If you don’t design your life or business someone else will. This past week I made a renewed effort to engage in business planning. It is amazing me every time I set aside time to engage in life and business planning, distractions come flying at me.

These are the strategies I employ that you might want to add in your planning process:

1. Thinking place. Where do you go to think, plan and dream? I have a few spots. The key in picking a spot is that you turn away from and turn off distractions. Perhaps some classical music would help calm you as it has been identified to increase brain activity. This helps me when I need to really focus.
2. Put it on your calendar. Years ago I took a management consulting course and the instructor stressed the practice of scheduling time to plan each month. In that planning time working on your life and business plan makes sense as it gives you time to reflect on your goals, purpose and values.
3. Just start writing. If you haven’t created a business plan in the past and feel a bit intimidated the secret is to just start writing. That is the whole purpose. You can change edit, add, and subtract from your document it is your plan. You are designing your life and business.
4. Break it up. By chunking the process you will feel motivated to tackle one thing and the momentum will breed tackling the next step. Before you know it your plan will be drafted.
5. Remember this is a living document. Once you have it completed and even while drafting keep in mind that it is not set in stone. Circumstances change, markets expand and contract. This plan is a guide and the navigational tool for success.

Your goals, objectives and dreams are possible when you put some focus and energy into planning. The next step: working the plan.