3-Part LinkedIn Series: Faith, Focus, and Follow-Through: Using ChatGPT as Your Coach to Create a Winning Annual Plan in Record Time!
Thom Scott, MBA
Transformative Marketing Leader | Author & Professor | Leveraging AI & Strategic Communication to Drive Growth | Fractional CMO & Agency Owner | Empowering Brands to Achieve God-Given Potential
Part 2: Breaking Down Your Big 4 Goals into Quarterly and Monthly Plans
The journey from vision to victory happens one faithful step at a time. In Part 1, we established our foundation with our One-Word Intention, Focus Verse, and Big 4 Goals. Now comes the exciting part - turning those God-inspired goals into actionable steps that fit into our daily lives.
What I love about using AI tools (whether ChatGPT, Claude, or others) for this part of the process is how they help us think systematically while leaving room for the Holy Spirit's guidance in our execution. Let me show you how I'm using this approach for my own 2025 goals.
Step 1: Define Your Quarterly Goals
Think of quarters as seasons - each with its own focus but building toward your annual harvest. Here's the prompt I'm using:
"Break down my goal of [insert goal] into 4 quarterly milestones. For each quarter: 1) Define specific measurable outcomes, 2) Identify key resources needed, 3) Suggest potential obstacles and solutions, and 4) Include accountability checkpoints."
Let me share how this looks with my "Marketing from the Heart" book goal:
Q1: Manuscript First Draft Season This is my season of pouring out initial content, letting God guide my writing. My target is 45,000 words - about 15,000 per month.
Q2: Refinement Season Time to polish what God's given me and ensure it truly serves readers.
Q3: Production Season Moving from manuscript to actual book - making it professional and powerful.
Q4: Impact Season The season of multiplication - getting the message out there.
Step 2: Monthly Action Plans
Getting even more practical, here's how I use AI to break down those quarterly goals:
"For my Q1 goal of completing the manuscript first draft, create a detailed monthly plan that helps me 1) Stay consistent in my writing, 2) Balance this with my other commitments, 3) Track progress, and 4) Keep aligned with my focus verse about blessing others through my work."
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Here's my January plan:
Week 1: Foundation Laying
Week 2: Building Momentum
Weeks 3-4: Deepening Impact
Meanwhile, keeping my other Big 4 goals moving:
Step 3: Monthly Progress Review
This is where we pause to see God's faithfulness and adjust our path. I use this prompt:
"Create a monthly review that helps me see: 1) Progress in each area, 2) How I'm living out my focus verse, 3) Where God's working, and 4) What needs adjustment."
I look at:
Remember: Your goals aren't just about checking boxes - they're about becoming who God created you to be and blessing others in the process. That's why breaking them down into manageable pieces matters - it helps us stay faithful in the small things while working toward bigger impact.
Want my complete Faith-Focused Planning Guide? It includes all the templates, trackers, and AI prompts I use to keep this journey organized and purposeful. Comment "GUIDE" below and I'll send it your way. Let's walk this path of purposeful achievement together!
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