Planning for my goals? Oh, you mean winging it?

How do you plan your goals?

I was faced with this prompt today, and while I’m normally really good at completely ignoring them, this one got me thinking. I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately.

How do you plan for your goals? There are so many ways to answer this question. And none of them are wrong. Ultimately, there is one, unquestioned correct answer. And I’ll get to that shortly.

First, I’d like to share a bit more about my thoughts and reaction to this question. Ironically, I have recently started developing a speech/presentation/workshop/whatever-you-want-to-call-it about this very thing. And I’m calling it “The Science of Winging It!” I’m sure I’ll tack on a subtitle at some point, because that just seems to be my M.O. The idea behind this message is how I approach new challenges. While I start with researching and learning about whatever it is I’m faced with, I also tend to dive in head first and figure it out as I go. I try to be somewhat informed, but I’ve also found that there’s no better teacher than direct experience. And we learn most from our mistakes and failures. So don’t be afraid to jump into the deep end and make stuff up along the way. Just be sure to learn from your failures so you don’t repeat them. That’s kind of important.

Second, as I continue to research and experiment, I track my progress and share it with others. It takes a willingness to admit your mistakes and be vulnerable, so be sure you’re ready for that part. Because if you’re not ready for that, it can be really painful. It’s also worth noting here that I’m not overflowing with confidence. Fear is a very real struggle, and I wrestle with imposter syndrome every. Single. Day. But, as I gain more experience, I gain more confidence. And my team sees first-hand where I go wrong, and how I make adjustments.

The last point I use will actually be counter-intuitive to the message so far. Simply “winging it” can’t be the only element of your approach, if you’re hoping to find success at some point. Preparation is a key practice that must be present, even while you’re winging it. Especially while you’re winging it. Like I mentioned, I like to start with research. I also track progress. I use those notes to make sure I don’t repeat the same mistakes. Even when I’m winging it, there’s still a method to my madness and I still have an expected outcome. So yes, while we shouldn’t be afraid of failure, we also need to plan for success.

And back to that one correct answer I mentioned earlier? The one, single, answer that applies to this question for every single one of us? Well, it’s actually pretty simple. How do you plan your goals? Whatever process works for you. Easy as that. Having said that, what does your process look like? Leave your answer in the comments below!