472 - Planning the week ahead

Here it is Sunday evening and I suddenly realized that I had not posted today.

Somehow, today got away from me in unexpected ways.

Don't get me wrong, I've had a great weekend. But, sometimes life happens in ways we weren't expecting, even in unspectacular ways.

This can happen in in business too. No matter how much we plan, issues and events crop up that require our time.

Steven Covey's Time Management Matrix comes to mind.

Some examples are thing that are:

1) Urgent, Important:

- getting ready for an important meeting

- taking kids to school

- a scheduled phone call

2) Not Urgent, Important

- Time for planning

- Mediation

- Reading

3) Urgent, Not important

- Most emails

- Making next weeks grocery list

- handling other people's issues

4) Not Urgent, Not Important

- TV

- Video games

- Social Media

Of course, everyone will have their own list of priorities.

When we fall into the most trouble is when we don't have a plan.

When you have no plan, you'll find yourself doing things in Quadrants 3 and 4, rather than focusing your time where it has the most impact for you.

That's where I ended up today, and I'm glad I did.

I can't get that time back, but I was reminded of how quickly time will pass when you don't have your plans set in place.

We used to make fun of my dad because he was all about plans.

"What's the plan?", was dad's favorite question.

He was a B-29 pilot in the Air Force. As we all know, the success of all branches of our military demand protcol and planning.

That's how my dad managed his life, and ours. I'm glad for it.

It's ok to let a day go by now and then without planning as long as you are aware of the consequences.

I enjoyed today, but now I'm ready to hit the ground running tomorrow.

Do you have your plans for the week ready to go?