Our goals are sorted and squared away, so now let’s talk about projects. What is the difference between a goal and a project? Well, start with linguistics. You REACH a goal and you COMPLETE a project. Perhaps a project might help you reach your goal. A goal might involve a series of projects. Or a project might just stand alone as something you want to complete but needs a little more thought than a task or action step. For example, I might be training for a marathon but I would still really like to finish sorting through this year’s photos. The sorted photos won’t help me finish the marathon, but still has an unrelated importance. Whether it is a goal or a project, the important thing is that it holds enough weight to require dedicated time and action, and that it is moving you in an overall direction that you feel good about.
The “Projects” pages in your planner are there to help you think through, organize, and complete the things that maybe you have put off for a while. Projects take action to complete. Use the provided spaces to list your action steps and due dates. It also calls out the budget and actual money spent which might give you insight into how you estimate your projects. If your actual spend always comes out higher than your budget, its probably time to reevaluate how you to your estimates!
Here is a visual for how vision, goals, projects, and action steps (tasks) all work together:
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/series-get-pumped-get-planned-project-projections
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This is your year! You’ve already taken the first step toward your goals by purchasing the tool to get you there. Well done! Did you get a planner to help you reach your goals or did you get a planner to help you figure out what your goals are? Good news…we can help with both. This big step can be scary and we get it. There is the risk of missing your goal. And what if your goal changes midyear? Are you reaching too high? Not high enough? Defining your goals, writing them down, and sticking to them is huge but also so very doable.
We have given you a page called “The Big Picture” and we want you to think about what your long-term life goals are. Where are you starting from? What do you want to do with this life? Do you have a personal manifesto? What is YOUR big picture?
Let’s go a little deeper and talk about defining your goals for the year. Get yourself some blank paper and go to town. Start by jotting down the goals as they are in your head right now. Here is an example goal as a frame of reference as we move through goal setting together:
GOAL: Finish the Chicago marathon in under 4 hours.
Now ask yourself these questions about your goal and write them down:
We have also given you prompts for categories we feel are essential to living an organized, goal-driven, purposeful life. Starting with the words, “This year I am going to…,” consider your home life, relationships, spiritual life, physical health, finances, career, education, and travel. But remember, this is YOUR planner so if those categories don’t work for you, cross them out and make it your own!
Next we “Break It Down.” Lets get specific here…how am I going to make this all happen? Who is going to help me make it happen? What actions do I need to take so that I can celebrate my achieved goal? When we break down our example goal, we might have actions steps such as:
Each of those steps rolls up to our bigger goal. They get us closer to our desired end result. And don’t forget to map out these action steps over on your daily or weekly planning pages so you can ensure you are completing each step by its due date.
Now that we have our goals established, thought out, organized, and broken down into action steps, let’s talk about vision. I have read definitions of the word “vision” that include things like “concept,” “ability to perceive with eyes,” and “very beautiful thing.” Lovely, right? We have given you a big, beautiful page to create your own vision board, with very little instruction, and that is on purpose. Your vision board is very personal. It could be a visual representation of what it will look like when you have reached your goals. It could be a pretty picture of what motivates you. Maybe it is a photo of your dog. We left out the instructions because we can’t tell you how to do this. But whatever you create, make it yours and make it inspiring!
*Need more Goal Setting pages? At the bottom of the “Break It Down” page, you will find a link to download additional goal setting pages from the STARTplanner website!
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/series-get-pumped-get-planned-what-are-your-vision-and-goals
Before you dive into that new planner, let’s talk for a minute. Let’s plan the plan. [wink] There are a few things to consider as you get ready to use your new planner. While we might be slightly biased in thinking you have made the best purchase EVER, we are also aware that it can be a little overwhelming. There are so many amazing parts and pieces and we want to see you dive right in knowing this tool can change your life!
Where to begin? First, we want you to allow yourself a nice chunk of time to really settle in. It's like a lunch date with your new best friend. You wouldn’t rush out, now would you? Next, I am about to say something painfully obvious, yet missed by so many. READ THE INTRODUCTION. That’s right! Introduce yourself. It's good manners. Consider it the friendly small talk, the get-to-know-you exercise, the nice-to-meet-you. There is so much good information in the first few pages and we want you to have it. We can’t stress enough how important it is to have all of the information before you dive in.
Next, take the time to look through the whole thing…every section. Now that you’re done with the small talk, it’s time to dive in a little deeper and discover the true potential of your planner. Jot down ideas on sticky notes as you walk through the pages and come back to those right away. By doing this you can channel your ideas without rushing through and making mistakes.
There are two trains of thought about what to do next. If this isn’t your first rodeo then you can flip on over to the GOALS section and start hashing out your goals for 2018. If this is your first STARTplanner, then you might want to start small. If you’re a little timid and afraid of messing up your beautiful new planner, then break the ice by writing in a few important dates. For example, write in the birthdays of the people you love. Those don’t change. This step will help you develop your personal style. Birthdays are fun and you may want to reflect that in the way you write them in your planner. Do you want birthdays to have their own color? An all-caps font perhaps? How about a fun sticker like our birthday cakes, which are included with the Social Butterfly Stickers?
The important part is, you are taking ownership of your new planner and making it yours. You will look at this lovely little book many times every day and you want it to reflect your personal style, how you work, and what you want to achieve. Congratulations on taking the first step to living a more organized, goal-driven, purposeful life!
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/series-get-pumped-get-planned-new-planner-start-simple We all know that in 2017 and beyond, the key to your business success is all about social media. Our online community is a testament to the hustle that happens behind the screen. STARTplanner has created a great tool to help you take your social media presence to the next level and we thought it could use a little love and attention. Let’s break down our Content & Social Media download and see how it can help you and your business. First, did you know that our social media download is available individually or as part of a dandy little foursome with Start A Business, Business Travel Planner, and Mileage Log? Its just too easy…purchase, download, and use as many times as you want! (If you haven't grabbed yours yet, you can get it here!) So now let’s make it work.
The first page is laid out by month with a great space to organize your thoughts for each. It is important to think about each month individually, but seeing the whole year at once is awesome for ensuring we are pulling together the “big picture.” For example, at STARTplanner, we have certain months that always have big events. March and September are always preorder months for us. November is “Now Shipping!” So by laying out our year, we can drive social media with events happening each month.
Page two dives into the details by taking page one and breaking it down. The left side of the page has the days of the week with space to map out your daily themes for the week. We love “Monday Motivation: Are you ready to hustle?” Maybe Tuesday is a response to customer email or feedback. Wednesday is a great day for a repost. You get the idea. As your clients or customers move through the week, how do you want your business to stay with them? How will what you write or post ring true for them as they interact with your business? There is plenty of space for you to keep track of your notes and ideas in the Week section. Pull some details out, expand your thoughts.
The third section of Page 2 helps you keep track of your weekly social media goal. Write it down and make it happen. Speaking of reposts, there is a perfect spot in that third section for jotting down where those posts are located. Write down the URL, blog name, author, title, etc. And who doesn’t love a good giveaway? We do and we KNOW our community loves them too! What will you giveaway this week? Love on your people and check those boxes when it is posted, the winner announced, and the prize sent out.
We also love a good checkbox and this big awesome section of page 2 is all about checking things off and getting it out there! We gave you space to jot down your title or theme and – the best part - check boxes for content, images, video, and budget. And when you’re ready to go, the social media icons are there to keep track of where that information is going. Which platforms will you use to share information with your audience? Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. Circle it, cross it out, whatever. Just get it to the people!
And last but not even close to least, FUTURE IDEAS. This could be the 3 am thought, the idea that grows out of a customer need, or the inspiration that happens when you least expect it. Or maybe this is the perfect place to think outside the box! We know you believe in what you are doing and want to be the very best you can be. Whatever it is, we are here for you with the tools to help you succeed. Give our Content & Social Media Planner download a try and let us know what you think! from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/how-to-social-media-download
Sometimes a blog post is inspired by something we are doing here, and this is one of them. As our business grows and our team grows, we are feeling the need for some organization in-house. There is no better way to recognize a need than to sit down and teach someone how things are done. So often we “just know” things and when we have to explain them to someone else, we realize that there are opportunities to simplify, organize, and streamline. Here are a few tips for organizing your digital life that we have learned from and want to share with you!
Time. TIME. Time. The process of getting from Point A to Point B in your eLife, is going to take some time. We know you love time-blocking so allow yourself some nice big chunks of time to work. You might even try to assign yourself start-to-finish tasks within your schedule. For example, if you know you have Monday from 2-3 pm, assign yourself task that can be finished during that time. So on Monday from 2-3, I am going to organize my 2016 photos. This is important stuff and the time you give yourself now will save you later.
Plan it out. I know…of course we would say this, right? Create a roadmap for how you will accomplish your digital declutter. Think about what will work best for you when organizing files. Does it make sense to organize by date? By subject? Start high-level and break it down. Draw it out! Stick to the plan. Whether it is a naming scheme for photos, a folder structure for email, or a cleaned-up desktop, be absolutely vigilant when it comes to maintaining what you’re working towards. Create a “cheat sheet” for things like naming structures and keep your roadmap visible so you can access it easily and remind yourself of what you are working toward.
A good digital declutter is worth every minute of effort. We think you’ll find the things you do in your electronic life will take less time and less frustration. Let’s hear it for the highly efficient HUSTLE!
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/10-3-decluttering-your-digital-life
This team loves us some fall! Call us basic, but we love pumpkin spice everything, falling leaves, long sleeves, and cool weather! I asked our lady crew to share their favorite fall things with me (and you) and this is what they had to say.
Kristy
"Fall...I think of football. When you have three boys and a husband who is obsessed, you grow to LOVE it. Although I do love football, the community aspect is what I love the most. Meeting new friends at my oldest sons game and having friends and family over for games. Really it just brings people together. People and togetherness is what I love most!"
Jenny
"My favorite thing about fall is EVERYTHING!!! I love love love living in the PNW because we have 4 distinct seasons. I love cozy plaid flannels, furry blankets, football Sundays, crockpot soups, hiking with my dog in the fall leaves, and yes… I’ll admit it, I'm a sucker for the pumpkin everything craze! If I had to pick JUST ONE thing, it would be the smells of fall —the first rain, and mulled cider. That smell warms my heart!"
Kara
"What I love most about fall are all the fun memories that are to be had... attending festivals and craft shows with my mom, picking apples at Mercier Orchards with my hubby, carving pumpkins, and filling the home with scents of apple cider and cinnamon broomsticks. Oh, and how could I forget, CANDY CORN! Umm, jumbo bag right here, please ;)"
Deanna
"My favorite things about fall are pumpkin farms, hay rides, apple orchards, moonshine festival and the Cumming fair. I love, love this time of year with the leaves changing and the weather getting cooler."
Jessie
"As a girl from Wisconsin, I crave the cooler weather that comes with fall in Georgia. The best day ever is the day I can put on a hoodie and be comfy all day. Its time for butternut soup, slow-cooker dinners, and movie nights!"
Caitlyn
"My favorite things about fall are scarves, boots, pumpkin spice lattes, lighting fall scented candles and warm cozy sweaters!"
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/getting-to-know-us-we-love-fall
Ready? Set? Go! Is anyone ever really ready for the start of another school year? How did these babies become real little humans who are able to learn math facts and carry lunch trays? Wasn’t it just weeks ago that we were up all night trying desperately to decipher their little cries? Ok, so we can’t stop time. We can’t keep our little ones little forever but we can be prep’ed and ready as we send them out into the big world. Here are five quick and simple tips for a seamless transition from the lazy days of summer to the structure of another school year.
Every day is a chance to send those little humans out the door knowing we have their backs, we’ve got it covered, and we can do this! At least we are trying, right?
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/5-tips-for-a-seamless-school-start
Tell us a little about yourself and your mission? (who you are, what you do, why you do it) I’m Morgan Downum and I am a freshman at West Forsyth High School. I am involved with cheerleading and DECA within West Forsyth along with being a small group leader to 4th grade students at Browns Bridge Church. I love and enjoy getting involved because I like to make a positive difference in all of the environments I’m around. What is your success in one sentence? My success in one sentence would be working hard and achieving goals… big or small. One routine or tip that others could apply to their lives to make it better while balancing school? One tip is to use the planner to your advantage to stay on top of tasks and assignments to be able to balance school obligations with social activities.
Ready to get started this school year with your Legit Planner? Let's do this!!! from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/success-morgan-downum You're a super mom with a busy, hectic lifestyle. You're trying to manage obligations to your family, have a successful career, and still enjoy leisure time. If your life is becoming too overwhelming, what you may need is a lifestyle planner. Lifestyle planning services are geared toward all areas of your life and can assist you with personal and professional needs.
Personal Lifestyle Planning ServicesSTARTplanner.com has the best tips and tricks for helping you improve your efficiency. Check us out at https://startplanner.com/collections/fancy-pantsYour life is busy; you have obligations to work on while balancing family, work, and leisure activities. A personal planner can assist you with managing issues that come up with your marriage, children, and family relationships. Whether you need a mentor, personal counseling, or coaching, trained professionals can offer the advice you need and guide you in the right direction. One of the most important aspects of lifestyle planning for individuals is retirement, and a financial advisor can help you manage your finances now, so you'll be ready for retirement when the time comes to stop working and enjoying a new lifestyle.
Management Planning Services For ProfessionalsWhether you own a company or are in a management position, career planning services can help your business run smoothly and be more productive. A professional planner can assist you with strategic planning, managing changes with company policy or personnel, and setting long-term goals. Learn skills to communicate more efficiently with your management team, and the most productive methods of team building and increasing profits. A professional planner can help you to create a positive environment within your company and help you to develop leadership qualities.
Retirement IssuesWhen you're retiring, you should consider your lifestyle, your health, your finances, and what your retirement goals are. You have to make the best choice for your circumstances. When making the choice of when to retire, your finances are one of the biggest considerations. If you have extended family such as grandchildren or elderly parents, will you be responsible for their financial needs? You have to think about possible medical needs when you retire, and whether you'll be living in your current community or moving to a different location to be closer to the family. A professional planner can advise you about relocating if health concerns are an issue.
Lifestyle Changeshttps://startplanner.com/collections/collections shop our store for the best organizational tools onlineHow will your lifestyle change when you retire? You may be involved with community activities or have close friends that you socialize with frequently. If you move, your lifestyle will change. When you and your spouse are retiring at the same time, you'll be spending more time together, and you'll have to give a lot of thought to how you'll be spending your leisure time. Some people choose to travel, work on a part-time basis, or even start a new business. If you aren't sure about your choice, a lifestyle mentor can help you with all your options.
The Do-It-Yourself OptionIf you want to handle all our financial and personal details without professional assistance, you need to identify your goals, challenges you face, and steps you need to meet all your goals, whether professional or personal. Consult a professional to get you started may be advisable. The main thing is to record all your personal, professional, and financial goals, and establish a timeline for reaching them.
Check these other posts: What Does it Mean To Hustle as a Working Mom Day, Weekly, Yearly Calendars Differences
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/hey-you-supermom-why-you-need-a-lifestyle-planner Studies show that handwriting lists and plans are more effective than digitally tracking. To some, the idea of carrying around a monthly calendar brings up images of small, monthly calendars the size of a checkbook kept in mother's purses and used more for monthly reminders and appointments than anything else. Life coaches and household organization experts agree that keeping a pen-and-paper record of goals, to-do lists, and appointments aide in reaching goals and finishing to-do lists much more quickly and effectively than those who do not. Nowadays there are so many more options for planners that are a far cry from the small purse calendars of our mothers! Regular planners bought in box stores offer the standard monthly, weekly, or daily view on a page in a generic font and standard cover. However, the internet provides many specialty stores that offer luxurious planners that can be customized to each individual customer. STARTplanner.com has the best tips and tricks for helping you improve your efficiency. Check us out at https://startplanner.com/collections/fancy-pantsLuxury PlannersThese luxury planners offer a range of choices and styles to truly customize and personalize each planner to the individual. High-end, or luxury planners, allow you to go section by section before ordering to create a layout that will work best for your life. Choose to have your weekly layout start on a Sunday or Monday; add a timeline with thirty minute intervals to each day; or have the daily sections go horizontally or vertically. Many of these planners also give you the option to use a personal picture as the cover, or to choose from a wide-variety of standard colors and designs.
Function And FashionNot only are these planners much cuter on your arm than the former, standard issue black, customers can add options to help organize and plan out whatever path their life is on. Being a mom on the go requires being able to organize and plan many aspects of your life easily. Luxury planners give you the ability to not only plan out short and long-term goals, but also financial planning and budgeting, sections to plan important events and vacations, as well as a section for grocery lists and meal planning. https://startplanner.com/collections/collections shop our store for the best organizational tools onlineAll In One PlannersSpeaking of grocery lists and meal planning; for the fitness freak, most of these planners offer the ability to help you reach your goals (whatever they may be). Try adding options like goal planning or nutrition tracking to the weekly layout in addition to monthly health check-ins and the ability to track working out, supplements/vitamins, water intake, and calories burned and consumed daily. Along with daily reminders to keep you focused and on target. Want even more options? Today's planners are large enough to add even more personalization. Adding accessories such as dividers, pockets, and customized sticky notes create even more organization for your busy life. There are some great ideas for even more sections on each website. Make sure to check out all the various options available. With every section (including the cover) able to be customized and in some cases even personalized, these cute planners are able to become an effective tool in your life rather than clutter in your purse or backpack.
Check out other posts:
from https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/what-s-the-difference-between-a-luxury-planner-and-a-regular-planner |
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