And that’s Plan.

We almost always get to our goal through means other than the ones we put on our schedule. So why plan? Because people who don’t make long-range plans seldom get to where they want to be. In short, a plan will get you to your goal, but not in the way that’s on the plan.

So, plan. And, be prepared not just to change horses in midstream, but to change to a boat in midstream. Keep your goal, your dream. Stay firm and fixed on that. Be prepared, however, for whatever methods come along to get you there. Especially methods not on your plan. Plan on it.

How do you plan? Simple. Take a segment of time, take a goal, and divide up the latter into the former. Keep dividing it up until you have your next action step - something you can do right now to move toward your goal. Let’s say you want to produce a play within the next year. Get some kind of calendar that divides a year into units with which we’re all familiar - months, weeks, days, etc. Twelve months from now, write, “Play opens.” You have the goal (the play), and you have the time twelve months). Now, chop up the goal.

What needs to happen before the play opens? Make a list. One item per 3×5 card is good, or list them on a sheet of paper. This list doesn’t need to be in any particular order. Just brainstorm and get everything out of your head. When the list is complete, put it in order, according to time. What needs to happen first, second, and so forth. “Find a play,” for example, would probably come before, “Design the posters.” If something is a toss-up (”Do I find the play or the director first?”), choose the way in which you would like it to go, and schedule that. Remember: little of this will go this way, but if you don’t do it, you won’t get a play.

Now, start laying these out backwards in time. How many weeks of rehearsal? Six weeks? Put those in. That means casting and theater will have to be completed by six weeks before a year from now. How much time do you want to work with the director before casting? Put that time in. Continue.

When everything is roughly laid out, you can ask yourself, “Is a year enough time? Is a year too much time?” Let’s say a year is a good period of time - not too ambitious, not too lethargic. Continue breaking the plan down until you know what you must do next - something specific you can actually, physically do. “Find a play,” is too vague. “Call these twelve people and let them know I’m looking for a play,” is a workable next action step. This might be followed by, “Read plays submitted.” That is a realistic step in action that you can take.

Now, start scheduling the next action steps. When will you call the people on the list? “Next week” is not good enough for that one. When next week? What day? What time? Schedule it in. If you don’t have an appointment book or calendar of some kind, by all means get one.