“With the arrival of Boeing, a new optimism has gripped the Lowcountry and Charleston area businesses are planning to TAKE-OFF and SOAR again in 2010!”
Pilots file a FLIGHT PLAN prior to the departure of a proposed aircraft flight. They generally include basic information such as departure and arrival points, estimated time en route, alternate airports in case of bad weather, type of flight (instrument or visual), pilot’s name and number of people on board. The PRIMARY PURPOSE of flight planning is to ensure that the aircraft can safely reach the destination and to minimize the risk of mid-air collision. Additionally, planners want to minimize flight costs by choosing the OPTIMAL route, ALTITUDE and speed, as well as by loading the minimum necessary fuel on board. But, aircraft must also carry approximately 5% more fuel above the minimum needed to fly from origin to destination, allowing for unforeseen circumstances or for diversion to another airport if the planned destination becomes unavailable.
Likewise, your business needs a PLAN (business plan, strategic plan, marketing plan) , a plan with clear goals and schedules to get you from wherever you are today to where you want to be in the future, e.g. the end of the year with a certain profit level.
In 2008, Brian Tracy wrote Flight Plan: The Real Secret of Success. Comparing life and business to the metaphor of an airplane flight, he explains that even though you will be off course more often than not (actually 99% of the time), you can still achieve your dreams and goals in life and business by developing a “FLIGHT PLAN” or a strategic plan for your business and life.
In his book, Brian states, “The real secret of success is that life is like a long-distance airplane journey. You must first determine where you want to go, board the plane, and then take off toward your goal, knowing in advance that you will be off course 99 percent of the time. And once you begin, you must be prepared to make continual course corrections until you arrive at your destination.”
In Flight Plan, Brian offers 12 steps to get you started in planning for greater business success in 2010. Following is a paraphrase of each step.
- Decide exactly what you want by setting long range goals in each of the four key areas in life: relationships, health and fitness, business and career, and financial independence.
- Start with a list of as many different options as you can think of to achieve your goals.
- Set pen to paper and write out your plan.
- Prepare for every eventuality of your journey and be sure to have a plan B.
- Be courageous and persistent and quickly put your plan into action!
- Be prepared for turbulence. Choose to proactively respond to and solve your problems.
- Regularly re-visit your plan and make the necessary course corrections to ensure you arrive on time at your destination.
- Commit to continuous learning. Always be striving to discover (and re-discover) new ways to achieve your goals.
- Activate your “Superconscious Mind” by writing your goals daily.
- Be prepared to pay the price for success…there are no short-cuts.
- Master your fears. As Mark Twain once said, “Do the thing you fear the most and the death of fear is certain.”
- Persist until you succeed. In other words, don’t quit before the miracle.
If you are ready for your business to take-off, regain its altitude and get back on course to higher profits and greater satisfaction, then call 843-278-2663 today to schedule your FREE 2 HOUR FLIGHT PLANNING SESSION. Don’t just hope next year is good, make 2010 your best year yet!
