Best Plan – One You Will DO

I’ve been a full time certified personal trainer for eight years and heavily involved in the fitness world for over a decade. I get more questions about new plans, new diets, and exercise plans than I could count. Most will ask one of two questions, “Will this work?” and “What is the BEST plan”?

My answer, after of course giving pros and cons to each plan/option, is very simply and always, the plan that YOU will actually DO.

A plan, whether for getting fit, eating healthy or a business plan is only as good as it is PERFORMED. Planning is a vital step in any process, but the plan doesn’t automatically bring results. We have to activate the plan — consistently in order to get results. A plan could even be sub par or pale in comparison to another… but if you are actually working the plan, SOMETHING will come from it.

Imagine paying a consultant for a detailed business plan to increase sales over the next year while your competitor simply continues to make cold calls in the old fashion way. Your purchased custom plan will be useless compared to your competitors old school efforts if you aren’t putting your plan to action.

Organization, Marketing, Research –

Every entrepreneur goes through a period of knowing they need better organization. So they’ll research what others are doing to stay organized. The plans pour forward with written lists, online apps, accountability partners and meetings, text reminders and the like. Every suggestion is a good one. In fact, there are some that could be classified as GREAT ideas. But if YOU find it daunting to write out a list, or there’s no room on your phone for even the smallest new app or you hate having someone ask you if you’ve done what you said you were going to do, NONE of these plans will work for you. And it’s not the PLANS FAULT! In fact, there’s no fault at all. The issue, is that you have to find something you CAN and WILL do.

Paralysis by Analysis is a danger if you are seeking the “best way” to do anything as you start your business. Sometimes, action cures everything. Even if it’s awkward, uncomfortable or difficult, put something into action and course correct from there. Another cliche statement is that good is the enemy of great. Stop holding out for a GREAT plan put to action the GOOD plan you know you can do.

Accountability Partners/Coaches

Most of us know at the very basic level what to do to have success. For instance, in the area of health and fitness, weight loss is not rocket science. It’s really just math on the very basic level — Calories consumed is less than calories burned. The same is true in most businesses. Organization, marketing, selling and research is not entirely complicated – at least to start. The problem lies in that most of the “work” to find success can be boring.

There, I  said it. The mundane tasks that implement a plan can be quite boring. So as business owners, we look for the new and the flashy and the “miracle” plan that will make everything come together. Sales will sky rocket, customers will come by the hundreds and your income will be better than you ever imagined. Unfortunately, that miracle is rare (or impossible).

The best solution for surviving the “boring” is to bring someone along with you into the boring. Misery loves company, right? This is why accountability partners or coaches are the best investment when you are looking for “a plan”. These coaches will help you stay committed to the “boring” tasks you know will move your business ahead. And some of them will even find ways to make these “boring” tasks EXCITING and could it even be possible, FUN!

Accountability coaches do not have to be certified coaches. You can find an accountability partner/coach or buddy within your business, your neighborhood or best bet, within your networking group. If we are honest with ourselves, we know what we are being lazy on in our business. Once we are honest with ourselves, we can be honest with a friend or a stranger and ask them to help you do the plan you know you need to do.

“It’s not complicated, it’s merely hard.”

In my field of health and wellness, one of my biggest frustrations is when anyone makes something harder than it needs to be. I’m not saying fitness or wellness is “easy”, but I am saying it isn’t complicated”. Many times the answer is not complicated, it just takes work and commitment.

When you decide on your plan, write a list of everything you could be doing that you aren’t doing. For example, cold calling, follow up calling, calendar blocking etc. Then, make a list of all the things you ARE doing that maybe you could do LESS of or cut out completely. And remember, BE HONEST. As you look at these lists along side of your calendar and determine what you can do every week, consistently.

If you decide to enlist the help of another to keep you accountable, think about what motivates you. Are you motivated by prizes or “good things” or are you more motivated by avoiding bad or avoiding “punishment”. This is another area where honesty with yourself is vital. If you are motivated by praise but you choose a partner who has a personality that is do or die, hard core, no excuses mentality, the plan (even if it’s YOUR plan) may become too daunting. Again, like the plan, the coach only works if it’s one that brings action out of you!

When clients ask if KETO, or cutting carbs, or intermittent fasting will work, I  say, yes, they will. Same as written planners, online apps, text reminders, checklists on your phone, prioritizing tasks, hiring consultants and coaches or all of the above. All of the ideas will work.

But the absolute BEST solution is the one you will do. I  encourage you to remember this when you’re working toward ANY goal or any objective. The best plan is the one you can and will perform. Let’s make this year one of ACTION!