90 Day Planning - A Guide

Ninety-day planning is a powerful tool for achieving your goals, both in business and in personal life. This approach involves breaking your goals down into smaller, more manageable chunks, and focusing on what you can achieve in the next 90 days. I would like firstly to explore the benefits of 90-day planning and then provide a step-by-step guide for how to do it effectively.

Benefits of 90-Day Planning

There are several benefits to using a 90-day planning approach:

Increased Focus: By breaking your goals down into 90-day chunks, you can focus your energy and attention on what you need to achieve in the short term. This can help you to stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the bigger picture.

Greater Flexibility: 90-day planning allows you to adjust your goals and priorities as needed. If something unexpected comes up, you can pivot and adjust your plan without feeling like you've failed.

Improved Accountability: With a 90-day plan, you have a clear set of goals and deadlines to work towards. This can help you to stay accountable to yourself and others, and ensure that you're making progress towards your goals.

Step-by-Step Guide to 90-Day Planning

Now that we've explored the benefits of 90-day planning, let's dive into the step-by-step process for how to do it effectively:

Step 1: Set Your Goals

The first step in 90-day planning is to set your goals. Start by thinking about what you want to achieve in the next 90 days. Be specific and make sure your goals are SMART (I might talk about this in another article). For example, instead of saying "I want to increase sales," say "I want to increase sales by 10% in the next 90 days."

Step 2: Break Your Goals Down into Milestones

Once you have your goals in place, it's time to break them down into smaller milestones. This will help you to stay focused and motivated, and ensure that you're making progress towards your larger goals. For example, if your goal is to increase sales by 10%, your milestones might include:

·?????Identify new marketing channels

·?????Increase social media engagement

·?????Launch a new product or service

Step 3: Create a Plan of Action

With your milestones in place, it's time to create a plan of action. This should include specific tasks and deadlines for each milestone. For example, if your milestone is to increase social media engagement, your plan of action might include tasks like:

·?????Create a social media content calendar

·?????Schedule daily posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

·?????Engage with followers by responding to comments and messages

Step 4: Prioritize Your Tasks

Once you have your plan of action in place, it's important to prioritize your tasks. Identify the tasks that are most important and urgent, and focus on those first. This will help you to stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Step 5: Track Your Progress

As you work through your plan of action, it's important to track your progress. This will help you to stay accountable and ensure that you're making progress towards your goals. Use a spreadsheet or project management tool to track your tasks and deadlines, and make adjustments as needed.

Step 6: Review and Adjust Your Plan

At the end of each 90-day period, take time to review your progress and adjust your plan as needed. Celebrate your successes, and identify areas where you fell short. Use this information to adjust your goals and milestones for the next 90-day period.

Tips for Successful 90-Day Planning

Here are a few additional tips to help you make the most of your 90-day planning approach:

Be Practical: I like to use post-it notes on a wall or whiteboard.?I divide the area into 13 weeks and I can move the notes (containing each goal) around within that structure.?I have also seen this done on a role of brown paper. That can be handy if you want to roll up the plan and take it to another location.

I have also started using Trello (software application) which works really well for portability and better task management.

Be Realistic: When setting your goals and milestones, be realistic about what you can achieve in 90 days. Don't set yourself up for failure by setting goals that are too ambitious.

Stay Flexible: While it's important to have a plan of action, it's also important to stay flexible. Be willing to adjust your plan as needed, and be open to new opportunities that come your way.

Stay Accountable: Share your goals and milestones with others, and ask for their support and accountability. This can help you to stay motivated and on track.

Celebrate Your Successes: When you achieve a milestone or reach a goal, take time to celebrate your success. This will help you to stay motivated and energized for the next 90-day period.

In conclusion, 90-day planning is a powerful tool for achieving your goals. By breaking your goals down into smaller, more manageable chunks, and focusing on what you can achieve in the next 90 days, you can stay focused, motivated, and accountable. Use the step-by-step guide and tips above to create your own 90-day plan, and start making progress towards your goals today.