Are you a good planner, but not a good implementer? Do you begin strong, but get sidetracked along the way?

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	Your job may get extra busy from time to time, and unexpected things may crop up that demand your immediate attention.

It takes work to put together a career plan. You have to combine courage, vision, and the specifics of what needs to happen when. When you put these elements together, you create a workable plan that can take you from point A to point B in a powerful and focused manner.

Once you have a plan, you are at the implementation stage. Once you know what you want, you then have to take the steps to actually realize your plan.

The process of implementing your plan can be divided into three components:

1. Taking action
2. Reviewing the steps you have taken
3. Preparing for your next steps
   

But that’s just the short version. Let's go through each one of the steps in more detail.

1. Taking action

Goals are reached when you are actively working towards them. Mapping out what you are going to do — and then doing it — is your recipe for success.

If you were to complete one step from your plan every day, you would have taken thirty steps by the end of one month and 365 steps by the end of one year. These small steps can take you a long way. Small steps add up to big ones. Your plan is going to be achieved one step at a time.

2. Reviewing the steps you have taken

On some days, you will do everything you have planned, and on other days you will not. Don't let this discourage you.

Sometimes you may feel that you are not progressing as quickly as you'd like. At these times, remember that despite your best intentions, you are not a machine. Your job may get extra busy from time to time, and unexpected things may crop up that demand your immediate attention. Of course, you must take care of these things. You also need to take time out for rest if you are feeling exhausted. It’s okay to stray slightly from your plan every once in a while. That said, if you have begun to neglect it completely, it is important to figure out why. Are you afraid to take the next step? Are you truly committed? Do you need to revisit the steps in your plan and revise them? It is fine to take a step back or a break, if that's what you think you need to do in order to move forward again.

If you do decide to take a break, ask yourself:

• Do I need to tweak my plan?
• Do I need to readjust the priority of my steps?
• Do I need to rearrange the schedule of the steps in my calendar?
  

Part of implementing a plan is learning what works and what doesn't. Review and reassess as much as you feel you need to. This is a normal part of the process.

3. Preparing for your next steps

Make it a habit to sit down with your calendar on Sunday evenings. Go over your plan and the steps you will be working on during the coming week. Write down in your calendar specifically when you will be working on each step. Every day, review your calendar in the morning. This is a good way to keep it fresh in your mind for the rest of the day. These two simple steps will keep you mindful of both your weekly tasks and your daily ones.

Deborah Brown-Volkman is the president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc.

Don't forget to look at your plan every day, too. When you focus on the future, you’ll find that it will arrive more quickly than you think.

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!

About the Author

Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, is the president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc., a successful career, life, and mentor coaching company that works with senior executives, vice presidents, and managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seeking to become more productive in their current roles. She is the author of Coach Yourself to a New Career and How to Feel Great at Work Every Day. Deborah can be reached at http://www.surpassyourdreams.com or at (631) 874-2877.

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