Unlocking Success: Maximizing Efficiency and Minimizing Obstacles - Change Or Be Changed

"By becoming more intentional in what I am doing in my life I will create a life lived on purpose." EM ORR

Change or be changed is focused on sharing our experience with our community. As a single mom with a demanding full-time career that required me to travel regularly, I couldn't afford to be disorganized. I had to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that my daughter's care and activities were taken care of, my home was managed efficiently, and I could meet the responsibilities of a single parent while also meeting the demands of my job. This involved following up with clients, prospecting for new clients, and ensuring that my partners received what they needed, all while meeting my employer's expectations. In short, planning was not just a valuable tool for me; it was an essential part of my everyday life.

When my daughter left for college, my life took a different turn. However, my career had also undergone some changes. I realized once again that planning was crucial to my success. I managed my workload more efficiently and met my client's expectations by being organized. This had a huge payoff, as my customers were consistently satisfied with my work. I made sure to deliver on any follow-up we had agreed on, which helped me to build strong relationships with them. In short, planning proved a key element of my success and was a valuable tool in helping me navigate the changes in my life and career.

Fast forward to the post-Covid era, and my once-solid planning process had fallen by the wayside. During the pandemic, I had to focus on the New York region, where my retail clients were based. This directly impacted my work, as the pandemic disrupted the usual ways of doing business. Moreover, I went from traveling and staying in hotels for over 50 nights a year to being confined at home, like everyone else. In 2021, I added a puppy to the mix, which required some planning, but I still found myself stuck in a rut. After reflecting on my past successes, I realized my routine had fallen apart. It was clear that I wanted to live with intention in 2023.

I realized I needed to get back to the basics, so I took the following steps:

• I identified the top four goals I wanted to achieve in 2023, focusing on my career, health, hobbies, and personal growth.

• Listed the benefits of reaching each goal, with 2-4 benefits for each. Identified potential challenges that could get in the way of achieving these goals, with 2-4 challenges for each one.

• Determined what I needed to learn or do to move forward and identified 1-2 paths to success.

• I have created an action plan based on these insights.

Writing down my goals enormously impacted my progress in the first quarter of this year.

As the first quarter draws to a close, I've reflected on my progress toward my goals and acknowledged that I haven't quite met the milestones I set out for myself. I'm taking my planning to the next level to stay on track and remain intentional. I'm breaking down my goals into monthly, weekly, and daily plans. This will allow me to stay focused and hold myself accountable for taking consistent steps toward achieving my desired outcomes. I'm confident that by becoming more intentional in my actions, I'll create a life filled with purpose and joy, with more time for the things and people that matter most to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts and progress on planning too.

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