MUSINGS and other writing by Mark Kolke

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IN PRAISE OF BETTER PLANNING
Friday, December 31, 2021   
 
 
I had a year.
I had a plan.
I had a whole year.
I didn’t stick to my plan.
I didn’t achieve what I wanted to.
 
Oy!
 
Well, even if I didn’t stick to it rigidly, I HAD a plan … one that did not play out as hoped.
 
Still, I had a great year.
 
Really?
 
Indeed!
 
Did I win the lottery, close a monster deal, or inherit a fortune?
 
None of those.
 
But yes, the quality of my life and the quality of my life’s experience was fantastic this year; 2021 was a great year,
 
I didn’t get sick, didn’t die, and didn’t cause trouble – I followed the guidance of some political leaders, most doctors, and some common sense most of the time. While we are oddly barely frightened in OMICRON-times with statistics that would have petrified us two years ago, I’ve managed to stay alive and well, knowing we cannot control what we cannot control.
 
But that was last year – it’s all behind us now, nothing we can change however desperately we might want to, which leaves me pondering how much of our future, this year ahead, we can predict or determine with our own intelligence vis-à-vis how little?
 
For me, it’s a choice – I can decide to plan and then execute; or, I can not plan at all and muddle through.
 
I choose to plan and act on that plan. I choose to make choices, to make better choices every chance I get. Sometimes those will be swift ones, sometimes agonizingly slow.
 
I’ve learned that well, but I’ve fallen off-track these past two years.
 
Having a plan/process works better than not having one. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but it has proven to be better for me, so I’m returning myself to the rigours of that. Past experiences have taught me that being on top of my game has made me available, confident, and ready so I can spring into action to pursue opportunities. It’s a good discipline that has me not chase the train after it has left the station …
 
This year, for 2022, I have a plan – a different plan, a better plan, with two components – the work/business plan and the life plan rolled together:
 
 
 
THE WORK/LIFE/BUSINESS PLAN
 
#1 – focus on health – my own; physical, emotional, financial
 
THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
 
#1 – focus on health – my own; physical, emotional, financial
 
 
 
 
Some recent talks: Mark Speaks


 


 
 

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