“Planning is bringing the future into the present, so you can do something about it now.” -Alan Lakein
My grandfather used to tell stories of helping his grandfather, a carpenter by trade. They would use the cold winter months to prepare for the upcoming projects. They would purchase the materials, sharpen tools, and pre-cut the lumber so that he’d be ready to start when warmer weather arrives.
In a similar fashion, every new year’s day my wife and I spend some time discussing the projects we’d like to accomplish during the new year. It’s interesting and rewarding to review the accomplishments of the prior year. We rarely review the list during the year, but its contents always seem to guide our endeavors. I believe the list gathering exercise gives us a chance to share thoughts and align our priorities; cementing the project firmly in the background of our minds. But, of course, the list is readily available, in case we need to review it.
Here are some Steps For Today tips for creating a list of your own.
– Get a small notebook or journal solely dedicated to managing home projects.
– If you followed my last post, you already have a list of possible indoor projects to put in your journal.
– Remember to date your entries. You’ll really appreciate this habit over the years.
– Take some time to walk around outside your home and add possible outdoor projects to your list.
– As always, have meeting with your household decision makers to prioritize your list, discuss funds and resources, and get some items on the schedule!
– Remember too, that this is a chance to model the planning process for any kids in the household. So invite them to participate.
Keep an eye on this site for more information on project planning.
As always, thanks for reading.
And remember to take the next step…
Mitch