexity of that system… one which I mastered many years ago. It seemed that I had more lists than minutes in the day and I spent an inordinate amount of time studying those lists and re-stratifying and prioritizing them. And they kept growing and growing with never an end in sight.
Having lists that have no end in sight always had a psychological impact on me. I wanted to achieve or to “win” and I never could because the list prevented me from becoming successful by accomplishing its completion.
Several years ago I was given the gift of insight regarding my goal attainment process and it was very simple. I realized that if I wanted goal attainment gratification that I had to simplify in a way that I could reduce the time I spent on managing my list and more time on accomplishing my goals.
Today, I have no “B” or “C” or even 1,2, or 3 priorities. I have only “A” priority goals that are aimed directly at the target, which is my plan or our company or client plans. Each week I have a plan that I follow to move toward where I want to be and who I want to become (me, company, client, fellow teammates). It isn’t always easy but it is quite simple. It does however require laser-like focus and a degree of rigor to eliminate distractions. Only “A” priority goals show up on the plan and the plan is easy to understand and remember.
So now you know how to be successful when there is no connection to the Internet or cell towers when a map is needed. It is so imbedded in the everyday thinking that it persists at top of mind and doesn’t need to be looked up. That is significantly different than attempting to memorize A, B, C and 1,2,3 priorities.