Thinking of a Master Plan

Today, during lunch, I sat down and wrote an entry into the journal given to me by my tennis partner, Leisa. The fact that I "wrote" (yes, with a pen and paper) anything down is a sheer miracle. I have some odd aversion to writing, but that may have something to do with my hand cramping after the first four sentences. Anyway, back to what I was saying, I wrote an entry in my journal that listed all of my goals for 2009. Many of these goals were among my 2008 goals, but there is a slight difference, these goals have been chronicled, documented, recorded, or any other synonym you can think of along those lines.

I figured if I put it in writing, then I might be more accountable for my actions and the results of those actions. Even better, if I let others know there is a list, then there is a little more pressure to accomplish at least some of the goals on my 2009 list. Any accomplishment would be an improvement over 2008. While my 2008 list was short and never documented, I know what was on the list. I also know that I was unable to scratch anything off that list. That list has been transferred over to my 2009 list, and it has grown in length. That was discouraging, but it served to remind me that if I didn't develop a plan, then I would lose sight of what I'm supposed to be accomplishing. I guess when John Beckley said, "most people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan", he knew what he was talking about.

Now that I have my list, I've got to think of a "master plan" that will enable me to achieve as many of those 2009 goals as possible. I feel as though I'm setting myself up with this next promise, but there will be progress reports throughout the year and that is how you will know what is on "the list". The idea of sharing the list and my progress with the list is frightening, but so are ineffective efforts - so why not? Keep checking back in the coming months to see how things are going, there will definitely be more to come.