Forward Planning + Actions Plans | January 2012

Remember the story of Alice in Wonderland? When she’s walking through the woods and comes across the Cheshire Cat, she asked the cat, “which way should she go?” The cat replied, “well, that depends on where you want to go.” To which Alice said, “oh, it really doesn’t matter,” and the cat told her, “then it doesn’t really matter which way you go.”

As I heard this story recently re-told at a seminar in New Orleans, it reminded me of the many times I’d simply sat at my desk without a plan or any idea of what I had to accomplish that week, or even that day, only thinking that I was supposed to be there.

Like many of my friends and clients, I’d started on my own because I wanted to be free to do what I pleased, not what others told me to do. However, it wasn’t moving me toward the success I desired. With the help of a coach, a mastermind group, and much studying, I’ve realized how important planning is to my success and sanity. While not all days are perfect, with a well-defined action plan and a big vision of where I want to go, I’m much better at accomplishing those many things I desire to do with ease. Being accountable to my coach/mastermind group has also helped keep me on track.

I am now offering coaching and strategy sessions to those who were looking for some help and direction like Alice along their path. If you’ve come to a fork in the road and want to learn more about how I can help, visit my website at www.michellespalding.com or call me.