Recently I was perusing Katie Couric’s book: The Best Advice I Ever Got; Lessons from Extraordinary Lives. It shares bits of advice collected from myriad celebrities, politicians, musicians, etc. It made me wonder what I would have said to Katie had she called to ask for my contribution to her book. One piece of advice immediately jumped to mind.
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work with an extraordinary former Olympian, Willye White. I was working in Marketing for a sporting goods retailer at the time and had not been familiar with Willye. I quickly learned that she was quite accomplished as the first track and field athlete to represent the U.S. in five consecutive Olympic Games from 1956-1972. Willye was a wonderfully dynamic woman, and everyone who met her, instantly loved her.
While we were shooting a video to introduce a scholarship program, Willye said something that resonated with me and has continued to do so for over two decades. Her pearl of wisdom was:
“A dream without a plan is only a wish.”
She went on to explain that you must have a plan, and you must work that plan if you want to achieve anything in life. Otherwise, your dream is only wish, and wishes won’t take you very far.
Think back on how often we may have wanted or needed something to change in our business or in our personal lives but never really made a plan to bring it to fruition. What happened? Well, if you’re like me, absolutely nothing, nada, zilch.
Don’t Wish It, Map It
It’s difficult to get from here to there if you don’t map the route. Sure, you can make a silent wish before blowing out birthday candles. Or you can be like Jiminy Cricket, and wish upon a star. Or, perhaps even toss a few coins in a fountain for good measure. But, if you’re really serious about making a change or achieving your goal, you need to create your plan of action.
Applying Willye’s advice in my own life over the years has led me to forgo the aforementioned tactics (no offense, Jiminy!) and embrace a methodical, action-oriented approach to change.
1. Make a list of things that need to change. This could be in your personal life, in your business, or in your career. Doesn’t matter. Jot them down. It will help you complete the next step.
2. Prioritize your list. You can work on multiple things at one time, just make sure you’re focusing on those that meet the greatest need first. If you try to juggle too many balls at once, you may quickly find yourself in a “ball pit.” Ball pits are germy – you don’t want to be there.
3. Make a plan. I’ve worked with so many clients over the years, big and small, and it still amazes me how many of them do not create a plan – a business plan, a marketing plan, a project plan, any kind of plan. You may eventually arrive at your destination without a plan, but your journey likely will take much longer than you need or want.
4. Individualize it. What works for others may not necessarily work for you. Your business is unique. Your customers are unique. Your plan should be unique as well. If you need help creating your plan, that’s okay. In fact, I would be happy to help you – particularly if you’re a small business owner – it’s my specialty!
5. Be tenacious. Again, I’ve worked with many businesses that even though they may have created a plan, in many instances it was not fully implemented for one reason or another. If the unexpected pops-up, you can be flexible with fine tuning your plan or your timeline for implementation, just don’t abandon it.
Gone but Never Forgotten
After all these years, I find that I often ask myself (and clients) “is this a dream or a wish?” Wishes rarely come true, but dreams can come true if you make a plan and work it. Sadly, Willye White passed away in 2007. And while she is no longer physically with us, the legacy of her words live on in my life – and hopefully in yours now too.
What’s the best advice you ever received? Please share!
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