Begin By Visualizing Desired End

If you decided to drive from Maine to California, one of the first things you’d do is study a road map. You’d find a choice of routes depending on whether you were in a hurry or wanted to take in the sights, and then you would estimate how long the trip would take and plan your arrival time.

What holds true for a trip holds equally true for the accomplishment of any goal. Without a road map, your mind can wander aimlessly and be ineffective.

By formulating a plan, in much the same way you would use a road map, and by being systematic and studying the alternatives, you focus the direction of your thoughts and actions and give yourself the capability of reaching almost any reasonable goal you set.

In “How to Succeed,” Brian Adams wrote, “Plans are guideposts to success. Success arrives by design; failure by the lack of it. Plans are the guideposts along life’s road to success; without them the road is an unsure and rocky one.”

He continued: “Achievements can be no greater than the undertakings. If your plans are sketchy and your aims low, you can never hope to achieve high rewards.”

Shakespeare wrote, “There is a destiny that will shape our end, rough hew it how we will.” He seems to say there may be an ultimate goal, or a divine plan, established for each person who comes into this world.

Now the big question is, how can I discern the personal path that will bring me the fulfillment of my particular divine plan?

The answer involves another intriguing question: What is the best thing I can do for myself and for all concerned in the particular circumstances of my life with respect to the spiritual ideal? The spiritual ideal refers to the purpose, intent, desire, motivation and spirit in which you do anything.

You may realize already that life isn’t totally made up of “big” things. There are a lot of seconds, pennies, ounces, atoms, grains of sand, blades of grass, strands of hair, etc. We, as human beings, are also made up of many things - the most effective being our thoughts and feelings. And every single thought and feeling contributes toward bringing you closer to your heartfelt desire, or puts a roadblock in your path.

Can you see why planning is so important in your life? Abraham Lincoln said, “I will study and get ready and someday my chance will come.”

An old stonemason was laying a rock wall, which, because it looked natural, was a thing of great beauty. The owner of the estate, while walking in his fields, noticed that the stonemason took as much care in placing the small stones as he did in placing the large ones.

He walked over to the worker and asked, “Old man, wouldn’t that wall go up faster if you used more of the larger stones?”

“Aye, most certainly, sir,” the old man replied. “But you see, I’m building for lasting beauty and strength, not for speed.”

The stonemason paused and added, “Sir, these stones are like events in the lives of men. Many small ones are needed to support the fewer big ones and hold them in place. If you leave out the small stones, the big ones will have no support and they may fall.”

Many people know what they want out of life, but few turn their dreams into a carefully planned, successful journey. They often depend on lucky breaks or the help of others. When they fail, they may often say of those more successful, “They just happen to know the right people,” or “They get all the breaks.”

They fail to realize that planning for success has no more to do with luck or knowing the right people than does planning carefully for a cross-country trip.

It’s true that when you start moving toward your goal, you’ll meet people who can help you. But you’ll know that you earned those breaks because you had a goal and a plan to help you achieve it.

To develop a workable plan of action, mentally visualize the things you want to accomplish. Jot them down on a sheet of paper, then list the steps necessary to accomplish your plan. Long-term objectives, of course, may involve more steps and more elaborate planning, but the principle remains the same.

When you know what you want to achieve, create a plan for getting there. Once you have a basic plan, be ready to adjust it as you gather new information. Then follow through until you reach your objectives.

Stephen Covey, author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” recommends that you “begin (planning) with the end in mind.” The best planning encompasses what you want to accomplish and where you want to end up. Whether it is a special project or a simple daily routine, begin by setting a goal that takes into account the steps needed to reach it.

If your goal is composed of many levels, you might want to prioritize them. Make a list, giving them a rating of A, B, or C. Then tackle the A’s first. Professional planners have shown that tasks written down are much more likely to be completed.

Remember, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Just as a road map is an indispensable tool for a trip, a plan is an indispensable tool when you travel the journey of life toward your goals. Follow your plan to a more successful life.

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