“Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1000 percent return on energy!” 

 Brian Tracy

Coming from a military background, from my earliest days of adulthood, I was taught the value of planning.  The warrior culture invented “Strategic Planning” and “Tactical Planning”, as well.  And naturally, we have an acronym (SMEAC for one, there are many other versions) to help us prepare our plans. We call it the Five Paragraph Order:

S – Situation  (What resources do we have available to us; who are we competing against)

M – Mission   (The 5 W’s – Who, What, Where, When, and Why of what we are trying to accomplish)

 
E – Execution  (The HOW we are going to do what needs to be accomplished)

A – Administration & Logistics (Handling background/research information, the plan to handle set backs, what resource resupply do we need, and how do we get it to where we need it)

C – Command and Control  (Identify key leaders and the succession of command)

I’ve quickly morphed it to use in the civilian world, but more thought can be put into the framework to flesh out your plan.  Most folks don’t have a plan or even know where to start when making a plan.  Here’s a proven format that’s been in use in some form or another since the beginning of military conflict.  If you don’t like this format, research out another model, but find a systematic way to plan your work and then work your plan.  Peak Performers know the power of having a well thought out plan and never just “wing-it”, if they don’t have to.

Ask yourself this question: “What is my plan for my career, business, fitness and nutrition, relationship, and personal development?”

Looks like you’ve got some planning to do.

Boo Yah!!